The Rugby League All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the Board of the Rugby Football League and Supporters Direct oppose this recommendation. The RFL has given evidence to the Committee and responded to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to this effect. An Early Day Motion (EDM) has been tabled by Neil Turner MP as Secretary and the Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs who are Vice-Chairs of the Group, and we are seeking a debate in Parliament.

As a Rugby League Supporter, you can help ensure that this proposal is defeated, and that the Challenge Cup remains available to all supporters to see on free to view television.

Firstly as RL supporters, please write and encourage your local MP to sign the EDM (EDM4icon_cool.gif to indicate their support for our view. To find your who your MP is and their contact details, check rlhererl <http> <http> ]. I should explain that only Back-bench MPs can sign EDMs, but your writing to your MP should they be a Government Minister or Opposition Spokesperson will show them the strength and depth of feeling on this issue within their constituency.

Secondly, please respond to the consultation by writing to DCMS and making your views known. The number of letters they receive will be a major factor in their accepting or rejecting the report’s recommendations. Once open, the consultation, and contact details for responses will be listed at rlhttps://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/default.aspxrl <http> <http> .

I believe that we can overturn this recommendation, but only if we act collectively as Rugby League fans in the way I have suggested. I hope your Trust and its members will help, and we can keep the Challenge Cup on ‘free to air’ television, and allow all those many fans who cannot see regularly televised Super League games live to enjoy one of our games greatest spectacles, and top teams battle for one of our country’s oldest trophies.

Once the consultation period is open we will be posting details of who to contact at the DCMS and how to sign the petition, we will send to the DCMS.

Below is a sample email to send to your MP -

[codeDear (Insert Name of MP),

Davies Report and the RL Challenge Cup Final

I am sure you will be aware that the Davies Committee has recommended that the Challenge Cup should no longer be on the ‘A’ list of events free to view on terrestrial television.

The Rugby League All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the Board of the Rugby Football League, Supporters Direct and the Rugby League Supporter Association oppose this recommendation. The RFL has given evidence to the Committee and responded to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to this effect. An Early Day Motion (EDM48) has been tabled by Neil Turner MP as Secretary and the Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs who are Vice-Chairs of the Group, and we are seeking a debate in Parliament.

As a Rugby League supporter, I would urge you to sign the EDM and show your support for this campaign. Rugby League is one of the fastest growing sports in the country at grass-roots level and this growth can only gained with continued exposure from free-to-air TV. The Rugby League Challenge Cup has provided some iconic moments in this country’s sporting history and will continue to do so in future as the country’s top teams battle for one of sports oldest trophies.

Best Wishes,
[/code

Further to earlier discussions, the consultation period on the Davies Report is now open until March 5th 2010. As you will be aware, the Davies Report has recommended that the Rugby League Challenge Cup be removed from the list of free-to-air events. To remove the Challenge Cup from the free-to-air list would mean a huge and very significant drop in exposure for the game, which we believe will severely limit the ability of the sport to grow. For a sport which has proven to have benefits to health and wellbeing and is able to be adapted for almost any person (whether able bodied or not) to play, this could also have serious knock-on effects in health terms throughout the country. Further details of the consultation period can be found here rlhttps://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6496.aspxrl. After the closure of the consultation period, the Secretary of State will make a decision on whether to accept or ignore these recommendations which is being opposed by the RFL, the APPRLG (All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group) and Supporters Direct. He will take into account ALL available information and views. It is felt by all parties that a large number of responses opposing this recommendation could ensure the Challenge Cup remains on the protected list for future generations to enjoy and I would urge you to show your support for this campaign in one (or both) of two wayshttps://www.gopetition.com/online/32754.htmlrl Please add your name to this petition which will be forwarded to Neil Turner, Secretary of the APPRLG a week prior to the closure of the consultation. Secondly, you can send your response to David Patterson at the DCMS either via email on Mr David Patterson Listed Events Consultation 5th Floor Department for Culture, Media & Sport 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 4DH Dear Mr. Patterson, I am writing to give my support to the RFL, APPRLG (All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group) and Supporters Direct campaign to keep the Rugby League Challenge Cup on the protected list of free-to-air events. The Challenge Cup is one of sports oldest competitions and has provided many iconic moments in our country’s great sporting history and at grass roots level, rugby league is now one of the fastest growing sports in the country. To remove the Challenge Cup from the free-to-air list would mean a huge and very significant drop in exposure for the game, which we believe will severely limit the ability of the sport to grow. For a sport which has proven to have benefits to health and wellbeing and is able to be adapted for almost any person (whether able bodied or not) to play, this could also have serious knock-on effects in health terms. I would urge the Secretary of State to ignore the recommendations on the delisting of the Challenge Cup made in the Davies Report, to ensure that the competition remains on the free-to-air list for future generations to enjoy the excitement and passion that the sport evokes. Yours sincerely [/code

Further to earlier discussions, the consultation period on the Davies Report is now open until March 5th 2010. As you will be aware, the Davies Report has recommended that the Rugby League Challenge Cup be removed from the list of free-to-air events. To remove the Challenge Cup from the free-to-air list would mean a huge and very significant drop in exposure for the game, which we believe will severely limit the ability of the sport to grow. For a sport which has proven to have benefits to health and wellbeing and is able to be adapted for almost any person (whether able bodied or not) to play, this could also have serious knock-on effects in health terms throughout the country. Further details of the consultation period can be found here rlhttps://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6496.aspxrl. After the closure of the consultation period, the Secretary of State will make a decision on whether to accept or ignore these recommendations which is being opposed by the RFL, the APPRLG (All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group) and Supporters Direct. He will take into account ALL available information and views. It is felt by all parties that a large number of responses opposing this recommendation could ensure the Challenge Cup remains on the protected list for future generations to enjoy and I would urge you to show your support for this campaign in one (or both) of two wayshttps://www.gopetition.com/online/32754.htmlrl Please add your name to this petition which will be forwarded to Neil Turner, Secretary of the APPRLG a week prior to the closure of the consultation. Secondly, you can send your response to David Patterson at the DCMS either via email on Mr David Patterson Listed Events Consultation 5th Floor Department for Culture, Media & Sport 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 4DH Dear Mr. Patterson, I am writing to give my support to the RFL, APPRLG (All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group) and Supporters Direct campaign to keep the Rugby League Challenge Cup on the protected list of free-to-air events. The Challenge Cup is one of sports oldest competitions and has provided many iconic moments in our country’s great sporting history and at grass roots level, rugby league is now one of the fastest growing sports in the country. To remove the Challenge Cup from the free-to-air list would mean a huge and very significant drop in exposure for the game, which we believe will severely limit the ability of the sport to grow. For a sport which has proven to have benefits to health and wellbeing and is able to be adapted for almost any person (whether able bodied or not) to play, this could also have serious knock-on effects in health terms. I would urge the Secretary of State to ignore the recommendations on the delisting of the Challenge Cup made in the Davies Report, to ensure that the competition remains on the free-to-air list for future generations to enjoy the excitement and passion that the sport evokes. Yours sincerely [/code