I wasn't here for the last one but I'll do my utmost to be here for the next one.

It is good it is very late because of more time to finish stand and let new pitch bed down, as it would make sense to me to market the big return and opening of the new south stand on an Easter Monday afternoon, big family events running from early, hopefully nice spring weather, big crowd possible etc.

Watch the RFL give Leeds Salford again like last year.

I would hope that the RFL would be sympathetic and possibly let Leeds suggest an opponent of their choosing if this turns out to be the plan. I understand that Wakefield have already tacitly suggested that if their new ground happens, as currently planned date wise, they would like Leeds as their first visitors on Boxing Day 2011 for the festive challenge and then probably Cas as their opening fixture, if it is slightly late and not ready until the start of the 2012 actual season, they would like Leeds as the opening fixture!

Opening the possibility of the first time Headingley hasn't hosted a Boxing Day fixture since .... ?

Dunno. You da man.

Gosh, a long time, must be 1980's sometime. I seem to be thinking Halifax (for some reason) and guessing 1986???

Surely Wakey or Cas would be a better option for the RU. A bit further to travel but their pitches aren't being used in the winter and will be replaced at the end of 2011 (Subject to being finished). Would be a lot cheaper than Elland Road I would have thought and Wakey has all the corporate boxes that they would require.

I've no idea since it became an out of season 'friendly' fixture (those I don't keep track of and never have.)

1) If we can establish that there has been a 'festive challenge' match held on Boxing Day at Headingley each close season during the SL Era then we're back in business.




It was a bit of a trick question as there was a furore kicked up by opposition teams sick of Leeds bagging the bumper gate all for themselves year in year out. The situation having initially arisen because of Grandstand's requirement from the RFL of a guaranteed fixture for televising. The irony being that two years after agreeing to Headingley hosting the fixture on alternating years the professional game switched over to the summer season.

So subject to 1) above, the last time Leeds were away from Headingley on Boxing Day was:

Monday 26th December 1994 Hull, The Boulevard, Hull 20 Leeds 24

Ooof.

Wow thats amazing. 1994

Yeah but the match won't finish until about 2140