Bradford Bulls fight to play Saints on Friday night

7:40am Monday 28th January 2013 in Bulls Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

The Bulls will switch their Super League match against St Helens to avoid a clash with the Capital One Cup final The Bulls will switch their Super League match against St Helens to avoid a clash with the Capital One Cup final

The Bulls are battling with the Rugby Football League over their home game with St Helens and claim they could lose up to £100,000 if it is not switched to Friday, February 22.

The Super League round four clash was scheduled for Sunday, February 24 but the Bulls have moved quickly to rearrange the fixture after City progressed to the Capital One Cup final at Wembley on the same day.

They want the Saints match to be played two days earlier in order to allow for Bulls fans who wish to spend the weekend in London to attend the game.

But the RFL have turned down their request because of the World Club Challenge match between Leeds and Melbourne taking place at Headingley on the same night.

The game’s governing body say they wish to protect the integrity of the showpiece clash and are keen for no other fixtures to be played that evening.

The Bulls have appealed against the ruling, insisting they could lose up to £100,000 in gate receipts if the game is played on the Saturday, and say that St Helens are happy to play on the Friday.

Their appeal will be heard by the RFL’s independent board of directors at a board meeting on Wednesday.

Super League matches have been played on the same day as the World Club Challenge previously.

But Blake Solly, the RFL’s director of standards and licensing, said: “The Super League clubs and the RFL agreed ten years ago that the World Club Challenge was one of the most important fixtures in the season schedule.

“Wherever possible, the integrity of the fixture needs to be protected and it needs its own place in the schedule.

“Having a Super League fixture on the same night as the World Club Challenge detracts from everything to do with the fixture – interest in the game, television audience and the attendance of the match.

“We’ve worked very hard over a long period of time to build the World Club Challenge up to the event it is now.

“We don’t want to risk that and have given the Bulls a choice of kick-off times on the Saturday.”

The Bulls say they will provide the RFL with figures this week that show that playing on the Saturday will have a significant detrimental impact on the attendance of the game.

Bulls co-chairman Gerry Sutcliffe said: “We understand the significance of the World Club Challenge but these are exceptional circumstances.

“If we’ve got agreements between ourselves and St Helens, then surely we should be allowed to do it, particularly as we are a club under new ownership who have had to give up some of our income from central funding.

“There have been precedents before surrounding this fixture and we need a decision pretty quickly so we can start planning.”

Comments(33)

JAtkinson says...
8:14am Mon 28 Jan 13

Why not ask Sky to put it on on the Monday (are they still doing Monday night rugby?)?

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DCarbz says...
8:29am Mon 28 Jan 13

Don't be stupid. That's a sensible idea.

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bctomuk says...
8:58am Mon 28 Jan 13

The RFL are stupid. I'll be going to Wembley, not to the rugby!

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barbarian mike says...
10:09am Mon 28 Jan 13

Rugby league fixtures are only on sky on Mondays during the football off season when there are no premier league games to show!

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albut71 says...
10:09am Mon 28 Jan 13

Its a worry that Blake Solly believes that a Bulls v Saints friday fixture could impact on the attendance at headingley. Clearly hes not aware of the rivalry and the fact that a handful of bradford fans may choose to frequent the WCC as Storm fans of course. No wonder the BBC have chosen tonight to wash RL dirty linen in relation to the financial situation of clubs again. One has to wonder where Mr Solly was in protecting RL from this kind of adverse publicity. Its safe to assume that RU would never let the BBC muddy their game one week before a seasons launch.

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albut71 says...
10:11am Mon 28 Jan 13

also were the only top 10 national sport to enter a season withpout any form of major sponsorship hang your heads in shame red hall !!!

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
10:16am Mon 28 Jan 13

What's wrong with Saturday and why do the club feel they would be £100k out of pocket, surely Saturday would just be as well attended as a Friday?

By the sound of it anyhow the way some the people act on here (Viking etc) the Bulls won't suffer if City are playing as he doesn't seem to get his head round people supporting both teams, and seems to class opinons of those who support City as trolling.

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kitman says...
10:52am Mon 28 Jan 13

Play the Bulls game on saturday .Fans can then go to the WCC on friday and Wembley on sunday .

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Will, Huddersfield says...
10:55am Mon 28 Jan 13

I agree with Voice of Reason. I cannot see that playing at 6pm for example, on a Saturday evening is going to make a material difference to the attendance on a Friday, except that it is likely to be higher.There are plenty of supporters
who want to see how an English club team front up against their Aussie
counterparts in the World Club Challenge particularly as the World Cup will take place over here in the Autumn. Personally, I would like to watch both matches and see Saturday as sensible compromise.

