: Sun May 31, 2009 4:25 pm  

rover49 wrote:

Goes to show that the fan is deemed irrelivant these days. I doubt many will book for next year, so its Cats who will suffer in the long term.

I'd book an extended period there and spend the rest of the time in L'Estatit (just google it or 'Medas Islands') ... I think you'll find something to keep you out-of-mischief the rest of the time

: Sun May 31, 2009 7:59 pm  

I don't blame the club at all for this - nothing they can do about it. But who's ever heard of a Sky game broadcast on a Sunday night anyway?

Have now changed our flights for a fortune. Ridiculous, but even more so to go all that way and then to be on a flight back when the game is actually on.

: Sun May 31, 2009 10:12 pm  

Bikefan wrote:

But who's ever heard of a Sky game broadcast on a Sunday night anyway?

Er . . . well for starters there was our match at Wakefield two seasons ago that was switched to 7pm on Sunday night at short notice! Fortunately I wasn't coming home until the Monday so it didn't affect me, but this is by no means the first time we've been shafted in this way.

The most ludicrous personal experience of a fixture being "Skyjacked" concerned a game not even involving Quins. Last August I was going north for a week to see the Lancashire v Surrey cricket match at Blackpool, taking in some football matches across Yorkshire and Lancashire at the same time. Having spotted that Gateshead Thunder were playing their home game with Doncaster on the Sunday afternoon at Newcastle Falcons' ground I decided to tack that game onto the start of my trip. Then, after I'd booked a cheap non-refundable train ticket & hotel room in Newcastle, Sky shifted the game forward to the Thursday night making it impossible to attend. Logically I'd have stayed at home for an extra day, but that would have meant paying an extra £78 to get to Leeds on August Bank Holiday by train, where I was booked into another cheap pre-paid non-refundable hotel room. Therefore I had to go to Newcastle for a day for no particular reason as I couldn't afford not to! (Oh, and the cricket in Blackpool was washed out without a ball being bowled in four days!)

I've never been to Perpignan, but if I was going I'd probably take the Friday off work to get out there and look to come back on the Sunday afternoon, so I'd be well and truly stuffed. Catalans away is the one fixture whose matchday and kick off time has always apparently been set in stone, and it's the most expensive and time consuming trip. This just isn't acceptable.

As has already been mentioned, this could really hit the French club in terms of away supporters not committing themselves to going there in future now the precedent has been set. People obviously like to book this trip well in advance. As an example, a mate who supports Warrington told me they took around 2,000 there for their league match last season, but when they went back for a play-off game at a week's notice they only took about 50.

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:50 am  

Two things really have me scratching my head about this. Firstly why have Sky suddenly decided to broadcast a Catalans Home game? There was their first game against Wigan in 2006, and last year in the play-offs when they took the live feed from Sport+. Other than that I can't recall them bothering so why now?!

Secondly, why move it to a Sunday when the majority of their live broadcasts are Friday and Saturday. This game was scheduled for a Saturday so if necessary just bring the game forward an hour to fill the teatime slot. They must have realised this would have implications for supporters. Surely the Catalan games are the ones you don't move if you can help it. Oh and I don't care if there is other sport on (which it seems there isn't) they have 4 channels plus the red button. There's no excuse for this.

Also where does this leave Orange Sports - who usually broadcast the Catalans home games? Are they still gonna show it? What about their schedules? The whole episode seems like bad dream, especially as I'd finalised the trip a mere 24 hours before they announced they'd moved it. Thankfully I've been able to get things changed and can now look forward to an extra day in the south of France.

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:25 pm  

Just re-sent this. Didn't bother with the club because they have no idea of how angry some fans are and think that pbriali will be easy to replace


Attn: Neville Smith, Executive Producer, Sky Television
Nigel Wood, Chief Executive of the RFL

Catalan Dragons v Harlequins Rugby League:

To whom it may concern,

I am writting to request an explanation for the recent fixture change for the above game, moving it to a Sunday evening kick off, from the scheduled Saturday evening kick off. This is, as far as I can see, the only time a Catalan game has been moved to a Sunday since they joined Superleague (see table below).

Given that this is the most expensive away trip in the calendar of any Superleague clubs fans, I find it incredible that this change has taken place. Many Harlequins Rugby League fans have contacted me to voice their annoyance and I can't say that I blame them, but I doubt that whoever is responsible for this move has any idea of the financial losses that are being suffered as a result.

Our fans, some of whom will clock up over 9,000 miles this year have recently had to accept the HKR game being moved to a Friday night and this was taken with good grace and a shrug of the shoulders, but I have never witnessed as much anger as I am currently seeing from fans, some of whom are in excess of £1,000 out of pocket.

The RFL, SKY and Superleague have always stated that a London club is important for the growth and expansion of the game. As such, we fans, who have stuck with the team over many years are also important, as without us, there would be no club, but in this instance, we have been totally ignored and the backlash has already begun, with resignations from volunteer groups and my decision that the Away fans Bus to Wakefield will be the last one I organise.

I understand that there is a need to reschedule games, but I do have one doubt about this fixture. Last year, when Catalan were near the top of the table, none of their fixtures were changed. This may well have been due to the television contract that was in place at the time, but I suspect it would have as much to do with the backlash you would receive if say, Wigan fans were to miss out.

Lastly, just in case you have any doubts as to the history of games being moved that involve Catalan, below is a list of the Catalans Home fixtures since they arrived in Superleague. You will note only 2 Sunday KO's............and both were on Bank Holiday weekends.

