The Stade Gilbert Brutus is a rugby league stadium based in Perpignan, France and is the home of the Catalans Dragons. The stadium has a capacity of 13,000 and opened in 1962 before undergoing renovations in 2005, 2007 and 2011.
Table of Contents
Stadium Guide by Rugby Tripper
History
Gilbert Brutus was a French rugby player, coach, referee and chairman who died in 1944 in Perpignan during the war. The Stade Gilbert Brutus is named in honour of him and is the 73rd largest rugby league stadium in the world.
In 2006, the stadium had a capacity of 4,200 with only 900 seats, however, Catalans Dragons decided they needed more seats. Construction began that year in order to increase the capacity of the stadium by adding two terraced stands along with adding hospitality boxes in one of these stands. A further stand was added in 2010 in order to increase the capacity to where it is today.
Before the Catalans Dragons moved into the stadium in 2007 following renovations, rugby league side XIII Catalan played at the ground. In 2000, XIII Catalan merged with AS Saint Estève to become Union Treiziste Catalane who are commonly known as Catalans Dragons. The club played at the Stade Aimé Giral until 2007.
France’s Rugby League team have played 24 International matches at the stadium between the years of 1962 and 2017. Teams that have played at the ground against France are Great Britain, New Zealand, Wales, Australia, England, Scotland, Samoa and Jamaica.
These matches took place in different competitions and tournaments including the 1975 World Cup, 1985-1988 World Cup, 1989-1992 World Cup and 2013 World Cup. A 1972 World Cup match also took place at the stadium between Great Britain and Australia where the former won 27 – 21. To this day, this is the only game at the stadium which has not included France.