The regular season finishes on the weekend of 10th May so play-offs aside that is not really the case.

I see from the Wembley website that on the weekend 30th May England play a friendly against Peru. Would that not make more sense?

The Etihad is hosting a concert that day.

The Magic Weekend is scheduled to suit SKY, it is one of the 'events' it uses to try and stop people cancelling SKY Sports after the Football season ends.

I don't think being up against the FA Cup is that big of a deal, its not the event it was.

Quote: UllFC "The Magic Weekend is scheduled to suit SKY, it is one of the 'events' it uses to try and stop people cancelling SKY Sports after the Football season ends. I don't think being up against the FA Cup is that big of a deal, its not the event it was.'" Ironic the way that one worked out then: www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/27038591

Quote: UllFC "The Magic Weekend is scheduled to suit SKY, it is one of the 'events' it uses to try and stop people cancelling SKY Sports after the Football season ends. I don't think being up against the FA Cup is that big of a deal, its not the event it was.'" Ironic the way that one worked out then: www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/27038591

Who gives a monkeys about Mo & Ron Balls boring final?
The magic weekend is a RL event .
What others do is up to them.

Personally, as much as I wish Hull City well, I'm not that interested. If the rugby wasn't on then I would watch, but as it is I will be plumping for the rugby whilst keeping an eye on what is going on at Wembley. However attendances and viewing figures will be hit hard imo. There are plenty of people in Hull who follow a rugby team and City. Those people have a choice of watching City in their first ever FA cup final, or watching a derby that happens 4 times per year. Tough call.

Could this have been planned any worse?

TBH I think the CC Final and the Magic Weekend should swap dates. It'd mean the Magic Weekend has a lot more riding on it as it'll be nearer to the play-offs so more build-up and the CC Final was always better in April/May.

You think the RFL misjudged in not anticipating that Hull Tigers would make the FA Cup Final?

The RFL reckon they are 60% up on ticket sales compared to last year

rlhttps://www.superleague.co.uk/article/29991/bumper-demand-for-magic-weekendrl

Wouldn't be a problem if the FA Cup Final was still held at its traditional kick off time, but that competition has become very secondary in the football calendar with it being more a distraction for most clubs......although one of our resident experts in his incessant/compulsive need to always seem to be right on everything claims that not to be the case.

Who says the FA cup isn't a side show to the premiership, the race for the premiership and the Champions League? It most assuredly is!

I know it is, some 'others' didn't previously......(or did but are so stuck in auto-pilot to knock British RL on every angle they backed the wrong horse on this occasion by not thinking it through.)

Can't see the problem. The RFL will have had little / no choice on dates. The dates would be dependent on Sky and venue availability. I think the support from Hull will suffer but no one could reasonably have foreseen Hull City / Tigers getting to the FA cup final - it's never happened before! Anyway, if Hull is the RL city it purports to be even that won't matter (although I think that's hot air). In short, I can't see a problem.

PS There is an added potential benefit - if Hull FC supporters go to Wembley and infiltrate the City crowd before causing trouble that hits the national press / TV screens it would even things up from those times when Hull FC have brought disgrace to RL (albeit after having been "infiltrated" by City fans)!!