This took place on BBC Radio Manchester.

5 pools were drawn by Northern Rail's Heidi Mottram. Four teams contesting pools A, B and C with three in both D and E.

Pool A: Swinton, Rochdale, Blackpool, Dewsbury.

Pool B: Batley, Keighley, Hunslet, Doncaster.

Pool C: London Skolars, Leigh, Gateshead, York.

Pool D: Whitehaven, Workington, Featherstone.

Pool E: Oldham, Sheffield, Halifax.

The top two teams in Pools A, B and C, in addition to the top teams from pools D and E will progress from the group stages on Saturday to the Northern Rail 9's Trophy on Sunday.

All other teams will compete for the Northern Rail 9's Plate on Sunday with the games being played as curtain raiser to the Northern Rail Cup Final between Widnes and Barrow.

Oh no. Sheffield arnt going to use MC`s speech against us again are they.

Should be a good chance to give some fringe players a run.

Everyone is saying that?

Which fringe players? Bowmans by two?

We've a wafer thin squad and we're flying to Toulouse the following Friday.

To me the whole thing is a total waste of time and a distraction from the important things like, err, the League Championship.

I really can't see me going and if we are obliged to send a team we should "unfortunately" get knocked out in the first round and turn our thoughts to Toulouse.

I know that that is an unsporting attitude but what if it resulted in one or more of our key players getting injured in the run-up to the business end of the season? To see our entire season and all the hard work turned to mush for the sake of an ill-timed 9's competition would be heartbreaking and ridiculous. Could you see the RFL planning something like this in SDL at this point in the season? Not a chance.

dont know why they just dint take a full league round of games on the road, just play it over 2 days, like they do dupper league,, i agree this nines could be costly with injuries, but saying that, if we had won on sunday we would have been playing anyway,, lets hope they all come through it ok,

I fully agree with this statement as I really cant be bothered with this stupid 9s competition its just a shame we dont have the under 20s team yet as we could have just sent them.

Agreed but that would have been a game with some purpose and therefore worth the risk. The 9's tournament isn't.

Although Sheffield and Oldham are in our group we actually play Whitehaven, Workington and Featherstone in the 9's as do Oldham and Sheffield. Then the top team then goes through.

[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/home/news_item_top.php?id=14476[/url

Does anyone know how many minutes they will be per game in the 9s Competion?

Don't forget the winners get to play in the "International" SOOOPEERR DOOOPPERR 9s at Headingley .

Should we suspend training that weekend then, if we don't play?? The guys might like to pit their wits against the others in the 9s.

The are the rules of the Carnegie Floodlit 9s ([urlhttp://www.floodlit9s.co.uk[/url) tournament which will take place at headingley and features the fastest in super league race and super league nines comp.

RULES

All matches in the Tournament will be played to the Laws of the Game of Rugby League as current at the time of the Tournament EXCEPT THAT:

a).Each team shall be permitted a squad of up to 15 players. The game shall be played by two teams each consisting of not more than 9 players on the field at any time. Each team may nominate a maximum of 4 replacements/substitutes before the start of the game. Unlimited substitutions shall be allowed but to be controlled by the 4th official. In order to make a substitution the player leaving the field of play must touch hands with his replacement. Such contact to be made on the touchline or outside the field of play.

b).Each match will be of 15 minutes duration and will be comprised of two halves of 7 minutes 30 seconds. There will be no half time interval but teams will be allowed a maximum of 1 minute to change ends. Each half will commence with a place kick. The time will be controlled by the 4th Official. The hooter will sound immediately 7 mins 30 seconds has elapsed in each half regardless of where the ball is. The referee will acknowledge the sounding of the hooter by raising his arm as he would do to signal the last tackle. He will then blow his whistle to end the game when the ball is next out of play or a tackle is effected.

c).To form a scrum not more than 5 forwards will be used. There will be no more than 3 in the front row and not more than 2 in the second row. When the ball is in the scrum no more than 4 players from each team shall act as backs. The ball must emerge from behind the feet of the second row. A second row forward cannot detach early to pick the ball up out of the scrum.

d).A drop kick shall be taken after a try has been scored and shall count as 2 points if successful.

e) When points have been scored the team against which points have been scored will restart the game with a tap restart from the centre of the half way line.Play cannot recommence until the goalkicker and officials are in place. Players from the team that has conceded the score do not have to retire behind the try line but must not interfere with any conversion attempt.

f) When a team is awarded a penalty then play must proceed by way of a tap 10 metres in advance of where the infringement took place.

g) In the event of misconduct by a player the referee shall, at his discretion, caution, temporarily suspend for 5 minutes or dismiss the offender.

Drawn Games

If a match in the knock out stages is drawn at full time then it will be determined with a golden score i.e. the first team to score a/any point(s) will be the winner. A coin toss will determine which team kicks off and which goal line to attack.

Abandoned Game

If a match is abandoned before the duration of the game the Tournament Executive shall decide the outcome.

We are playing so it's a moot point. Hey, it's just my opinion as you are entitled to yours but I would be interested to know how many Fax fans are going.

I'm not sure if I'm going yet. It's the week before the Toulouse game and we have featherstone on the friday straight after so I will weigh it up nearer the time. I know that means i might not get a ticket but only time will tell.

Already booked the weekend at least 6 so far.

3 more and you could represent the club!!!

I am doing.

Is Mr Charlesworth eligible? Its a joke comp which the RFL feel fans will love

Its a comp with nothing at stake except players getting injured. Nice to see Toulouse get another free weekend..... Good to see the RFL are fair to all teams as ever

Don't know if the bookies are covering this, but it may be worth a cheeky fiver on Nicky Royle (Blackpool) being top try scorer... The lad has just signed a short term contract from Sale RU and is part of the England RU sevens team..


Nes