Well publicised by Duffen himself at the time. About the same time as he announced on Live Local radio that he couldn't have had any complaints from the rugby population of Hull about this because they couldn't write, IIRC.

You're right. Just as well!

How convenient for him

I don't recall him giving details of which way the dates had moved between him and the RFL.?

The RL offered him one date which he couldn't guarantee. I believe more were offered after this initial refusal which were also declined, but not 100% sure of these details. At no point did Duffen offer them dates - how could he? The fixtures weren't out and that was the whole problem - no date would have suited if he wasn't prepared to ask for the dispensation.

Never been able to get to the bottom of why he didn't try for the dispensation. Was he too embarrassed to go cap in hand to the PL schedulers once again? Or what? Can't think of a reason why he wouldn't try, even if his attempt was refused.

Maybe he did try...do you know for certain he didn't.

If he didn't it would've been because the RFL didn't do as they first promised and give him a selection of dates instead of just the one.

He'd already asked for 3 weekends in a very short space of time where City needed to play away...the FA have a hard enough job as it is without one club needing 4 weekends away from home in the space of 2 months.

Round One
2009-10-23
New Zealand v Australia Twickenham Stoop, London, England

2009-10-24
England v France Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England

Round Two
2009-10-31
England v Australia JJB Stadium, Wigan, England

2009-10-31
France v New Zealand Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse, France

Round Three
2009-11-07
England v New Zealand Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, England

2009-11-07
France v Australia Stade Jean Bouin, Paris, France

Out of interest, which game do people think [ishould[/i have been played at the KC?

With all respects you are mistaken, I can tell you we have a very good chance as long as we address the issues that have been raised to us by the FA inspection team. The Hull offer is completely different to that of the other applicant host cities in terms of its hosting concept.

The port complex, waterfront setting and the opportunity to deliver first class fan parks and fan fests present Kingston Upon Hull with a very strong and unique proposition.

To add, FIFA's goal is to leave a regeneration legacy and impact on a city this can be achieved in Hull but this can not be said for the likes of other applicant cities such as Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool etc.


WC PROJECT MANAGER

Hardly likely to say different, are you!

Anyone of the 3 England games would have been nice!



Think we were pencilled in for the NZ game by the rfl but not sure on that.

I think the RFL have it right, they have one at te JJB which is local for the Lancashire sides, one in Huddersfield which is local for the Yorkshire sides and one in a smaller stadium (that they made an agreement to utilise as part of it's initial deveopment)

Any of the above although I believe the England v NZ one was the one the RFL offered us.

I think the venues are fine but I would like to think if the KC is offered the chance to host a game that no stone would be left unturned in order to bring top class RL to the city of Hull. Wigan always seem to manage it!

Incidently, out of the 3 England games, only the Australia game finds City playing away from home that weekend. As this is at the JJB I reckon this wasn't an option in the first place therefore the 2 remaining games find City at home so couldn't have been played at the KC in the end anyway.

City at home to Stoke on the Sunday, which is, amazingly, contrary to the Premier League rules about 24 hours non - use.

Yes you’re quite right I’m not but you’re stating the obvious there aren’t you, but at the same time I and others wouldn’t invest effort and time on projects that we feel had potentially no end result. People need to start getting behind their city, drop their cynicism and start to believe that we can compete with the best. We have made huge strides forward as a city, yes there is still a lot to do but we are coming from a position that is further back than most and this will take time. Change is happening and our BID reflects the aims and vision of an ambitious city. Or maybe you would prefer things to keep how they where?

Do you think we will have been given just the one date? I am not sure. I think the RFL pencilled in Galpharm for the England v France game until we turned it down then brought in Keepmoat to host it and move the Kiwis to Huddersfield.

Lets hope the RFL keep inviting us to host games despite the turn down this year.

TBF, that probably wasn't a Sunday fixture until afterwards as Sky would've looked at the fixtures then gone back to the FA with the games they wanted to cover. The FA would then have issued the final list to the clubs.

We were, that was the issue.

No, but having been involved with these "bids" and subsequent "events" I see the waste of public money that is involved, even the bid process will be costing a fortune, at a time when we don't even know if the UK is likely to get the event in the first place.

Keepmoat was always getting the France game, agreed to host smaller games with the RFL for three years (hence us being there for the Wakey semi)

Thought they would have had the Wales game which is now in Wales.

If Keepmoat was always going to get a 4 Nations game and the KC was offered one then which stadium was due to miss out do you think?

Galpharm, especially as the final is at Elland Road.

Ah ok. Would still like to think that certain 'events' are always catered for at the KC and I would put International RL into that bracket.

My worry too.



These fixtures were prepared AFTER the international debacle, at that time dispensations were been submitted to accommodate anomalies. The JJB fixture won't have existed, neither would the City home games.

Also four away fixtures in two months sounds about right to me - can't see the problem there - surely that's the norm? With a little planning, which was what the RL were trying to get Duffen to commit to attempting for them, we could all have been happy.

Hope FIFA do send the World Cup to Hull - that would be awesome. But as it will be in the middle of the Super League season, I hope Duffen will be prepared to approach the RL for dispensation.




If he's still here, that is.

Im interested to know what FIFA's thoughts are on multi use venus, I can't imagine they'd like it.