Super League Faces Scheduling Clash as Top-Six Showdown Overlaps with Euros Quarter-Final
Rugby league enthusiasts are set to face a dilemma as a highly anticipated Super League clash between two top-six sides, Hull KR and Catalans Dragons, will coincide with the England versus Switzerland quarter-final match in the European Championships.
The game at Craven Park, featuring the in-form Hull KR and the injury-hit Catalans Dragons, was scheduled to be televised on Sky Sports Action and Super League+. However, the timing of the match has now become a concern, as it will kick off just 30 minutes after the start of the England-Switzerland Euros clash, which will be broadcast on BBC One.
“With the popularity of the national football team, it is expected that the majority of rugby league fans will opt to tune in to the Euros match, leaving the Super League encounter with a potentially minimal television audience.”
The situation is further complicated by the fact that several key players from the Catalans squad were recently called up to represent the French national team, making it impractical to reschedule the game to a vacant Thursday night.
Despite the scheduling clash, the match between Hull KR and the Catalans Dragons still promises to be an enthralling encounter. Hull KR have lost just once at Craven Park this season, while the Catalans Dragons have not fully benefited from the international break, potentially putting Willie Peters’ side in a strong position.
Sadly, this is not the first time that Rugby League has faced scheduling conflicts with major football tournaments. Earlier in the summer, the England versus France match in Toulouse clashed with another of Switzerland’s Euro games, which was broadcast on mainstream television, further diminishing the visibility of international rugby league.
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