The RFL and clubs are committed to the idea of a magic weekend. I propose that the magic weekend be revised to be a nines tournament with a cup going to the winner. What do people think?

Is there really the appetite for a 9's comp here yet?
We had one at Headingley but neither clubs nor fans properly committed to it.

Yes there was a nines, it was held at headingly on a week night which instantly limits fans going to just the Leeds area and had zero marketing. If the marketing for magic weekend was used for promoting a nines comp combined with it being held on a summer bank holiday weekend the fan take up would dwarf the current magic weekend interest. It would also allow clubs from the championship the chance to take part. It would enable a new income revenue with the the potential sponsorship of the nines cup.

Sky would love it as the games are shorter so they get the chance for more advert breaks and increase their income via commercials along with broadcasting a genuine tournament rather than a meaningless round of matches. It's a win win for all

I think you're drastically overestimating the interest in a 9's comp here. Would it really get 30-35k attendance?

If we want a 9's comp then great, let's do one and do it properly. But I'm not sure why it has to replace the Magic Weekend. Why not have both?

But the big problem would be making it worthwhile to the clubs in order that they put their best players in it. If it's just fringe players and u19's then it'll go the same way as the Headingley one.

Add another game to the calendar? The teams already play enough matches. I disagree the magic weekend is utterly meaningless I bet you can't name anything that the current magic format brings to the table that a nines tournament wouldn't ( bar 2 points to a meaningless league system), most fans know it and that's why the attendances are so low. A nines competition with a trophy for the winners would easily generate more fan and media interest.

I think it's the best option. IMO the MW doesn't serve an actual purpose and having an additional fixture when teams are relegated is stupid.

I would look at bringing the CC final back to May, with a magic 9's weekend being around end of July/beginning of August as the interim week between the split from 2 leagues of 12 to 3 of 8

Teams don't play enough matches, we need them to play more not less. Some players play too many games, which is why I'd limit the amount elite players play each year, but that's a different argument.

Adding a 9's tournament is hardly stretching the season beyond limit, especially as we could get rid of the Exiles game.
I can easily name one, in fact 2, money and media exposure. The attendances aren't low so I'm not sure what you're on about there.

You still haven't said why you think a 9's competition would generate more fan and media interest than the Magic Weekend. Just repeating what you said before isn't the same as saying why.
You just appear to have an intense dislike for the Magic Weekend and so are clinging to any reason to get rid of it.
Why would a meaningless 9's tournament get fans more interested than a full sided game that is worth 2 league points?
How would you get the clubs to put their best players out for it?
Would it really get 30-35k attendance?
As I said why not have it in addition to the Magic Weekend and current season?

I don't understand this love affair with 9s. It's glorified tick rugby.

That said, I am not a fan of the Magic Weekend in its current format either - I wonder what will happen if a team is relegated by 2 points decided upon the Magic weekend...

This has already been discussed in another thread -- the Auckland Nines Allnighter thread which is making waves all over England. Please let's not get repetitive.

I really don't see the point in 9s. Thought it worked well as a pre season tournament, but when the season starts I'd rather watch proper rugby

Aussies do something.
Let's copy.

Yeah.

I dont want rid of the magic weekend, i feel it could be put to better use.


???The 2 things you name money and media exposure:-

MEDIA-- Which gets the more column inches in the national press the current format of the magic weekend or the challenge cup final? the magic weekend is seen by the press at just another round of games nothing more nothing less, a nines comp would generate interest like a cup final because it has something at the end that the teams are playing for! And this is why the fans would take to it, along with the fact that nines rugby is fast and attack orientated.

MONEY-- the magic weekend is just another round of matches it doesnt have a seperate sponsor. It doesnt generate any additional income in gate receipts as tickets are sold at a cheaper price than normal matchday tickets for superleague games. wheres the extra money??? a nines comp would generate the same cash made via the stadium hosting deal AND would generate cash via a comp sponsor.

