Super League

Catalans Dragons owner Bernard Guasch speaks out on rumoured groundshare

by
Callum Walker
December 20, 2021

When the Mayor of Perpignan floated the idea that the Catalans Dragons could leave the Stade Gilbert Brutus to share with Top 14 rugby union side USAP at the Stade Aime Giral, there was great disgruntlement.

A member of the Catalans and Toulouse media previously revealed on Twitter that there had been a council meeting where the Mayor was eager to draft in a professional football side to the city, with Canet FC the name jumping out.

That also left the Mayor inferring that the Dragons then leave the Stade Gilbert Brutus which has been the French side’s home since 2007.

That news went down like a lead balloon amongst Catalans supporters, with a number of them previously voicing their anger on the Rugby Forum.

The Dragons reached their first Super League Grand Final in 2021 after beating Hull KR in the semi-finals in a cauldron of noise at the Brutus.

And, now Catalans owner Bernard Guasch has spoken out about the issue, revealing that continued development of the Gilbert Brutus is set to go ahead.

“We will put the cover back in 2022 and I hope that we will have healthy discussions with the municipality, already having the support of the Departmental Council and the region to finish this stage – which is in great need,” Guasch told L’Independant.

“We must manage to discuss calmly for the future of the XIII in Perpignan. What can be done in Aimé-Giral is none of my business.

“But today, I absolutely want to finish Brutus as it has been planned for many years. I want to finish establishing the club after all the financial arrangements and the efforts we have made to improve the reception, the visibility and the quality of the spaces.

“We will only be able to go further with the new grandstand and from there the club will be able to settle permanently at the top of the table in Super League competition.”

On the field, the Dragons have recruited heavily with the likes of Dylan Napa, Tyrone May and Mitchell Pearce all coming through the door for Steve McNamara’s men.