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bullbob says...
11:00am Mon 28 Jan 13

Play the Bulls v saints game at 6.30pm on the Friday, then play the WCC game after it at Odsal. If it is a show case game treat it as one with a warm up match first. Oh and let's not give the home team in the WCC home advantage. The RFL decision making beggar's belief

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Bone_idle18 says...
11:26am Mon 28 Jan 13

I'd quite like to watch the WCC, I know it's only a friendly against an underdone Aussie team, but it's always quite a good game, playing them when they're a few weeks away from their season evens things up quite a bit.

Also want to watch city (on TV).

Saturday suits me fine.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
11:50am Mon 28 Jan 13

I'd be a bit worried at the finances at the club if they think that there will be a difference of £100k if the game is played a different day. £100k is 5000 supporters. Are they really thinking the difference between a Friday and a Saturday is 5000 fans? If so I'd had to see your budget forcast for the year.

Cold February night with another game on the box will effect the gate much more than putting it on a Saturday, anyone can see that, well it seems nearly everyone.

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Steam Pigs says...
12:24pm Mon 28 Jan 13

How many fans will travel to wembley on the SATURDAY and make a weeekend of it........

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Bone_idle18 says...
12:57pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Steam Pigs wrote:
How many fans will travel to wembley on the SATURDAY and make a weeekend of it........
I bet quite a few might be on the first train down there after work on Friday too, make a real weekend of it.

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bullybullman says...
1:26pm Mon 28 Jan 13

I have to agree with agree with the RFL nothing wrong with a Saturday kick off at all. £100000 dream on the number of City / Bulls joint supporters can not be greater than 1000.

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AdeyG'man says...
1:34pm Mon 28 Jan 13

So neither team is in the WCC but to swell the crowds they don't want a League match the same night.

If there's been league matches before on the same night (probably when we won it!!!!) I don't see the issue. Just RFL trying to make a big deal out of a glorified friendly for the NRL champs.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
2:10pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Steam Pigs wrote:
How many fans will travel to wembley on the SATURDAY and make a weeekend of it........
If they are travelling down on the Saturday to make a weekend out of it, they are unlikely to attend a Super League game on the Friday anyhow due to the sheer cost of the day out at Wembley. It's the best part of £100 in and there before you add food, hotels, etc. So I don't see moving to Friday making the slightest difference.

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portugalbull says...
2:17pm Mon 28 Jan 13

RFL a joke.
Blake Sulley s got a big mouth and can,t keep it shut.
They should be looking for acceptable compromise and helping their clubs, not be obstructive at the cost of the clubs.
If Friday and weekend not acceptable why not Thursday or Tuesday. Monday will be City celebration night in or lose, or why not switch both Saints and London matches so home becomes away, and then let Saints play Friday as its far enough away from Leeds WCC game. Plenty of alternatives there, one should be acceptable to all but RFL have to start putting all clubs first, not just Leeds.

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Wobblyhead says...
4:59pm Mon 28 Jan 13

If the World Club Challenge was such an important showcase event, they would.

a) Not schedule it on a Friday night 3 weeks into the regular season.

b) Advertise it

I suggest they politely take their half measure exhibition game and put it somewhere uncomfortable. Then perhaps start focussing on doing what is best for the 'troubled' domestic competition.

Also, please don't play it on the Saturday, I can't get there on the Saturday.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
5:17pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Wobblyhead wrote:
If the World Club Challenge was such an important showcase event, they would. a) Not schedule it on a Friday night 3 weeks into the regular season. b) Advertise it I suggest they politely take their half measure exhibition game and put it somewhere uncomfortable. Then perhaps start focussing on doing what is best for the 'troubled' domestic competition. Also, please don't play it on the Saturday, I can't get there on the Saturday.
But they can't play it on the Sunday as the people of Bradford will never see Wembley if they have to wait for the Bulls to get there.

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wembley bound says...
11:18pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Well done to the rugby league for standing up to the bulls, you owe rugby league big time just remember who saved you initially.
It may stop the egg chasers jumping on our glory trail. Wembley tickets for city fans only ,

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wembley bound says...
9:30am Tue 29 Jan 13

As mentioned above 100k a lot of money, surely all bulls fans are season ticket holders so club won't lose out should bulls fans jump on the city bandwagon ?

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RonnieRhino says...
11:02am Tue 29 Jan 13

If Teams have played on the Friday before what's the problem?
.
Yes, they'll be a fair few City/Bulls Supporters going down on the Saturday but I bet they'd be more going down on the Sunday.
.
To me Saturday is the only option.
.
Oh and while we are on the subject of the WCC. I see now you haven't been in the competition for a long while it's just a "Friendly" and a fixture which means "nothing"
I wonder if you thought the same all those years ago?

