Magic Weekend heads to Murrayfield

Rugby League’s Magic Weekend will be played at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium next May the RFL have confirmed and will include a highly attractive admission offer for club season ticket holders.nnThe Magic Weekend – where a full round of engage Super League fixtures are played in one city over one weekend – will be staged on Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd following a two year agreement between Super League (Europe) Limited, Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and other local partners.nnThe 2009 Magic Weekend sees the city of Edinburgh hosting top class Rugby League for the first time since 2002, when the Challenge Cup Final took place at Murrayfield.nnAnd as well as the exciting move to the Scottish capital next season, engage Super League season ticket holders will be able to take advantage of an amazing 50% discount voucher enabling them to buy Magic Weekend day tickets at half price.nnThe move to Edinburgh also means that supporters can look forward to a bigger and better all round experience throughout their stay with the city offering a huge choice of accommodation, an incredibly wide selection of restaurants as well as a hugely expanded game-day entertainment programme in and around the stadium.nnHarlequins Rugby League Head Coach Brian McDermott has said:nn“All players, coaches and staff are excited at the prospect of the Edinburgh weekend.”nn“The feeling and banter between all the super league teams and fans in relation to the Magic weekend really does make it something other than just another ‘league round’.”nn“We are looking forward to the opportunity to play in Edinburgh next May.”nnGordon McKie, Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled to have secured another major sporting event for Murrayfield and Edinburgh, again underlining Scottish Rugby’s commitment to hosting world class premium events at the Stadium.nn“The exceptional and flexible facilities available at Murrayfield allow us to add a unique festival atmosphere to major events.nn“We are very much looking forward to working in partnership with our key stakeholders to ensure that the Magic Weekend is a tremendous success.”nnStatistics confirm that the move to Edinburgh will make the event even more attractive to spectators due to the range of accommodation available and the vast range of places to visit and things to do, aside from a feast of engage Super League.nnWith 6,074 rooms within 2km of the city centre, Edinburgh has nearly twice as many hotel rooms as Cardiff and offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.nnSupporters will also be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a place to eat and drink. The city boasts more restaurants per head of population than any other British city.nnEdinburgh is Europe’s festival capital with over 60 art galleries and major museums, five major performing arts theatres as well as numerous other visitor attractions.nnIt’s not just Edinburgh city centre that will offer more opportunities for Rugby League supporters during the Magic Weekend. Murrayfield Stadium is also set to be a hub of activity.nnThe Stadium is surrounded by a wide expanse of land, and plans for an exciting family fan village offering refreshments and entertainment are set to be unveiled in due course.nnMany of the partners involved in securing the event for Edinburgh have promised a warm welcome to the thousands of rugby fans expected to head north.nnSteve Cardownie, City of Edinburgh Festivals and Events Champion, said: “Edinburgh is held in the highest regard all over the world and our reputation for hosting major events get stronger every year.nn“Edinburgh’s rugby credentials are second to none so this is fantastic news for the city. The many rugby league fans who make their way here can be sure of a warm welcome and a fantastic time.”nnVisit Scotland, Director of Visitor Engagement, Malcolm Roughead, OBE stated: “VisitScotland is delighted to support the Scottish Rugby and its partners in bringing Rugby League to Edinburgh.nn“Edinburgh’s appeal as a destination and the easy accessibility of the city for visitors make it the perfect location to spend a weekend enjoying the sights and sounds of the city and the rugby during what promises to be a festival of rugby in May 2009.”nnFull details of the fixture format for the 2009 Magic Weekend will be revealed in due course.nnTickets for this year’s event are now on sale and start from £15 per day, £5 for concessions.