Super League clubs praised for compromising over fixture list

Jon Wells has paid tribute to the RFL, Super League and its clubs for the compromises they’ve reached ahead of the competition’s restart next month.

The Sky Sports presenter and Castleford Director of Rugby is set for a busy month in the commentary box, with the broadcaster showing 21 games live in 29 days in August as Super League gets back underway.

He said: “All of our presenters will be buying throat lozenges because there’s an awful lot of live sport to cover!

“We’re dead pleased it’s back. It’s going to be 20 weeks to the day since the last Super League match was played, and getting this fixture list together has been a result of an awful lot of hard work and a fair bit of compromise all round.

“Massive credit is due to the RFL, Super League and the clubs for the compromises they’ve had to make to get this back underway.”

The fixtures announcement had been delayed on multiple occasions for a variety of reasons, with several clubs still locked in pay-cut disputes with players.

There was then issues with Catalans wanting to play home games in France, where restrictions over crowds have been lifted, before a visa issue relating to Toronto’s overseas players surfaced this week.

Super League will re-start at Headingley on Sunday August 2, when Hull KR take on Toronto, St Helens face Catalans and Huddersfield play Leeds.

The following weekend, a full round of six games will all be played at Headingley across two days.

St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium will also host games in the first month of the restart, with Super League hopeful that from September onwards, clubs may be able to host their own games, possibly in front of limited crowds.