This took place earlier tonight on BBC Radio Manchester.

5 pools were drawn by Northern Rail's Heidi Mottram. Four teams consisted pools A, B and C with three in both D and E.

Pool A: Swinton, Rochdale, Blackpool, Dewsbury.

Pool B: Batley, Keighley, Hunslet, Doncaster.

Pool C: London Skolars, Leigh, Gateshead, York.

Pool D: Whitehaven, Workington, Featherstone.

Pool E: Oldham, Sheffield, Halifax.

The top two teams in Pools A, B and C, in addition to the top teams from pools D and E will progress from the group stages on Saturday to the Northern Rail 9's Trophy on Sunday.

All other teams will compete for the Northern Rail 9's Plate on Sunday with the games being played as curtain raiser to the Northern Rail Cup Final between Widnes and Barrow.

Thought the matches were taking place at Panthers ground .....with only the trophy & plate finals being played as the NRC final 'curtain raisers'?.....or that's what I thought they said on GMR last night!!

We might see Nicky Stanton get a decent run at the try line

TBH does anybody really care

With less players to defend we also might get 100 past us

Do we really want to be risking the likes of Stanton in this Mickey Mouse comp?????

Preferably not, but I dare say the RFL will insist on strong sides being fielded.

Hardly the type of group to make me want to attend, especially as Gateshead will tonk us (again)

The RFL are insisting full strength squads apparently

We don't appear to have one

Don't forget that proper match day tickets for the 9's are on sale at the ticket office.

You get a ticket for each day of the event as part of the package, and they can also be "upgraded" to NRC Final tickets.

Prices are £9 Adult, and £5 Concession.

All money taken on these tickets goes to the club.

Well from looking at recent results Leigh may need to field a full strength 13

How long do nines matches last?

Put the reserves out... where is the rule stating we have to put out a full strength side?

If a player is contracted to Leigh in some way then we can play whoever we want surely.

From what i've seen unleash the Dollin on the 9s!! Wayne Standish was our Ace whan we played a the Pie 7s years ago this lad could do the same!

They have to be part of the 1st team squad listed by the club at the RFL (hence squad numbers -do people think the RFL insisted on squad numbers for any other reason?) the 'rule' came as a directive to all clubs and was well documented at the outset, there are 'contracts' and there are 'academy contracts' they are different.

In the letter telling all clubs that they have to do so

Or do you want us upsetting our friends at the RFL

Allan Rowley is probably putting together a statement as we speak condemning the RFL.......