Just wondering if there will be a ground big enough for the Wigan saints tie? If we exclude football grounds any one any ideas?

For me this will be between the Reebok Stadium in Bolton or the HJ in Wire.

If the RFL had any sense they will try and get the Reebok so expect it at the HJ.

So that's why there were RFL officials at the LSV today

It'll be the HJ, there will be disappointment when it sells out but the atmosphere will be great and all those in there will love it, the rest will just have to listen to Ray French, deal with it.

The Semis are in two week i think. So shouldn't be a problem playing there. Hopefullt it will be the Reebok, HJ is too small.

Why such a big gap from the last round to this one, then the Quarters/Semis and Final barely squashed into a month?

Then again it is the RFL, so there's no need to ask.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this forum full of outrage when the RFL booked Wire vs Wigan at the "far too small" Halton Stadium, only for tickets to still be available on the day?

Wigan didn't sell their allocation

Craven Park in Barrow will be big enough

they have had a similar thing the last few seasons. People moaning about not being big enough. In reality, 6500 for each set is probably a little too small but just right to make people scramble for tickets.

The HJ will be 15000 this time next year. Salford's new place will be up and about the same size. Saints slightly bigger.

It would make sense to me to try and get a stadium like Deepdale in Preston or Turf Moor in Burnley. Both a reasonable size, near enough and would take the professional game into a new area.

The problem is that most of the "local" football clubs seem to be at home on that weekend.

On Saturday 6th, Preston are at home to Colchester, Burnley are at home to Watford and Huddersfield (the most probable venue for Leeds v Cas) are at home to Bury.

The Keepmoat is available on the Saturday (Doncaster away at Brighton) but I can't see that being used.

On top of that, as previously mentioned, there's the chance that football clubs might not be overly keen on a rugby match being played 6/7 days before their first match of the season.

when will they announce the venue?

Of co there must be a ground in Lancashire big enough for that Semi Final because St Helens don't exactly have a massive support and the self-styled 'greatest fans in Rugby League',Wigan,only sold a p!ss poor 6,000 for their Semi with us at Widnes just 2 years ago.