Catalans had the third highest crowd this round, with 9,588 watching Catalans comfortably defeat Widnes. This was more than the 9,515 who watched Hull FC defeat Huddersfield, and behind only Leeds' and Wigan's home crowds.

Widnes does not have a large traveling fan base. So the attendance was likely over 9,000 Catalans fans. The recent resurgence of Catalans into the winners' circle is doubtless the key cause. But it also shows how important Catalans Dragons club is for the game's presence in France and in Super League generally.

Catalans is likely to remain a top 6 club in terms of fan base (along with Leeds, Wigan, Hull FC, St. Helens, and Warrington). They have yet to fill the 11,000 capacity Gilbert Brutus stadium, but if Catalans can keep winning, the visits of Leeds, Wigan, or Warrington might see the house full signs appear.

Just imagine what we could have in France if Toulouse was in Super League to replicate and probably exceed this Catalans crowd support base, especially but not only during the two local derbies.

I disagree, the most likely reason for me is the weather. The fans don't seem to like coming out in the cold but once we hit summer attendances always seem to rise.

Weather is also a factor, but if your club is winning you are more likely to attend, even in cold weather.

The problem with this is that its all one way traffic, you might get say around 500+ going over there from the big clubs but there are never ever more than about 50 french fans coming over here and contributing to the income streams of the clubs.
Long term the game needs to develop a superleague over there instead of french teams potentially displacing the english teams over here.

With no competition from other rugbyleague clubs we should be asking why aren't they get 10k

Catalans home attendances last season were 10.89% down on 2012. They finished 7th out of 14 in terms of average home attendances.

This season their home attendances are currently 11.36% down on 2013 and they are currently in 8th position out of 14 in terms of average home attendances.

I am therefore underwhelmed by any knee-jerk reactions in response to Catalans home attendance earlier today.

Before today Catalans attendances were apparently down almost 30% on last year. After today they're down by just 11%. Within a game or two more their average will be well up on last year.

Well done to Catalans and all involved.

Catalans next home game is against Hull KR on Easter Monday.

Last season that fixture alleged an attendance of 14,858.

My guess is that Catalans home attendances will be down on last season by considerably more than they already are after the next home game. Unless they secure another propaganda attendance in the region of 15K of course, which remains extremely doubtful given the fixture is being staged in Perpignan.

[uCurrent Attendance Averages 2014[/u
1. Leeds 14,358
2. St Helens 12,594
3. Wigan 12,528
4. Warrington 10,940
5. Hull 10,221
6. Hull KR 8,135
7. Huddersfield 7,669
8. Catalans 7,496
9. Castleford 7,490
10. Bradford 6,637
11. Salford 6,384
12. Widnes 5,444
13. Wakefield 4,425
14. London 1,169
-------------------------------------
Current SL average = 8,457
-------------------------------------

[uAttendance Averages 2013[/u
1. Leeds 15,197
2. Wigan 14,545
3. Hull 11,680
4. St Helens 11,345
5. Warrington 10,633
6. Bradford 8,563
7. Catalans 8,363
8. Wakefield 7,972
9. Hull KR 7,495
10. Huddersfield 6,368
11. Castleford 6,306
12. Widnes 6,015
13. Salford 3,125
14. London 2,213
-------------------------------------
2013 SL Average = 8,570
-------------------------------------

[uAttendance Averages 2012[/u
1. Wigan 16,043
2. Leeds 14,948
3. St Helens 14,087
4. Hull 11,885
5. Bradford 11,761
6. Warrington 11,452
7. Catalans 9,385
8. Wakefield 8,172
9. Hull KR 7,786
10. Huddersfield 7,709
11. Castleford 6,633
12. Widnes 5,977
13. Salford 5,503
14. London 2,808
-------------------------------------
2012 SL Average = 9,564
-------------------------------------

They were all Game of Thrones fans, who turned up to watch Tyrion Lannister come off the bench at hooker.

Didn't Hull get slagged off for a similar crowd only 3 days ago?????

Just imagine if the French could sort their own competition out rather than relying on the British......but then again, why break the habit of generations.

He Jean........did you forget to point out that there was a cross code offer for this game which let the Union lot attend this game FOR FREE before their own evening KO?

I don't think we got slagged off as such, but folk should bear in mind that the match was on TV, on a THURSDAY night and against Giants who unfortunately don't seem to travel in numbers (and this is not a dig at them). All in all, I think we didn't do too badly.

Could the same not be said of New Zealand relying on Australia?...

Troll trolls troll and you join in

Stop being so precious.

A bit rich from someone who was advocating a second NZ team in an Australian competition after the Warriors game in Wellington a couple of weeks ago!

Kiwis make up 29% of the NRL and closer to 40% of the u20s comp down here......2 French players outside Catalans and 8 starters for the dragons is no comparison!

Differing opinion to yours = troll? My, aren't we all grown up?

What the hell has that got to do with it? If NZ has that many players then it should have its own thriving competition not trying to piggy back into the Aussie competition. You can't have it both ways.

[iJust imagine if the Kiwis could sort out their own competition without having to rely on the Aussies.[/i

It is lovely in France at the moment. I am sat on the terrace with a drink in hand. If I was a bit closer to the South West I would be looking for a game.

Nope....NZ Players ply their trade in the NRL because that's where the money is. The #1 sport here struggles to generate sufficient cash or interest, so the idea of a cash rich PROFESSIONAL domestic RL comp in a country of 4 million is insanity........but France, with 66,000,000+ population and apparently a massive following for the game in the SW struggles to get anything like the attention of the other football codes. The opportunity in France is a reality, but NZ, with it's tiny population, will never be able to support a top tier competition.

Think your being unfair on the Catalan fans, its a one off visit to France for supporters from England. How many could afford to travel every second week?

think the catalans attendances are abit suspicious ... is this the old favourite 'tickets sold' attendance or the actual that turned up.

8549 last season when i went to watch Giants there and didnt look anywhere near that!

They gave away free tickets with the Union club for this game, hence inflated attendance