Rugby League will take centre stage at the iconic Nou Camp Stadium after Catalans and Wigan confirmed plans to play at the venue next year.
The Dragons will ‘host’ the Warriors on May 18th at the 100,000 seater stadium in Round 16 of next year’s Betfred Super League campaign.
Catalans were invited to play at the venue by football giants Barcelona FC following their Challenge Cup victory earlier this year.
The Dragons paraded the trophy on the pitch at a La Liga match in September, but now, they will take in the surroundings of one of sport’s greatest amphitheatres in a historic occasion for the sport.
✈️CONFIRMED | @WiganWarriorsRL will face @DragonsOfficiel at the Nou Camp on 18th May 🏟 – @FCBarcelona
Learn more: https://t.co/WYEPNO4yyH
Ticket information coming soon… pic.twitter.com/ZpRuEHns7y
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) November 30, 2018
Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan said: “This is a landmark moment in Super League’s history, and we (Wigan Warriors) are extremely proud to play our part in making history. Having European rugby league’s two current title holders face each other in the iconic surroundings of the Camp Nou is a mouth-watering prospect and is one that I truly believe will be an historic occasion for the sport.
“I applaud Bernard Guasch and the Catalans Dragons for their ambition and innovative approach to growing the game and the profile of the BETFRED Super League. In the Dragons, we have an organisation who share Wigan Warriors approach to driving the growth of rugby league on the international stage.
“It’s a fantastic concept that will capture the imagination of sports fans across the continent of Europe, and I believe it will provide a shot in the arm for the new-era of Super League by underlining the competition’s ambition.”
Guasch, the Catalans chairman, added: “We are extremely proud to officially announce we will organize a Super League fixture at the Camp Nou. It’s an honour to play at the FC Barcelona Stadium and I think we do not realize yet the impact of this event for our club, our competition and our sport. The prospect of playing a game in one of the biggest stadiums in the world is exceptional and I would like to thanks the President Josep Maria Bartomeu for giving us this opportunity.”
Bartomeu added: “Barça are very pleased to host this Super League game between the reigning champions of the two biggest rugby league competitions in Europe. This will be a grand game between two great teams, and I’m sure there will be a party atmosphere at the Camp Nou. I encourage the Dragons supporters to treat our stadium like their home and for Wigan and Barça fans to also share the experience of seeing rugby league played at the Camp Nou.”
