The RFL and clubs are committed to the idea of a magic weekend. I propose that the magic weekend be revised to be a nines tournament with a cup going to the winner. What do people think?

Is there really the appetite for a 9's comp here yet?
We had one at Headingley but neither clubs nor fans properly committed to it.

Yes there was a nines, it was held at headingly on a week night which instantly limits fans going to just the Leeds area and had zero marketing. If the marketing for magic weekend was used for promoting a nines comp combined with it being held on a summer bank holiday weekend the fan take up would dwarf the current magic weekend interest. It would also allow clubs from the championship the chance to take part. It would enable a new income revenue with the the potential sponsorship of the nines cup.

Sky would love it as the games are shorter so they get the chance for more advert breaks and increase their income via commercials along with broadcasting a genuine tournament rather than a meaningless round of matches. It's a win win for all

I think you're drastically overestimating the interest in a 9's comp here. Would it really get 30-35k attendance?

If we want a 9's comp then great, let's do one and do it properly. But I'm not sure why it has to replace the Magic Weekend. Why not have both?

But the big problem would be making it worthwhile to the clubs in order that they put their best players in it. If it's just fringe players and u19's then it'll go the same way as the Headingley one.

Add another game to the calendar? The teams already play enough matches. I disagree the magic weekend is utterly meaningless I bet you can't name anything that the current magic format brings to the table that a nines tournament wouldn't ( bar 2 points to a meaningless league system), most fans know it and that's why the attendances are so low. A nines competition with a trophy for the winners would easily generate more fan and media interest.

I think it's the best option. IMO the MW doesn't serve an actual purpose and having an additional fixture when teams are relegated is stupid.

I would look at bringing the CC final back to May, with a magic 9's weekend being around end of July/beginning of August as the interim week between the split from 2 leagues of 12 to 3 of 8

Teams don't play enough matches, we need them to play more not less. Some players play too many games, which is why I'd limit the amount elite players play each year, but that's a different argument.

Adding a 9's tournament is hardly stretching the season beyond limit, especially as we could get rid of the Exiles game.
I can easily name one, in fact 2, money and media exposure. The attendances aren't low so I'm not sure what you're on about there.

You still haven't said why you think a 9's competition would generate more fan and media interest than the Magic Weekend. Just repeating what you said before isn't the same as saying why.
You just appear to have an intense dislike for the Magic Weekend and so are clinging to any reason to get rid of it.
Why would a meaningless 9's tournament get fans more interested than a full sided game that is worth 2 league points?
How would you get the clubs to put their best players out for it?
Would it really get 30-35k attendance?
As I said why not have it in addition to the Magic Weekend and current season?

I don't understand this love affair with 9s. It's glorified tick rugby.

That said, I am not a fan of the Magic Weekend in its current format either - I wonder what will happen if a team is relegated by 2 points decided upon the Magic weekend...

This has already been discussed in another thread -- the Auckland Nines Allnighter thread which is making waves all over England. Please let's not get repetitive.

I really don't see the point in 9s. Thought it worked well as a pre season tournament, but when the season starts I'd rather watch proper rugby

Aussies do something.
Let's copy.

Yeah.

I dont want rid of the magic weekend, i feel it could be put to better use.


???The 2 things you name money and media exposure:-

MEDIA-- Which gets the more column inches in the national press the current format of the magic weekend or the challenge cup final? the magic weekend is seen by the press at just another round of games nothing more nothing less, a nines comp would generate interest like a cup final because it has something at the end that the teams are playing for! And this is why the fans would take to it, along with the fact that nines rugby is fast and attack orientated.

MONEY-- the magic weekend is just another round of matches it doesnt have a seperate sponsor. It doesnt generate any additional income in gate receipts as tickets are sold at a cheaper price than normal matchday tickets for superleague games. wheres the extra money??? a nines comp would generate the same cash made via the stadium hosting deal AND would generate cash via a comp sponsor.

As a fan i have been to the magic weekend 4 times. I love my rugby but as a fan i would rather see this nice sunny bank holiday weekend be used for an event with MEANING rather than as an additional round of superleague. Thats my opinion and im fairly certain most other fans would agree.

I didnt post this poll to start an arguement over whos right and wrong. Its a simple poll to ask everyone if you had the choice which would you prefare, a weekly round of additional games held as the magic weekend OR a weekend nines tournament with a cup going to the winner. Dont expect me to respond back to your next comments because your simply derailing the thread, and i have better things to do than calm your apparent hatred towards a nines competion. you are Nigel Wood and i claim the £10 prize..............

You want to completely change what it is and what it's called. Replacing it with a 9's comp is getting rid of it. It's a perfectly legitimate view and one that I can understand.
But I don't see why we can't have both.

It does seem that way.

I'm not against 9's per se. I'm just unsure it'd be successful here. The only way it would work is if the SL clubs were somehow forced or encouraged to play their best players in it. Even then I'm unsure.

If someone finds a way to make it work, fantastic. Anything that generates money and interest is good and it could be RL's way into the Commonwealth Games.

We can't really have it as a pre season tournament as who would want to sit in the cold for 2 days? You would have to play it in summer which does lead it to a mid season weekend. If we got a big sponsor (i know would be hard) and the prize money was big enough teams would put out their best players as they would want to win it. Well the owners would anyway and they pay the bills