Twitter Talk: Fans have their say on Magic Weekend in France

Drew Darbyshire 20 Dec 2018 10:11 AM

Fans have had their say on whether France hosting Magic Weekend would be a good idea or not.

Super League chief executive Robert Elstone has revealed that taking Magic Weekend to France is on his radar.

But it won’t be happening in 2019, as Magic Weekend will be staged at Anfield – the home of Liverpool FC.

It has been hosted at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park for the previous four seasons but will now move away from the North East. Magic Weekend has also enjoyed three years at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, three at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and two at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield.

Elstone told the Mirror: “We might go somewhere where we think we can grow the competition, where there are ‘green-shoots’ and the promise of a Super League team in the near future.

“In my opinion, having experienced a great weekend in Perpignan earlier in the year, South West France could tick this box.”

Here are how fans reacted to the possibility on Twitter:

With only Catalan dragons being the only French team in super league why would you want to move magic weekend to France, you have, Newcastle, Manchester, Cardiff, Wembley, Glasgow, Edinburgh I would say all ahead of them, we don't need to move our beloved sport abroad

— Leighton wicks (@Smeethsaint) December 18, 2018

Yes 100%. The idea of @magic_weekend was to promote the game. To be honest it’s a shame it’s Catalan/Wigan at the Nou Camp as Magic Weekend would’ve been a lot better! Not complaining at the exposure the game is getting but it could’ve been so much more

— Dave (@Dave_4787) December 18, 2018

Absolutely not!! You need affordable, accessible locations where rugby league is at its most popular ?

— Alison Cowen (@MrsAliCow) December 18, 2018

Listen magic weekend did not spread the game in wales it did not spread the game in Manchester Scotland or Newcastle and it will not spread the game in France. This is nothing more than forcing ordinary working people to fork out more money to watch their teams play. So no…

— Kev-I-N Batty (@oldfaithful2013) December 19, 2018

Anfield wasn’t a good idea and France is a complete brain fart, the not very magical weekend wants scrapping, 12 teams to half fill a stadium it’s embarrassing, focus on the challenge cup

— Dave (@davidcovick) December 18, 2018

No so the rfl would want the fans to go tomajicweekend in France and then go again when there down teams play there hull fc play there twice next season then throw a manic weekend in as well ???

— Steven coates (@justmotshull) December 18, 2018

Let’s assume it goes ahead. Flight prices would treble, even if there were enough flights to take the fans. Hotel prices will increase in France. Meanwhile the suits will attend free. I’m a fan of Catalans and I go. But getting 11 teams fans over in one weekend is asking a lot.

— SE (@GreenbaySaint) December 18, 2018

If Catalans v Wigan is a success. Why not a #MagicWeekend at the Nou Camp?

— Craig ?⚪ (@CraigJohnsonRL) December 18, 2018

If you're going abroad Olympic stadium in Barcelona would be good plenty of holiday places local both north and south of Barcelona. But as most of rugby league fans are northern based they would be better having it Lapland

— Mike Thornes (@MickdBull) December 18, 2018