Players Union tells IMG to drop Super League double headers for good.

[josie andrews]

hellacious : very great, bad, or overwhelming.

Not a word you come across often.

A cracking word though

[josie andrews]

Rugby league doubleheaders to be scrapped with traditional Easter schedule axed

Exclusive: Organisers have removed plans for doubleheaders moving forward after increasing pressure from coaches, players and fans.

Rugby league will scrap doubleheaders next season with the traditional Easter schedule also removed from next year's schedule. Rugby League Live can reveal organisers have reached an agreement with clubs to bring an end to the controversial double gameweeks, which have been criticised for several years.

Super League clubs are currently undergoing their second doubleheader of the season at the end of a gruelling campaign and just seven weeks before the World Cup. Coaches across the competition have raised concerns about the wellbeing of their players. Several other clubs are struggling to name a full allocation of players ahead of games over the next two days.

Now, a decision has been reached to remove them from the calendar next season. There had been a push to remove them this season, with a proposal put in place to reduce the number of games from 27 to 25. However, clubs were reluctant to shorten the season due to the loss of an additional home game, which brings in substantial revenue. Given the World Cup, there was no option to extend the season and two doubleheaders were required.


It does mean that next season's schedule will last longer than this season. A mid-season break for an international fixture is expected which means a 34-week schedule will be in place next season. That will accomodate the Challenge Cup and end of season play-offs.

Easter has been a tradition in British rugby league for years, with clubs playing on Good Friday and Easter Monday. That, however, will no longer be the case. Coaches have regulalry bemoaned the damage two quickfire games have had on their players, highlighting the drop in quality and increase in injuries in the weeks after period.

Clubs have always been keen to retain the scheduling due to healthy attendances. Schedulers will now work to ensure clubs get a home game over Easter every other season.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... dium=email

[morley pie eater]

Pardon my pedantry, but isn't a "double header" when 2 matches are played at the same ground on the same day?

[fozzieskem]

The scrapping of the Easter monday game has even done before recently so it'll be interesting over the next few years to see if they stay gone I suspect they'll be back