Sport in Catalonia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Catalonia is an Autonomous Community of the Kingdom of Spain. Northern Catalonia also known as Roussillon corresponds approximately to the modern French département of the Pyrénées-Orientales.

1 Football
2 Rugby union
3 Rugby league
4 See also

[edit] Football

Main article: Football in Catalonia

Football is the most important sport in Catalonia. Catalonia led the way in the development of football in Spain, organising both the first association and the first league. Today football in Catalonia is organized by the Catalan Football Federation and the RFEF and teams from Catalonia compete in the Spanish La Liga and Copa del Rey, as well as the Copa Catalunya and several European competitions.

[edit] Rugby union

See also: Rugby union in Spain and Rugby union in France

Rugby union is a prominent sport in Northern Catalonia, USA Perpignan are the best-known Catalan side. They compete in the French Top 14 and also in European competitions.

The game is also played in the Spanish part of Catalonia. FC Barcelona have a rugby union club which competes in División de Honor, the top tier of rugby union in Spain.

Sant Boi de Llobregat, in Barcelona province, is one of the capitals of Spanish rugby union. The city is home to the club UE Santboiana, who have won the Spanish championship seven times.

[edit] Rugby league

See also: Rugby league in France

Rugby league in France is most popular in Catalonia, with several Catalan clubs taking part in the French Elite One Championship and Elite Two Championship.

Since February 2006, a Perpignan-based club Catalans Dragons, have played in the otherwise English Super League. They are France's only professional club.