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Steam Pigs says...
11:16am Tue 29 Jan 13

RonnieRhino wrote:
If Teams have played on the Friday before what's the problem?
.
Yes, they'll be a fair few City/Bulls Supporters going down on the Saturday but I bet they'd be more going down on the Sunday.
.
To me Saturday is the only option.
.
Oh and while we are on the subject of the WCC. I see now you haven't been in the competition for a long while it's just a "Friendly" and a fixture which means "nothing"
I wonder if you thought the same all those years ago?
Don't bite Ronnie, this place is full of Trolls and poor WUM's they just want a reaction, they are neither Rugby or Football supporters.....

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theviking62 says...
11:17am Tue 29 Jan 13

Egg Bound since when have you been a City supporter, you're the one jumping on the bandwagon.

TVOR, as it happens, I do follow both teams, I have never said nothing derogatory re City or their supporters.

I have had ago at one or two, yourself included, who only appear when Bulls and money are mentioned. I think I said this once before, to you. Egg Bound IS A TROLL. You are just a saddo who hates the Bulls. FACT.

As to you FAKE, Egg Bound, or whatever you'll call yourself next. You are the non City fan I claim my Wembley tkt. will you be there, I will.

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ucc cavalier says...
11:28am Tue 29 Jan 13

Why not ask St Helen's to reverse the fixture and play the game at their ground ?

The financial impact would then be negated. bulls could then play Saints at home on June 9th.

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Bone_idle18 says...
1:02pm Tue 29 Jan 13

RonnieRhino wrote:
If Teams have played on the Friday before what's the problem?
.
Yes, they'll be a fair few City/Bulls Supporters going down on the Saturday but I bet they'd be more going down on the Sunday.
.
To me Saturday is the only option.
.
Oh and while we are on the subject of the WCC. I see now you haven't been in the competition for a long while it's just a "Friendly" and a fixture which means "nothing"
I wonder if you thought the same all those years ago?
Just repeating what all the Whinos fans used to say :)

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yorkshiredude says...
1:34pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Saturday would be better... I'm sure the few Bulls fans travelling down to Wembley on the Saturday would be compensated by the additional Saints fans turning up on a Saturday (as Friday night journeys across the Pennines aren't so great). I'd love a bit of Saturday afternoon RL, proper old skool!

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RonnieRhino says...
2:36pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Bone_idle18 wrote:
RonnieRhino wrote:
If Teams have played on the Friday before what's the problem?
.
Yes, they'll be a fair few City/Bulls Supporters going down on the Saturday but I bet they'd be more going down on the Sunday.
.
To me Saturday is the only option.
.
Oh and while we are on the subject of the WCC. I see now you haven't been in the competition for a long while it's just a "Friendly" and a fixture which means "nothing"
I wonder if you thought the same all those years ago?
Just repeating what all the Whinos fans used to say :)
Well I certainly didn't and the people that I go with certainly don't say that.
.
It's bitterness if you ask me.
.
We should be proud of a Super League club going for the WCC.
.
At the end of the day it's the English League v Aussie League?!
.
Ah well...I'm sure the proper Rugby League supporters will be wanting the English team to win.

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jdsbarras041989 says...
5:14pm Tue 29 Jan 13

wembley bound wrote:
Well done to the rugby league for standing up to the bulls, you owe rugby league big time just remember who saved you initially.
It may stop the egg chasers jumping on our glory trail. Wembley tickets for city fans only ,
Never mind the Bulls should be grateful The RFL may have given us money last season but we have had to pay it all back this season so they haven't really helped us at all, all they have done is screw us by giving all the money to the other thirteen super league sides, also those exclusive city fans should also remember that the Bulls help more than once in the past when City were in trouble. It should also be said that although there is a small number of Bulls fans that are exclusively Bulls the vast majority of fans support both clubs and saying that only City fans should get tickets is unreasonable at best. I fully agree with moving the game so that the fans of both clubs can watch the City match, as for Friday or Saturday I could not give a crap the gate attendance will be high either way as this is one of the showpiece games at Odsal every season.

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wembley bound says...
8:59pm Tue 29 Jan 13

It used to be a show piece game for sky too but not any more.
You pay your money so take your choice city or egg chasing.

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Wigan Trotter says...
7:25am Wed 30 Jan 13

Whats the problem with Bradford being given the free weekend instead of Widnes and Widnes playing St Helens at home.

It's not rocket science.

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wembley bound says...
7:47am Wed 30 Jan 13

I think the egg chasing fraternity has bent over backwards enough for the bulls lately.

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