Bulls fight RFL to have game moved

Bradford are fighting to have their round four clash with St Helens played on the same night as the World Club Challenge between Leeds and Melbourne.

The Bulls want to move the game from Sunday February 24th to Friday February 22nd to avoid a clash with the League Cup final, which involves Bradford City FC, and claim that they could lose up to £100,000 in gate receipts if it’s not moved.

A move to the Saturday night has been ruled out by the Bulls, who say fans want to spend the weekend in London to attend the football at Wembley.

The request has so far been turned down by the RFL, to protect the integrity of the showpiece clash, which is taking place at Headingley.

Blake Solly, the RFL’s director of standards and licensing, said: “The Super League clubs and the RFL agreed ten years ago that the World Club Challenge was one of the most important fixtures in the season schedule. 

“Wherever possible, the integrity of the fixture needs to be protected and it needs its own place in the schedule. 

“Having a Super League fixture on the same night as the World Club Challenge detracts from everything to do with the fixture – interest in the game, television audience and the attendance of the match. 

“We’ve worked very hard over a long period of time to build the World Club Challenge up to the event it is now. 

“We don’t want to risk that and have given the Bulls a choice of kick-off times on the Saturday.”

St Helens are believed to be happy to move the game, and the Bulls are expecting a final decision by the RFL’s independent board of directors on Wednesday.