Super League’s Magic Weekend postponed – not cancelled – and could still be held in 2020

SUPER LEAGUE’S desire for a full 29-round season was reaffirmed yesterday when next month’s Magic Weekend was postponed, but not cancelled.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - 24/01/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League Launch 2019 - Old Trafford, Manchester, England - Robert Elstone opens the press conference.Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - 24/01/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League Launch 2019 - Old Trafford, Manchester, England - Robert Elstone opens the press conference.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - 24/01/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League Launch 2019 - Old Trafford, Manchester, England - Robert Elstone opens the press conference.

The competition, which has been suspended for more than a month, bowed to the inevitable by calling off the event scheduled for Newcastle’s St James’ Park on May 23 and 24.

Scrapping the showpiece festival, when an entire round of matches is staged at one venue over two days, is an option under consideration as Super League battles with the thorny issue of when, how and in what format the competition will resume following its shutdown due to Covid-19.

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The six additional ‘loop fixtures’, which see teams meet for a third time, could also be under threat, but with the sport’s television deal coming up for renewal and clubs facing mounting financial worries, reducing the number of matches is regarded as a last resort.

Super League’s executive chairman Robert Elstone described the decision to abandon next month’s Magic Weekend as “regrettable, but sadly unavoidable”.

However, he stressed: “Magic is still firmly in our plans for 2020, with St James’ Park at a later date one of the options being considered.”

Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has insisted Super League and the Rugby Football League are committed to “do whatever it takes to fulfil our season”.

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Hetherington believes that could mean matches being played into December, at the end of a campaign which began in January.

That would have a knock-on effect on the 2021` season, but Leeds coach Richard Agar said he would have “no dramas” with fixtures carrying on into the winter, if that is necessary to keep the competition and clubs afloat.

“[If Super League continues into December] I am not sure we could start again in January, but I am sure we could start at the end of February or March,” said Agar. “There’s a World Cup at the end of next year which we [Super League] are going to have a lot of players participating in, so – if they play 29 games [in 2020] – it probably makes sense to try and make some adjustments to the length of the season next year.”

The Championship’s version of Magic Weekend, the Summer Bash, scheduled for May 30 and 31, has also been postponed.