As a fan i have been to the magic weekend 4 times. I love my rugby but as a fan i would rather see this nice sunny bank holiday weekend be used for an event with MEANING rather than as an additional round of superleague. Thats my opinion and im fairly certain most other fans would agree.

I didnt post this poll to start an arguement over whos right and wrong. Its a simple poll to ask everyone if you had the choice which would you prefare, a weekly round of additional games held as the magic weekend OR a weekend nines tournament with a cup going to the winner. Dont expect me to respond back to your next comments because your simply derailing the thread, and i have better things to do than calm your apparent hatred towards a nines competion. you are Nigel Wood and i claim the £10 prize..............

You want to completely change what it is and what it's called. Replacing it with a 9's comp is getting rid of it. It's a perfectly legitimate view and one that I can understand.
But I don't see why we can't have both.



That's a very stupid comparison. The Challenge Cup gets the coverage it does (which still isn't much) because of its history and the fact it gets 70-80k to Wembley.
A new 9's comp will be largely ignored by the press along with most RL events. Just because it has a cup doesn't make it special. The 9's comp at Headingley had a cup, the Boxing Day fixture of Leeds v Wakefield has a cup, it doesn't generate media interest.


How much would the sponsor of the 9's comp pay?
The extra money? Because it's an extra game. It's a game that wouldn't take place otherwise.
So if the 9's comp would generate the same cash then do you think it would get 30-35k fans in attendance? I think it would struggle to get half that initially.
Which is why I'm not in favour of binning the Magic Weekend.


Hang on. Why does this mythical 9's comp suddenly have so much meaning? Why do fans love it and value it? People value the Challenge because of its history. People value the Grand Final because it's the Championship. Why would people value this suddenly?
Why is the 2 points on offer at the Magic Weekend any less meaningful than the 2 points on offer in the other 26 rounds?


Yes, and I responded to your poll. Again, I don't see why it has to be a straight choice. Why not have both?


How silly of me to discuss a 9's competition on a thread about a 9's competition. You appear very jumpy when someone disagrees with you. It's not a personal attack merely someone disagreeing with your opinion. It appears to be you who needs to calm and actually read what is posted. If you had done you wouldn't have seen any "hatred" in my posts toward a 9's comp. As I've continually posted, why not have both?

It does seem that way.

I'm not against 9's per se. I'm just unsure it'd be successful here. The only way it would work is if the SL clubs were somehow forced or encouraged to play their best players in it. Even then I'm unsure.

If someone finds a way to make it work, fantastic. Anything that generates money and interest is good and it could be RL's way into the Commonwealth Games.

We can't really have it as a pre season tournament as who would want to sit in the cold for 2 days? You would have to play it in summer which does lead it to a mid season weekend. If we got a big sponsor (i know would be hard) and the prize money was big enough teams would put out their best players as they would want to win it. Well the owners would anyway and they pay the bills

Personally a nines tournament doesn't do anything for me at all, it's a pre season warm up at best, it would not work over here how would it have 'meaning' ?

Had little to do with the "Aussies" until the Promoters got the Auckland City Council to agree (in principle) to supporting the event financially.....that's when the ARL decided it would be worth a try, once they had assurances regarding "costs" of getting clubs to the event were being covered.
The Auckland council are happily claiming 6k Aussies visiting for the comp which covers their investment and justifies it.....it's a win-win situation that the criminal element can't claim any credit for.

Jesus...I sound like a Kiwi......

Subtle

no need for it Superleague teams will be allowed to play next season.

Yep.

Just like Super League... franchising... salary cap... international origin... top 8 playoffs... which have all been a raging success over here of course.

We'll be having a heritage round next... oh, hang on... as if Super League had any heritage... apart from the iconic Bulls brand of course

It should be preseason, and I think you could run about 30 or more teams in a UK comp.

The number one difference between pro and semi pro players is fitness, but fitness hardly matters in an 18 minute game with unlimited interchange.

