League: Sam Tomkins' guide to....Perpignan

Stacey Jones in action for Perpingan's favourite side - Catalans Dragons. Photo / Getty

For each stop on the Kiwis tour former Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins will provide his insider thoughts on the city and the league culture.

The city

It's a beautiful place. You jump on a plane for two hours from the north of England and you go there and think you are on the other side of the world; the sun is out a lot more than it is in England and their culture is completely different. There is a lot of history there and it's nice to walk around the lanes, just sit down in one of the cafes.

Fanatical fans

As a city, it's a pretty relaxed little place but they are absolutely crazy fans; they are off their heads, it's brilliant as you always enjoy the passion they create.

Whenever we play in Perpignan there is a real carnival atmosphere and it's different to any other place that I have played football in, partly because the fans are so different.

Kiwis popular

They are fanatical about league and the Catalan Dragons so for them to have the Kiwis there I am sure they will give them a really good welcome. New Zealanders have always been popular there - only enhanced by Stacey Jones' spell at the club in the mid-200os.

At Wigan we have always looked forward to going there, right from when the Dragons first came into the league in 2006; the sun is on your back and normally we get a couple of days off afterwards to enjoy it and the boys love that.

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