Ex- Super League and Championship boss calls for the scrapping of the Magic Weekend.

[josie andrews]

FORMER Super League and Championship head coach John Kear has called for the scrapping of the Magic Weekend.

The Magic Weekend has become one of rugby league’s most celebrated events since its conception back in 2007, with Newcastle United’s St James’ Park being named as the host venue for 2025 once more.

But, Kear, who has coached the likes of Sheffield Eagles, Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls, believes it detracts from rugby league’s most prized competition – the Challenge Cup.

Speaking on the League Express podcast, Kear said: “In this country, we play too many games.

“The loop fixtures have always been a bugbear of mine and, I won’t be thanked for saying this, I’m not a fan of the Magic Weekend because I think it distracts from the Challenge Cup.

“The weekend out now for fans is the Magic Weekend and they go and watch their own club. That used to be the Challenge Cup Final – everyone went down there in their shirts to watch as an occasion.

“We need to rebuild that again – do people want to go to Newcastle or London? A lot of people now choose Newcastle because it’s a fun place to go.

“Wembley was that weekend in years gone by. We need to focus on really building Wembley up again.”

In 2025, following a year’s absence with Leeds United’s Elland Road as the host in 2024, the Magic Weekend will be held on 3-4 May.


https://www.totalrl.com/ex-super-league ... c-weekend/

[fozzie58]

Perhaps the sheer cost of going to Wembley for the neutral is prohibitively expensive in these hard times,maybe.just maybe people such as Kear should come out of their ivory media paid for towers and read the room,the challenge cup is a faded competition its glory days long since past pretty much since they started moving it here there and everywhere in the calendar

[moto748]

I dunno about that. Surely London is just a day trip, whereas at Magic you're paying for accommodation too. But obviously, the fact that the CC is not what it was is beyond argument.

[Wiganer Ted]

The media used to refer to the Challenge Cup as "Rugby League's Big Day out!" which it was decades ago.

Then came along summer rugby with the first Grand Final at Old Trafford in 1998.
Magic/Tragic weekend followed years later with venues selected with the sports expansion in mind. That theory lasted for a few years but the event now seems to have its own home, Newcastle.

Last season's Grand Final with over 68k at Old Trafford was the largest crowd since 2017 given that two well supported contested the game. Following the Covid 19 pandemic clubs do seem to be attracting fans back to the game.

Kear's view on the C Cup may seem controversial but I've never liked the Magic Weekend and never been.
It's always seemed to me that the RFL could market the C Cup far better than they do and this could increase crowds both in the rounds, semi and final.

I would happily see the Magic disappear if I thought that a proper marketing plan would be put in place to get more fans to support the C Cup.

[morley pie eater]

It's an age thing. He doesn't propose how we go back to the past, but just says it's what the RFL should do.

I'm 3 years older than Kear, and would love to go back to Central Park, straw on the pitch, clearing the snow before games, Boxing Day derby and so on. But I accept that it ain't going to happen.

I suspect that John Kear knows that too, but you don't get paid for writing that in the press.

[Charriots Offiah]

It's an age thing. He doesn't propose how we go back to the past, but just says it's what the RFL should do.

I'm 3 years older than Kear, and would love to go back to Central Park, straw on the pitch, clearing the snow before games, Boxing Day derby and so on. But I accept that it ain't going to happen.

I suspect that John Kear knows that too, but you don't get paid for writing that in the press.

Standing in the Hen Pen, turn back the clock.

[the pieman]

It's an age thing. He doesn't propose how we go back to the past, but just says it's what the RFL should do.

I'm 3 years older than Kear, and would love to go back to Central Park, straw on the pitch, clearing the snow before games, Boxing Day derby and so on. But I accept that it ain't going to happen.

I suspect that John Kear knows that too, but you don't get paid for writing that in the press.

Standing in the Hen Pen, turn back the clock.

thats where i started watching wigan, but finished up under the Sullivan Bar. What a time to watch Wigan, especially when it was packed and you was covered in everyone else's ale

[fozzie58]

It's an age thing. He doesn't propose how we go back to the past, but just says it's what the RFL should do.

I'm 3 years older than Kear, and would love to go back to Central Park, straw on the pitch, clearing the snow before games, Boxing Day derby and so on. But I accept that it ain't going to happen.

I suspect that John Kear knows that too, but you don't get paid for writing that in the press.

Very true Morley