Not for me. The first game of the season is often c[ir[/iap. Players take time to warm back up and it's normally crap weather to boot. I think having a "Show Piece" occasion with others from other sports hopefully watching, choosing the first game of the season isn't our best option. It's normally scrappy at best and un-watchable at worst.

May Bank Hol was the right time of year IMO, the rugby was much better by that point. I'm ok with this one too because of the Jubilee Bank Hol and the weather should be cracking.

In my opinion, last year started the season with a whimper. We looked crap against what turned out to be a 10th place Bradford side, and Wigan/Saints was nothing like the Wigan/Saints games later in the year. Some of the other matches (in particular Cas/Wakey and Catalans/London) were bordering on un-watchable even for the most hardened RL fan.

It wasn't anything like the "spectacle of RL" we all know it can be.

With RR on the plus side the standard of play will be better, plus there is the advantage that there may be less other sports in competition as its outside of the football season (though there are Euros)

Thank god, it looks as though they have decided that expansion to non league areas on a professional level does not work.

Seems like a good ground to hold it at- large enough to make it "special", small enough to fill it up far enough to give it proper atmosphere. We have relatives living in Manchester so we could stay there for free.

Not a fan of this decision.

I used to look forward to a good weekend away with the whole of Rugby League together, in a strange place, with a really good atmosphere around the pubs and bars all weekend.

That won't happen now as fans will turn up, watch their own team, then go straight home again.

Honestly

Just when we had found the Hooters bar in Cardiff as well.....