Stade Gilbert Brutus


Stade Gilbert Brutus is a rugby league stadium in Perpignan, France, which has been the home ground of the Catalans Dragons since 2007.

History

[Image:Tribune Guasch Laborde.JPG|thumb|left|The Tribune Guasch Laborde stand, 2009]
The Stade Gilbert Brutus was opened in 1962 and built as the home ground of French Rugby League Championship club XIII Catalan who played at their ground until they merged with AS Saint-Estève in 2000 to form Catalans Dragons whose home ground the stadium has been since 2007.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the ground was used by a variety rugby league and rugby union clubs in Northern Catalonia.
The stadium takes its name from Gilbert Brutus, a French rugby union player, coach, chairman and referee, who was born on 2 August 1887 in Port-Vendres. He was a member of the French resistance in the Second World War and was murdered by the Gestapo on 7 March 1944 in Perpignan.
Before 2007, the stadium held 4,200 with 900 seated. This was deemed expanded for the Catalans Dragons before moving in from the Stade Aimé Giral. Expansion of the stadium began in 2006 with target capacity to 14,000.
The first phase of construction included two covered, all-seater stands, one with hospitality suites. By the end of the 2006 season, the work was finished and Catalans moved back into the stadium for the 2007 season. Further construction in 2010 brought capacity up to 13,000, with three all-seater stands.

Rugby League Test matches

[Image:Stade Gilbert Brutus 11112013.jpg|thumb|center|1200px|Panorama of Stade Gilbert Brutus in 2013]
The Stade Gilbert Brutus has hosted a number of rugby league internationals, the majority of which are home games of the French national rugby league team.

Men's

DateTeam 1ScoreTeam 2AttendanceEvent
11 March 196223–1312,500
2 December 196217–1212,500
8 March 19645–114,326
6 December 196418–87,150
28 November 196511–69,0001965 France vs New Zealand – 2nd Test
16 January 196618–137,255
25 January 197011–1511,000
11 November 197111–273,5811971 France vs New Zealand – 1st Test
29 October 197227–216,3241972 Rugby League World Cup
9 December 19739–215,1091973 France vs Australia – 1st Test
19 January 19759–117,9501975 European Rugby League Championship
26 October 19752–4110,4401975 Rugby League World Cup
23 November 19806–56,0001980 France vs New Zealand – 1st Test
7 December 19850–205,0001985 France vs New Zealand – 2nd Test
1985-1988 Rugby League World Cup
30 November 19862–446,0001986 France vs Australia – 1st Test
18 March 19904–86,000
9 December 199010–343,4281990 France vs Australia – 2nd Test
1989-1992 Rugby League World Cup
27 January 199110–453,9651989-1992 Rugby League World Cup
16 February 199212–305,688
13 December 199218–193,700
27 October 200746–167,000
29 October 201146–1010,313
11 November 20136–2211,5762013 Rugby League World Cup
13 October 201734–124,850
23 October 202110–306,000

Women's

DateTeam 1ScoreTeam 2AttendanceEvent
23 October 20214–406,000