I'm not saying that lower grade sides would be on an equal footing with super league sides, but if super league sides put in understrength sides and lower grade sides took it very seriously, there would be upsets - which would be a lot of fun.

As to logistics, I've been to 7s comps with over 30 sides playing, and you need two fields on day one at least to get through all the games, or hold it over 3 days.

The idea of using MW as an idea for expanding the game quickly went out the window IMO. After attempts at both Cardiff and Edinburgh, it became very clear that there was very little local interest, and the majority of the crowd was made up of die-hard SL fans who'd travelled for the event.

The move to the Etihad was the right one IMO. The open lower-tier concourse is perfect for unreserved seating which is excellent for events when people are coming and going and also allows fans of the same team to congregate in the same area. Plus there is the large fanzone area outside where the sponsors games etc can be set up, plus the outdoor bars and food sellers. It's also now very easy to get to with the Etihad Campus Metrolink stop.

The main issue for me now is the actual PURPOSE of the MW. Currently, it doesn't really have one, other than as a sort of showcase for the sport, with all 14 teams playing at the same venue over one weekend. The fact it is an extra fixture that results in a mis-matched league table is what needs addressing. A 9's tournament is a perfect opportunity to showcase the sport, with the fastest and most skillful players highlighting the best bits of RL. It would also fit perfectly with the leagues splitting, as it would allow an extra week to sort out fixtures etc. for the 3x8 section.

And whether it would attract 30k plus is an interesting point. You would have supporters of more teams there, as there could be 16+ teams involved. You would also get teams involved in both days, so there would be more incentive to stay for the weekend and not just the day your own team is playing on. Also, I've got a feeling the MW crowds may have plataued in its current format. The first season at the Etihad was seen as a big success and drew an aggregate crowd of around 63,000, which was followed up last year with a crowd of about 62,000. It would not surprise me if there is a dip this year, it's not on a bank holiday weekend and I think more fans are becoming disillusioned with its purpose. My group are only going for the Saturday this year, but have usually done both.

Cold cash wants to take a nines comp to Dubai A consortium of cashed-up businessmen is reportedly sounding out the prospect of a rugby league Nines tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Millionaire Marwan Koukash, owner of English Super League club Salford, is said to be spearheading the group eager to expand the nine-a-side game following the success of last weekend's event in Auckland. wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8802691

Cold cash wants to take a nines comp to Dubai A consortium of cashed-up businessmen is reportedly sounding out the prospect of a rugby league Nines tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Millionaire Marwan Koukash, owner of English Super League club Salford, is said to be spearheading the group eager to expand the nine-a-side game following the success of last weekend's event in Auckland. wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8802691

Quote ="JB Down Under"Cold cash wants to take a nines comp to Dubai A consortium of cashed-up businessmen is reportedly sounding out the prospect of a rugby league Nines tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Millionaire Marwan Koukash, owner of English Super League club Salford, is said to be spearheading the group eager to expand the nine-a-side game following the success of last weekend's event in Auckland. wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8802691'" Good news, but TV Cash didn't drive the Auckland 9's and the viewing figures here peaked at ITM cup levels (145k/175k) over the 2 days. The Drivers were Ticket Sales and Council sponsorship.......with the Auckland Council "underwriting" the comp being the key that opened to the door to the NRL clubs taking part. Mar is great and shooting from the hip and the more I hear of him, the more I like the fella, but he needs to think things through...... For example, 12pm-7pm over 2 days in UAE is 7.30pm - 2.30am in Sydney, 9.30pm - 4.30am in New Zealand and 8am to 3pm in the UK.........his Imaginary TV deal would need to either pander to the UK market or the Australasian market and 14 hours of competition isn't going to attract enough money to cover the airfare of the competing teams. Not sure what a combined peak audience of 420k between Australia and New Zealand is worth to a TV company, but I'd suspect, not a lot......and that's only if you get the timing right to suit that market, with an 8am start local time...which I suspect isn't going to happen. Sevens stadium can hold the 50k each day that would generate decent ticket sales, but is the audience there? The other lot have the advantage of multiple nationalities being involved, but would NRL/SL clubs be the same draw card? Hey, I like the Dr and I hope he can pull something off that in turn could see some serious cash injected into the game if he gets a rich buddy or 2 interested, but as I say, he does need to think things through!

