Featherstone Rovers and LRL on Cloud 9

The Featherstone Rovers Rugby League 9’s Festival is only two weeks away and the club are delighted to announce that the rapidly growing and popular website Love Rugby League will be Associate Sponsor of the Festival.

Featherstone Rovers are hosting West Yorkshire Super League rivals Bradford Bulls, Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos on Tuesday 29th May at the Big Fellas Stadium for what promises to be an exciting evening of Rugby League action. The Associate Sponsor Partnership will see Love Rugby League feature on all promotional material of the Festival, promoted throughout the evening as well as attending the evening itself in our hospitality suite – The Gallery. Love Rugby League will also be previewing the Festival in the lead up to the evening.

Featherstone Rovers Commercial Manager Paul Taylor said: “I’d like to thank Gavin Wilson and James Gordon at Love Rugby League for agreeing to be an official partner of our Rugby League 9’s Festival. We competed in the Rugby League 9’s competition last year and we are big fans of this format of the sport and jumped at the chance to host another festival in 2012 after the positive feedback we received from supporters last year. Working closely with the guys at Love Rugby League will allow us to promote the festival more effectively through a hugely popular media outlet.”

Love Rugby League’s Yorkshire Correspondent Gavin Wilson said: “When the opportunity arose to get involved with the Rugby League 9’s and in particular at Featherstone Rovers we just could not say no. We believe that the RL9’s has great potential to become a major showcase for Rugby League talent, and we are delighted that Featherstone once again get the opportunity to show the Rugby League community just what a great nights entertainment they can put on!”

Meanwhile, Rugby League’s newest club will rub shoulders with stars from some of the sport’s most famous teams when the University of Gloucestershire All Golds get their first taste of professional Rugby League in the 2012 Rugby League 9s.

The All Golds were this week confirmed as the third of four new clubs which will enter Championship one in 2013 but before then they will face the likes of Carnegie Challenge Cup holders Wigan Warriors, Championship winners Featherstone Rovers and World Club champions Leeds Rhinos.

A total of 16 clubs will participate in the 2012 Rugby League 9s – the 13 UK-based Super League clubs, Featherstone, Gloucestershire All Golds and a combined Cumbrian team – and RFL Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer believes the high-speed, all-action version of the sport will prove to be a massive hit with players and Rugby League fans alike.

“Rugby League 9s is a fast, exciting and action-packed tournament which provides high quality entertainment for everyone,” said Rimmer.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for fans to watch a new dimension of Rugby League midweek and have the chance to see some of the very best young players in the country.

“This is also a fantastic opportunity for the All Golds to experience the cut and thrust of professional competition and we look forward to seeing them in action.”

Warrington Wolves are the current holders of the Rugby League 9s trophy having beaten Cumbria in the 2011 final and Assistant First Team Coach and under-20s Head Coach Richard Marshall is aware that his players do not want to give up their crown lightly.

“Rugby League 9s is a unique idea and a great concept, the players really enjoyed winning the competition last year and it’s something they want to repeat,” said Marshall. “We took it very seriously last year and it paid off. We are hoping to get to the finals at Headingley again and we will use the opportunity to showcase some of our up and coming talent.”

Fans can expect plenty of entertainment for all the family throughout the 9s tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday May 29 and features four weekly rounds on Tuesday evenings of festival-style fixtures played at a range of venues culminating in the 2012 Grand Final at  Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Tuesday June 26.

The 2012 tournament is divided into Western and Eastern Divisions. Warrington Wolves, Cumbria, Salford City Reds, St Helens, London Broncos, Widnes Vikings and Gloucestershire All Golds make up the Western Division and Hull KR, Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Rovers, Bradford Bulls, Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos play in the Eastern Division.

The final at Headingley Stadium on Tuesday June 26 will be an eight team event.

Round One: Tuesday May 29

Western Division

Warrington Festival – Wilderspool Stadium, Wilderspool Causeway: Warrington Wolves, Cumbria, Salford City Reds, St Helens

London Festival – Aldershot Military Stadium,Aldershot: London Broncos, Widnes Vikings, Wigan Warriors, Uni of Gloucestershire All Golds

Eastern Division

Hull Festival – Craven Park, Hull: Hull KR, Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Castleford Tigers 

Featherstone Festival – Big Fella’s Stadium, Featherstone: Featherstone Rovers, Bradford Bulls, Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos

Round Two: Tuesday June 5th

Western Division

Cumbria Festival – Derwent Park, Workington: St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Salford City Reds, Cumbria  

Widnes Festival – Halton Stadium, Widnes: Widnes Vikings, London Broncos, Wigan Warriors, Uni of Gloucestershire All Golds

Eastern Division

Leeds Festival – Headingley Stadium, Leeds: Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC, Bradford Bulls, Featherstone Rovers 

Castleford Festival – Probiz Coliseum, Castleford: Castleford Tigers, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Hull KR, Huddersfield Giants

Round Three – Tuesday June 12th

Western Division

Salford Festival – City of Salford Stadium, Salford: Salford City Reds, Uni of Gloucestershire All Golds, London Broncos, Warrington Wolves

Cumbria Festival – Craven Park, Barrow: Cumbria, Wigan Warriors, Widnes Vikings, St Helens

Eastern Division

Hull Festival – Hull FC Elite Training Centre, Hull: Hull FC, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls 

Wakefield Festival – Rapid Solicitors Stadium, Wakefield: Huddersfield Giants, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Featherstone Rovers, Castleford Tigers

Round Four – Tuesday June 19th

Western Division

Wigan Festival – The Co-operative Community Stadium, Wigan: Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Cumbria

Salford Festival – City of Salford Stadium, Salford: Gloucestershire All Golds, Widnes Vikings, Salford City Reds, London Broncos

Eastern Division

Wakefield Festival – Rapid Solicitors Stadium, Wakefield: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC

Bradford Festival – Odsal Stadium, Bradford: Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Hull KR, Featherstone Rovers

Buy a ticket for the 2012 Rugby League 9s Finals Night at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on  Tuesday June 26 now and you will receive another absolutely free of charge.

This BOGOF offer is for pre-purchased tickets only and will not be available on the day of the game: all complimentary tickets issued will be of equal or lower value to those purchased.

Tickets are available for just £10 adults and £5 concessions by calling Leeds Rhinos Ticket Office on 0871 423 1315 (calls charged at 10p per min – calls from mobiles may vary) or the RFL Ticket Office on 0844 856 1113.