Championship Talk: Blackpool Rocks

fevnut's blog is absolutely delighted to have received permission to bring you a regular column from Gareth Walker.

Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.

Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.

Blackpool rocks

CONFIRMATION that this year’s Betfred Summer Bash will again be screened live by Sky Sports should be welcomed with open arms by the sport at this level.

For a number of months the possibility appeared in doubt as talks continued to unfold.

But the RFL confirmed on Monday that all seven matches at Blackpool’s Bloomfield will be screened live next month, and the fixture list has provided some mouth-watering clashes.

They start on the Saturday with Toronto versus Toulouse, with the Wolfpack looking for revenge for their heavy defeat in France in March, when they lost the second half 40-0.

Next up is local rivals Rochdale against Swinton, which has served up some classic contests in recent years and could have a big say in the 2019 relegation scrap at the bottom of the table.

Four Yorkshire clubs then close the opening day’s action, with York facing Featherstone and Halifax taking on Bradford, with all four expected to take big followings to the west coast.

Day two kicks off with Barrow against Sheffield, another fixture that has yielded some exciting clashes, including the Eagles’ last gasp win at Craven Park earlier this season.

Heavy Woollen rivals Batley and Dewsbury are well versed in these Blackpool meetings and rarely produce anything other than a full-bloodied derby, before Leigh and Widnes bring the curtain down on the event with a mouth-watering final match that sees Vikings coach Kieron Purtill face his former club.

Having these matches on Sky Sports is a big deal for the clubs involved and shouldn’t be underestimated.

It provides a bigger stage for the players and coaches that make considerable sacrifices to play what is predominantly part-time rugby league at this level, and greater exposure for loyal sponsors that back these clubs.

At a time when the RFL are an easy target for critics, they should be commended in negotiating this agreement with Sky, which sits alongside the weekly Toronto matches that also tick the above boxes.

“It’s great exposure for the Betfred Championship clubs, building on the weekly coverage of Toronto Wolfpack – and we’re grateful to both Sky and to In Touch Productions for their continued commitment to covering Championship Rugby League,” the RFL’s chief commercial officer Mark Foster said.

“The chat around the game is that this is a really attractive set of fixtures which will showcase the quality of rugby we see every week in the Betfred Championship.

       

“With Sky also showing the Betfred Super League game between Catalans and Wigan, it should be a great weekend for the game, whether in Blackpool or Barcelona.”