There is no place like home - with a crowd - says Castleford Tigers’ Oli Holmes

The Government has granted permission for four Betfred Super League fixtures on Wednesday September 30 to be staged as pilot events as supporters return to grounds for the first time since March.

Castleford host Hull FC, Huddersfield Giants entertain Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos take on Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors welcome St Helens to the DW Stadium for their first derby meeting of the season, a game that will also be broadcast live by Sky Sports.

Tigers have not played at Wheldon Road since beating St Helens on March 15, all their games since Super League resumed last month after lockdown taking place at other bio-secure venues.

England second-row Holmes admitted: “We’re happy just to get a game at home as we’ve been having to travel left, right and centre over to Lancashire for matches.

“It’ll be great to get on home soil and just get back to some sort of normality.

“But also mainly it’ll be good to repay the fans as it was something like 89 per cent of them who didn’t ask for their season ticket money back when the season got reduced as it did.

“Hopefully the pilot scheme is a success and we can get more fans in later but, for now, this alone is a real positive.

“It’s been a while since we’ve run out at Wheldon Road and it’ll be nice to get back on that turf even if there was no fans there.

“But to have 1,000 there will be great - and better to listening to the commentators in the stand!”

Castleford will hold a ballot among their 4,000 season ticket holders to decide who attends.

Sports pilots are not able to take place in areas with high coronavirus incidence rates which means Salford Red Devils v Warrington Wolves has not joined the approved list.

Sports minister Nigel Huddleston said: “We recognise many RFL clubs are operating on very tight financial margins and the professional game is facing unprecedented pressure but we are doing all we can to help.”

RFL CEO Ralph Rimmer said: “The return of crowds is vital to sports including Rugby League. Pilot events are steps in the right direction, demonstrating that socially distanced crowds can be managed, and we are delighted that Rugby League will add to this learning across the sports sector.”

Elsewhere, Hull have received a boost with news that double Lance Todd Trophy winner Marc Sneyd has returned earlier than expected from a knee injury and could face Wigan in tomorrow’s Challenge Cup quarter-final.

Wigan have signed ex-Leeds prop Brad Singleton from Toronto Wolfpack on a three-year deal.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you,

James Mitchinson