Leeds game against Catalans postponed

Leeds Rhinos have postponed Friday’s Super League game against Catalans Dragons at Emerald Headingley due to safety concerns.

This comes following consultation with the Rugby Football League after heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures experienced in and around the stadium this week.

The pitch will be playable due to the undersoil heating, but with temperatures not set to rise above freezing until after the weekend and the latest forecasts predicting snowfall on Friday, the RFL match commissioner has agreed with the stadium’s safety officer that areas of the stadium are not safe to open to the public.

Leeds’ Under-19s fixture due to be played at Stanningley on Friday is also postponed.

A re-arranged date will be confirmed for later in the season through consultation with the RFL and Catalans Dragons.

Rhinos CEO, Gary Hetherington, said: “Postponing a game is not a decision that is taken lightly and it is something that has happened on only a handful of occasions in the past twenty years. I would like to thank the RFL and Catalans Dragons for their co-ordination on this matter.  We have taken the decision early because there is no sign of the situation improving according to forecasts.

“It is particularly frustrating to call the game off after all the hard work that has gone on from the construction team at Caddicks and our staff to get our new facilities ready in time and we were ready to open the doors on Friday.

“With the weather set to improve from next week, we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Emerald Headingley next Thursday for the visit of Hull FC.”