Manchester out, Wigan in doubt for Tri-NationsMonday, June 13, 2005
THE Rugby Football League is hoping to have tickets on sale for this autumns Gillette Tri-Nations series by the first day of July. But it looks as though the tournament will be going ahead without a game at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Rugby Leaguer & League Express understands that the RFL wanted to play the final of the tournament at the Manchester venue on 26 November, but stadium officials are likely to turn down the bid. The stadium is scheduled to host several major concerts later this year, and officials are reluctant to host another Rugby League game, despite the success of last years clash between Great Britain and Australia, because they are reluctant to put pressure on the pitch.
That means that the RFL could return to Leeds Uniteds Elland Road stadium, which staged last years final.
Or it could decide to take the final to Old Trafford, only six weeks after the engage Super League Grand Final on 15 October.
The last major international game to be played at the home of Manchester United was the 2000 World Cup Final, which attracted a crowd of 44,329 spectators, although only after about 15,000 tickets were given away in a promotion with a regional newspaper in the north-west.
And doubts have arisen about whether a Tri-Nations game will be allocated to Wigans JJB Stadium.
Rugby Leaguer & League Express understands that JJB Stadium bosses are reluctant to allow markings on the pitch for any game that might be allocated there.
That would cut across the agreement between the RFL and tournament sponsor Gillette for Gillettes logos to appear on the pitch, and it could see a game switched to Boltons Reebok Stadium, whose officials are thought ready to accept the sponsors logo on pitch markings there.
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Thanks to http://www.totalrl.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?newsid1118666971,20773,
Their loss IMO. The RFL need Manchester more than they need Wigan, but I think Old Trafford is too big (without a guarantee that GB will be there and because it is not a RLWC).
Rugby Leaguer & League Express understands that the RFL wanted to play the final of the tournament at the Manchester venue on 26 November, but stadium officials are likely to turn down the bid. The stadium is scheduled to host several major concerts later this year, and officials are reluctant to host another Rugby League game, despite the success of last years clash between Great Britain and Australia, because they are reluctant to put pressure on the pitch.
That means that the RFL could return to Leeds Uniteds Elland Road stadium, which staged last years final.
Or it could decide to take the final to Old Trafford, only six weeks after the engage Super League Grand Final on 15 October.
The last major international game to be played at the home of Manchester United was the 2000 World Cup Final, which attracted a crowd of 44,329 spectators, although only after about 15,000 tickets were given away in a promotion with a regional newspaper in the north-west.
And doubts have arisen about whether a Tri-Nations game will be allocated to Wigans JJB Stadium.
Rugby Leaguer & League Express understands that JJB Stadium bosses are reluctant to allow markings on the pitch for any game that might be allocated there.
That would cut across the agreement between the RFL and tournament sponsor Gillette for Gillettes logos to appear on the pitch, and it could see a game switched to Boltons Reebok Stadium, whose officials are thought ready to accept the sponsors logo on pitch markings there.
----
Thanks to http://www.totalrl.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?newsid1118666971,20773,
Their loss IMO. The RFL need Manchester more than they need Wigan, but I think Old Trafford is too big (without a guarantee that GB will be there and because it is not a RLWC).