Millennium Magic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Millennium Magic logo used for the 2007 event (left) and for the 2008 event (right) Millennium Magic logo used for the 2007 event (left) and for the 2008 event (right)
Millennium Magic logo used for the 2007 event (left) and for the 2008 event (right)

Millennium Magic is a concept by the Rugby Football League (RFL) to take an entire round of Super League matches to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The first Millennium Magic round was played on the weekend of May 5th, 2007. Although the aggregate attendance was less than that of a regular Super League round, the event was hailed as a resounding success.[1]

Contents

[edit] Concept

[edit] Initial Concept

Rumours of the Millennium Magic round first appeared in the Yorkshire Post in early July 2006. The report revealed the proposal to shorten Super League XII to 27 rounds and take one of those rounds to Wales.[2] Initial reaction from fans was positive, and the Welsh tourist board were thought to be keen for the plan to go ahead after the success of the Challenge Cup finals that were held at the Millennium Stadium between 2003 and 2005.

[edit] Confirmation and Reasoning

The first Millennium Magic round was confirmed in September 2006 for the weekend of May 5th-May 6th 2007.[2] Richard Lewis, chairman of the RFL, cited both expansion and monetary reasons for the move to Wales, but the plan also allowed the Super League to be reduced by one round (critics had stated that the players were put under too much strain over the season). After the success of the first Millennium Magic in 2007, reports suggest that it will become an annual fixture in the Super League calendar, especially after the second such even was held in May 2008.

[edit] 2007

Three Super League XII fixtures took place on Saturday 5 May, 2007 and a further three on Sunday 6 May, 2007.

The games played were, where possible, 'local derby' matches in an attempt to maximise interest in the event. The two "non-heartland" sides in Super League, Catalans Dragons and Harlequins Rugby League, were paired against each other. The teams will face their Millennium Magic derby opponents four times during the Super League XII season.

Celtic Crusaders opened the weekend against Oldham Roughyeds in a National League 2 game on the Friday night (4 May) at Brewery Field, Bridgend. This match officially celebrated 100 years of club rugby league in Wales as Oldham were the first ever opponents to Merthyr Tydfil in the first professional game in Wales on September 7th 1907. In an eventful match, Oldham came back from 26-6 down to win 34-26 in front of 3,441 fans, a record attendance for a National League 2 match. It was also the first National League 2 game shown live on British television, covered by Sky Sports.

[edit] Fixtures

Team Score Team Match Information
Date and Time Crowd
Catalans Dragons 28-32 Harlequins RL 5 May 2007 15:00 GMT 32,384
Hull FC 10-14 Hull KR 5 May 2007 17:00 GMT 32,384
St Helens 34-18 Wigan Warriors 5 May 2007 19:00 GMT 32,384
Huddersfield Giants 36-12 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 6 May 2007 14:00 GMT 26,447
Salford City Reds 18-50 Warrington Wolves 6 May 2007 16:00 GMT 26,447
Bradford Bulls 38-42 Leeds Rhinos 6 May 2007 18:00 GMT 26,447

[edit] 2008

As in 2007, three Super League XIII fixtures took place on the Saturday (3 May) and a further three on the Sunday (4 May).

The event again licked off with the local south Wales team, Celtic Crusaders, but this time they were up against Featherstone Rovers at the Brewery Field, Bridgend in a National League 1 match. The Crusaders won the match by 28 point to 18. The match was held in front of a club record crowd of 6,152.[3]

[edit] Fixtures

Team Score Team Match Information
Date and Time Crowd
Huddersfield Giants 34-36 Warrington Wolves 3 May 2008 15:00 GMT 30,628
Castleford Tigers 16-54 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 3 May 2008 17:00 GMT 30,628
Bradford Bulls 26-40 Leeds Rhinos 3 May 2008 19:00 GMT 30,628
Catalans Dragons 18-16 Harlequins RL 4 May 2008 14:30 GMT 32,516
Hull FC 17-22 Hull KR 4 May 2008 16:30 GMT 32,516
St Helens 57-16 Wigan Warriors 4 May 2008 18:30 GMT 32,516

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "RFL Hails Millennium Magic A Success", The Rugby Football League, May 2007
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ Second-half blitz too much for brave Fev. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.