To me the problem isnt the quality of fixtures or the marketing its the venue.
I'm a student and going up to Scotland to watch a Huddersfield game simply isn't something I am willing to spend my money on.
I think the concept would work if it was somewhere worthwhile going to. If they had it at Elland Road, CoM Stadium, Anfield/Goodison Park or even in Birmingham I would be happy to hop in the car or on a train, get up or down there and support my team.

Add to this the fact that these stadiums would probably sell out with worthwhile fixture choices it seems a no brainer to move it to somewhere better like those.

I can't see the benefit of having it in Scotland?

If some of the local public went to the event or even if we got the local schools involved what games would they go and watch once the event is over?

Maybe a handful of them might join a local RL team, if they are lucky enough to have one near them, but it hardly seems to be worth it just for that?

There must be better venues and days like this highlight the need for a national stadium in RL. An event like this in RU plus others like their GF, Cup finals, Internationals, Sevens games and one off spectacle matches like Army vs Navy or the Baa Baa’s would all be played at Twickers with the money then being recycled into the RFU coffers.

We have a trip to London next weekend for the Challenge Cup. Some of us have to prioritise.

Don't blame you.

not many there for saints game. we have been last game on every year meaning we are onlygetting home at turned 1am. we take grandkids and decided this year we did not need the hassle some of you must have been glad to have been on next to last at least you got home a bit earlier.

the most magic part was turning £50 into 14 bottles of magners.

TBH, we had intended to stay for all 3 games.

Got in to the stadium about 1:30 and really enjoyed the Cas match, then (of course) fully enjoyed ours.

However, at half-time in the Stains walkover, we decided to get a head-start, so that we could just take our time.

Funnily though, on our way back to the Park&Ride, we passed both Hull KR (can't blame 'em) AND Stains fans.

It's time to either bin this idea (which IMO would be a shame), or bite the bullet and admit that we need to use a smaller stadium, closer to the heartlands.

How about the City of Manchester, but switch the event to the LAST Bank Holiday weekend in May, so that the football season is over and done with?

I'm sure we could get 35-40k PER DAY, which would look awesome on the TV, rather than it showing a mostly empty stadium, getting even more empty with each passing match.

We just went for the sunday got there around 1330 watched the cas game and ofcourse the WIGAN game and decided when saints went 20-0 up that was enough, there wasnt many from saints 2 small sets of fans at opposite ends of the ground, the ground/weather was very cold and like another poster i heard SKY dimissing the CC like they have the showpiece event which they know is the CC.

Ive never been so cold as i was on saturday in the stadium. I swear to God i think one of my eyes froze! It only defrosted when i got back into the hotel bar

for me it has to be conroy getting kicked out the boozer on the seton sands complex. thats what you get for falling asleep at the bar!!!

Is that lad ever sober?

if you had red hair you'd be exactly the same!!

My best moment was managing to keep the Wigan haters behind me quite with my constant praise for Locky which really wound them up considering they wanted him hanged after his little push on Robinson.

But the one thing that does stand out is not really Magic at all. When we were on the coach waiting to leave a small group of Saints fans walked past singing St Helens and pointing to their badges, fair enough really, until my nine-year old son pulled his tongue out at them for being Saints fans. One lad the proceeded to aim a w*nker hand signal at my son calling him a f-ing w*nker, very brave to do that to a child, the worst thing is my lad thought it was his fault for pulling his tongue at them.

Most of the fans we spoke to were brilliant, but once again the minority always show themselves up.

another magic moment ... being in the murrayfield hotel and a cas fan walking in during the first half of the cas game. he was either very lost, very drunk, had been kicked out or a combination of the 3!

Got to say for me it was the Wigan players mingling around with the fans as they went back to the coach. Managed to get photos of my little brother with most of the players as well as Maguire and Wane, and his hero Pat Richards signed his shirt, and one of the substitution cards that a member of the club staff gave him. Really made my brothers day, full credit to the players and coaches! Was nice to hear maguire say the win was us "getting back on the horse".

And when a quite merry (

) fan offered to buy Sams boots he replied "ah I can't mate, I need these for next week!". Also stu fielden saying he had to be careful cos they would leave without him and he'd get a fine, but "Where's that lockers? As long as he doesn't go I'm ok, they wouldn't leave without him!".

That surely brings a smile to any Wigan fans face



My highlights were when the players coming off the field (wearing my Wigan top of course) i shook hands with Kev Brown and Luke Robinson and they were both very pleasant and meaningful, Credit to both guys! I could see Ian lenaghan lookin at this drunken Jock in a wigan shirt shaking hands with players of both teams whilst thinkin wtf?!?!
I even Bought a Wire fan a beer on Rose St and had 3 pints of Guinness in a Celtic pub when i got back to Glasgow (long story Liam) hey i musta been in a good mood!
Fantastic weekend again, much better feel to it than Cardiff (imo) and it'll be such a shame if this concept is shelved.

Oh, and every single Wigan fan i saw/spoke to seemed to be enjoying themselves

Is that when you was doing the huddle in the celtic pub?

what about the nazi stewards making them take the flags down. i can think of a few magic tricks id have performed if they were my flags

If fans dont even stay for each others games, then really what is the point of this weekend???

Yeh that was pretty poor, though i managed to get mine up eventually because as the steward said... and i quote : "Its a Scottish flag"

Thats the reason I dont go, I have no interest in watching other teams play. Went to the Hull v Hull kr derby at millenium once. Didnt really enjoy to be honest, so didnt bother going back.

Agree!! I cant get excited about watching the other 13 teams who hate our very existence

I just couldnt get involved in the game to be honest, and last time i was that bored i had just come out of a football match. It did however make me see how inept the refs where, it was terrible, for both sides!

I enjoyed the games on day one (except the wire game) but that was at home, i doubt i would have bothered watching them all if i had gone. I dont really have much interest in paying to watch rival teams, especially up in Edinburgh.

Bloody hell, their parents must trust them, letting 9 year old kids go for a knees up in scotland is crazy. Surely they had parents with them?