Quote ="JB Down Under"Cold cash wants to take a nines comp to Dubai A consortium of cashed-up businessmen is reportedly sounding out the prospect of a rugby league Nines tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Millionaire Marwan Koukash, owner of English Super League club Salford, is said to be spearheading the group eager to expand the nine-a-side game following the success of last weekend's event in Auckland. wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8802691'" Good news, but TV Cash didn't drive the Auckland 9's and the viewing figures here peaked at ITM cup levels (145k/175k) over the 2 days. The Drivers were Ticket Sales and Council sponsorship.......with the Auckland Council "underwriting" the comp being the key that opened to the door to the NRL clubs taking part. Mar is great and shooting from the hip and the more I hear of him, the more I like the fella, but he needs to think things through...... For example, 12pm-7pm over 2 days in UAE is 7.30pm - 2.30am in Sydney, 9.30pm - 4.30am in New Zealand and 8am to 3pm in the UK.........his Imaginary TV deal would need to either pander to the UK market or the Australasian market and 14 hours of competition isn't going to attract enough money to cover the airfare of the competing teams. Not sure what a combined peak audience of 420k between Australia and New Zealand is worth to a TV company, but I'd suspect, not a lot......and that's only if you get the timing right to suit that market, with an 8am start local time...which I suspect isn't going to happen. Sevens stadium can hold the 50k each day that would generate decent ticket sales, but is the audience there? The other lot have the advantage of multiple nationalities being involved, but would NRL/SL clubs be the same draw card? Hey, I like the Dr and I hope he can pull something off that in turn could see some serious cash injected into the game if he gets a rich buddy or 2 interested, but as I say, he does need to think things through!

SL not invited! Nice earner for the promotthe clubs. SL has to seriously look at this for the MW. LEADING English clubs will not be included in next year’s Nines despite the NRL’s profits surging past $50 million after a seven-figure windfall from the pre-season extravaganza in Auckland. The success of the Nines also may not be enough to entice Maroons ace Greg Inglis, who indicated yesterday he is likely to miss the second instalment of the tournament next year. As revealed by The Courier-Mail, Super League clubs Wigan and Bradford lodged expressions of interest to play in this year’s Nines but were knocked back by organisers. NRL chief executive Dave Smith said last week the governing body would consider English applications for next year’s Nines but it is understood the event will remain off-limits to Super League, with stakeholders reluctant to tinker with a formula that delivered a $3 million-plus bonanza to the NRL and its 16 clubs. Read more: www.foxsports.com.au//league/auc ... z2tvnaf3MQ www.foxsports.com.au/league/auck ... 6833050742

SL not invited! Nice earner for the promotthe clubs. SL has to seriously look at this for the MW. LEADING English clubs will not be included in next year’s Nines despite the NRL’s profits surging past $50 million after a seven-figure windfall from the pre-season extravaganza in Auckland. The success of the Nines also may not be enough to entice Maroons ace Greg Inglis, who indicated yesterday he is likely to miss the second instalment of the tournament next year. As revealed by The Courier-Mail, Super League clubs Wigan and Bradford lodged expressions of interest to play in this year’s Nines but were knocked back by organisers. NRL chief executive Dave Smith said last week the governing body would consider English applications for next year’s Nines but it is understood the event will remain off-limits to Super League, with stakeholders reluctant to tinker with a formula that delivered a $3 million-plus bonanza to the NRL and its 16 clubs. Read more: www.foxsports.com.au//league/auc ... z2tvnaf3MQ www.foxsports.com.au/league/auck ... 6833050742