Alan , the SL fixtures are out today.We don't even know if we will have a team.
The Championship season finished later this year - because of the extra, extra play-off game between Swinton & Workington. So, the RFL were a week later in knowing the constituents of the Championship, than they were of SL. Also, Toronto's fixtures will need to be adjusted for the extreme cold, early in the season. Just as the fixtures of Halifax, Rochdale, Leigh (if we are in it ), York, Widnes (do they share with football, still?) and Sheffield (do they share with football?) will have to be adjusted for ground maintenance, in Summer, and fixture clashes in Spring.
(This of course, is optimistic conjecture, on my part, to justify the delay in announcing the fixtures! )
The Championship season finished later this year - because of the extra, extra play-off game between Swinton & Workington. So, the RFL were a week later in knowing the constituents of the Championship, than they were of SL. Also, Toronto's fixtures will need to be adjusted for the extreme cold, early in the season. Just as the fixtures of Halifax, Rochdale, Leigh (if we are in it ), York, Widnes (do they share with football, still?) and Sheffield (do they share with football?) will have to be adjusted for ground maintenance, in Summer, and fixture clashes in Spring.
(This of course, is optimistic conjecture, on my part, to justify the delay in announcing the fixtures! )
I agree with all your points Alan, it is going to be very complicated, again because of Toronto, will they play all their aways games first?And are grounds available,including the LSV with Utd Ladies?
I agree with all your points Alan, it is going to be very complicated, again because of Toronto, will they play all their aways games first?And are grounds available,including the LSV with Utd Ladies?
To be fair to Toronto, Ian - and I don't usually say that - their desire to play all their away matches first, was mainly down to work on their stadium. I think it would be perfectly reasonable of them to request no home matches, for the first month or so of the season. After all, that's the same kind of time span that some clubs, including us, request while grounds are being re-laid, or re-seeded, in Summer.
When it looked like they were heading for SL, their owner talked about playing 'home' matches at the likes of Copenhagen, or Dublin. I wonder if that still applies? Also, I wonder if they will still be paying for air travel and accommodation to Toronto, or wherever they play some of their home games?
All of these are, I fervently hope, questions that will affect us in 2019!
Incidentally, talking of United Ladies, is it true that they will be providing us with Dual Reg. players in 2019?