Leigh Sporting Village gets my vote.

I'd suggest somewhere like Nottingham, although I'm biased.

Its not too far from the heartlands, so could be done in the day, the city ground can hold 35k+ so would be close to selling out. But it is far enough away from the heartlands to be worth the trip, and a good day out / weekend away. There's also plenty of stuff to do in the city.

There is a growing interest in RL down here, and lots of work going on in schools. It would be a boost for the game in the city, and the city is not so big that the event won't get lost. I got the impression from when I went to Murrayfield last season that most of the locals didn't even know it was happening.

I don't know why they think the venue will make any difference. The concept is a bit naff full stop.

However, I would just like to congratulate them on considering a nines tournament. That would be excellent IMO.

A proper full nines or sevens tournament is something that would go down well in our sport. One where the full sides are competing not just sending the youth teams.

We did once do something similar in the 80's I remember, or it might have been early 90's. Was it the British Coal Nines?

What about Sheffield? Its handy for everyone in the 'heartlands', and would/could give people like Mark Aston a bit of publicity in the area.

Starting the season with a bang as per Peacocks suggestion would be the way to go.

But then it would have to be Cardiff. And that would be fine with me.

If only Blackpool had an enclosed stadium........

And somewhat more than a 16,000 capacity.

How many fans would want to sit in a stadium for 8 hours in February.

That's why it has to be Cardiff. Some of us barely survived Edinburgh in May, February is a quite frankly frightening prospect.

It was.

Early 90's you say, I wonder which team won it?

I'd rather have another Test match TBH.

Most definately... it'd look a lot better on TV which would allow it some time to grow.. it should be the season opener for me...

I remember been there at Wigan I think, but can not remember who won. I didn't think it was Leeds, and would guess at Wigan. But really having a memory brain fart here.

I still liked the concept though and would like to see the game trumpet something similar. Headingley is the absolute perfect venue for a tournament like that.

Yup. Id agree with you there. On both counts.

I've always like the Idea of doing it in the North East, 1 day in Newcastle and 1 day in Sunderland, both good size stadiums, both good to go for the weekend (well Newcastle anyhow) and they are drivable in a day if you only want to go for the day.

Plus you get the whole area involved rather than just one city.

Just an Idea

Move the challenge cup final back to the start of May (rather than have it drag on all year) and have it on August bank holiday.

Or scrap it.

If it has to be played and you want a big crowd, it has to be the first match of the season, so that means it has to be enclosed, meaning Cardiff.

A nine tournament could then be shoved either in the middle or end of the season.

Being.

It was held at Wigan and like you I was there and like you I remember Leeds not winning it and probably Wigan being triumphant, just for a change.

Don't we already have a Nines event held annually at Headingley? I'm thinking Hull and Huddersfield were the winners in the last two seasons. There isn't much spectator interest in the event though so not sure if it's got much of a chance being expanded or remaining viable on the calendar. And that goes for the M-Magic weekend also.

Thats what I was saying earlier though. The Headingley one is an invitational event which is not taken seriously and really only youth teams are playing in it.

What I read from that RFL announcement is that they are considering a proper full nines tournament. And it is that which appeals to me. I love the smaller team games as a one off tournament.

Again like the other ideas though it is still very close, and like you say drivable in the day which appeals to you.

The whole concept of the magic weekend is that the RFL or the clubs don't pay for it. It is financed by local businesses in the area of where it is played. The idea been that people stay over and shop and drink whilst there.

People are not likely to stay over in Nottingham or Bolton or Leigh.

get voting then stadiumforcornwall.com/

get voting then stadiumforcornwall.com/

I haven't seen what the RFL have proposed re the Nines but I doubt the clubs would treat it any differently to the invitational event run at Headingley.

Not unless there was a major incentive to do so, major prize money, qualification (for the semi finalists) to a World Nines somewhere appealing, that kind of thing.

Speaking of which I also remember a World Nines where GB competed in Australia around the time you mentioned earlier, involving the ARL club sides and perhaps some other national teams. GB bombed ~IIRC.

With six nations tournament running February/March do you think it will get the required publicity at that time of the year. I don't.