Sheffield to play at Bramall Lane

Sheffield Eagles will play at Bramall Lane next season, the club has confirmed.

The Eagles will leave the Don Valley Stadium to move in at the home of Sheffield United FC, which is expected to kick start a major drive to attract a series of high-profile rugby league games to the city.

It is also expected that the move will help boost the Eagles’ aspirations for a Super League licence, with the next applications due in March 2011 in time for the 2012 season.

Sheffield chairman Ian Swire said: “The reasons frequently given for spectators not attending matches at Don Valley are the distance from the stand to the pitch and the irregular kick-off times.

“These problems will be remedied by moving to Bramall Lane and reverting to regular Sunday afternoon kick-offs.”

Swire added: “Sheffield United are keen to increase the usage of Bramall Lane and see the Eagles as a compatible partner.

“They are also keen to attract the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and other big rugby league games to the city and we intend to assist them to achieve this.”

Sheffield head coach Mark Aston said: “We’ve had 20 years at Don Valley Stadium and it’s a good facility but it can’t give us what we need – atmosphere on match days.”