Date | Day | Kick Off | Opponent |
+------------+----------+----------+----------------------------+
| 11/02/2006 | Saturday | 7:05 PM | Wigan Warriors |
| 04/03/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Bradford Bulls |
| 11/03/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Leeds Rhinos |
| 25/03/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Salford City Reds |
| 08/04/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Castleford Tigers |
| 17/04/2006 | Monday | 6:00 PM | St. Helens |
| 22/04/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Hull FC |
| 06/05/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Warrington Wolves |
| 27/05/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |
| 24/06/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Harlequins RL |
| 01/07/2006 | Saturday | 5:45 PM | Hull FC |
| 22/07/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Salford City Reds |
| 19/08/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | St. Helens |
| 09/09/2006 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Huddersfield Giants |
| 17/02/2007 | Saturday | 7:00 PM | Wigan Warriors |
| 24/02/2007 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Leeds Rhinos |
| 17/03/2007 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Huddersfield Giants |
| 09/04/2007 | Monday | 6:00 PM | Harlequins RL |
| 21/04/2007 | Saturday | 6:30 PM | Warrington Wolves |
| 05/05/2007 | Saturday | 3:00 PM | Harlequins RL |
| 19/05/2007 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Salford City Reds |
| 02/06/2007 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Bradford Bulls |
| 30/06/2007 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Warrington Wolves |
| 14/07/2007 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 21/07/2007 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Hull FC |
| 11/08/2007 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | St. Helens |
| 01/09/2007 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |
| 15/09/2007 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Harlequins RL |
| 16/02/2008 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 08/03/2008 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Bradford Bulls |
| 15/03/2008 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | St. Helens |
| 24/03/2008 | Monday | 6:00 PM | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |
| 29/03/2008 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Hull FC |
| 26/04/2008 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Castleford Tigers |
| 04/05/2008 | Sunday | 2:30 PM | Harlequins RL |
| 24/05/2008 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Huddersfield Giants |
| 14/06/2008 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Wigan Warriors |
| 21/06/2008 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Warrington Wolves |
| 12/07/2008 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Harlequins RL |
| 19/07/2008 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Leeds Rhinos |
| 09/08/2008 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Wigan Warriors |
| 23/08/2008 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |
| 14/02/2009 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Huddersfield Giants |
| 07/03/2009 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Castleford Tigers |
| 21/03/2009 | Saturday | 6:00 PM | Bradford Bulls |
| 13/04/2009 | Monday | 5:20 PM | Wigan Warriors |
| 18/04/2009 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Salford City Reds |
| 03/05/2009 | Sunday | 5:00 PM | Leeds Rhinos |
| 16/05/2009 | Saturday | 6:15 PM | St. Helens |
| 06/06/2009 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Leeds Rhinos |
| 20/06/2009 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Warrington Wolves |
| 04/07/2009 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 18/07/2009 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Harlequins RL |
| 01/08/2009 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Celtic Crusaders |
| 15/08/2009 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Hull FC |
| 05/09/2009 | Saturday | 8:00 PM | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |

I have no doubt that this fixture will remain re-scheduled for the Sunday evening, but I would appreciate some form of explanation as to why, given that the only Major sporting events I can find that clash with Saturday July 18th are The Open, FINA swimming in Rome and of course, The Ashes. Two of these three will have stopped play by 7.30pm on the Saturday, so there is no clash.

I await your response with baited breath, but very little expectation.

Yours Sincerely

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:00 pm  

venue changed as well

venue changed as well

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:55 pm  

amlomax1991 wrote:

Aaron, after giving the first 14 weeks of the season, we then work on a four week notice period until the final few weeks.

This is an accurate reflection of what happens in most sports, is far more than in some, and a great deal more than in the NRL.

Its a no win situation. Without this we cannot follow form, and quite rightly we get complaints from fans ( including Quins ) that we don’t see enough of them in the early season when they are playing well. Castleford being a classic case this season.

We are coming to Quins for the Leeds game on the 20th by the way. Please get in touch with me and come over to meet Eddie and Stevo.

Neville Smith

Executive Producer

As I responded to this on the terrace board.......

Bilko wrote:

Doesn't make sense at all.

Firstly if you go onto NRL.com you'll notice the NRL fixtures are all arranged up to the weekend of 31/1/2 August. Sky's fixtures are only announced publically far as I can see until the end of this month (bar that Quins game in France).

Second response I'd make is why pick a game in France to show on a weekend where they don't have a Saturday slot for that weekend??

For example

This Saturday Catalans Dragons v Leeds Rhinos (Cas v Wire 5:45)
Sat 20 June Catalans v Warrington (Quins v Leeds 6:00)
Sat 4 July Catalans v Hull KR (Match TBC 5:00)

Theirs three excellent games to pick from in my opinion with what they are showing instead in brackets.

Third is how can fans be expected to wait so long before booking flights? They sell out easy in the summer.

Anyway for me I don't totally blame Sky. I blame the RFL for signing a deal which doesn't stipulate Catalans broadcasts have to be Saturday. It's them that needs to sort I think.

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:50 pm  

gutterfax wrote: venue changed as well Where was it scheduled to be originally???

gutterfax wrote: venue changed as well Where was it scheduled to be originally???

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:03 pm  

aspouea wrote:

Where was it scheduled to be originally???

Where it is being played now.

: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:07 pm  

There was a rumour that because of redevelopment work it would be at the Aime Giral though AFAIK that was never confirmed.