Whitehaven left frustrated by Leigh fixture change for season opener
Leigh Sports Village
Leigh’s Championship season opener against Whitehaven has been put back 24 hours and will now take place on Sunday January 30.
The game had been due to take place on Saturday January 29 due to stadium availability issues at the Leigh Sports Village.
But it has now been changed, despite an appeal from the Cumbrian side, who reached the play-offs last season.
A club spokesperson said: “After deliberation with the RFL and Leigh we put our case across about player welfare and issues regarding players working but it’s fallen on deaf ears.
“We can only apologise to our players who had already agreed to play on the Saturday to now be told it’s a Sunday.
“Also to our fans who had arranged buses for the Saturday and now will have to change to the Sunday it’s been taken out of the clubs hands and a decision was made by an RFL appeals panel after we appealed the decision.”
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It will be Leigh’s first game back in the Championship following their relegation from Super League.
Whitehaven enjoyed a remarkable second half of 2021 that saw them reach the top six on the final day.
Championship rugby league returns to TV in 2022, after the announcement of a deal with Premier Sports.
Games will be televised every Monday night.
The first televised game sees York host Featherstone on Monday January 31.
TV DATES: The list of Monday night rugby league Championship fixtures live on TV
Elsewhere in the opening round, newly part-time London Broncos play their first game at AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium against Widnes.
Last season’s play-off semi-finalists Batley and Halifax meet at Mount Pleasant and Bradford travel to their former temporary home at Dewsbury.
League 1 champions Barrow start at home to Sheffield and fellow newly-promoted side Workington welcome Newcastle.
The Championship will have 27 rounds this season, including a Summer Bash which will move away from its traditional location in Blackpool – with a new venue yet to be confirmed.