Sheffield wait on stadium development as venue for opening league fixtures unconfirmed

Sheffield have assured fans that a plan is in place to host their first three home league games of the season, after they were listed as TBC when the fixtures were released on Sunday.

The games against Toulouse (Feb 16), Widnes (Mar 22) and Oldham (Apr 15) may be played away from their Olympic Legacy Park home, due to the ongoing construction work at the stadium.

A club statement said: “We are working hard and are hopeful to play the majority of our games at the Olympic Legacy Park in 2020 however due to the stadium construction the club has sought a viable contingency should we have to play at another venue.

“The RFL has assisted with the club’s request of a reduced number of home games during the early stages of the 2020 season and we’d like to thank them for their support with this.

“A full update we hope to have prior to the 2020 members evening / open training on Friday 6th December at Sheffield Hallam Sports Park.”

Work was supposed to start at the ground earlier in 2019, with the club forced to play their games in front of just one small seated stand at the new facility.

But a legal wrangle involving former Sheffield United FC owner Kevin McCabe over his shares in the football club meant focus was taking away from the development, after McCabe’s company beat the Eagles for the right to run the community facility.

Sheffield won the inaugural 1895 Cup in 2019, defeating Widnes in the final.