add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
Magic Circle,Pilates Magic Circle,Magic Circles - PYC pycfitness.com | Magic Bullet Suppository / Box of 100 - In Stock Now / Magic Bullet medicalsupplygroup.com | Yoga Weekends | Yoga Weekend Breaks Spain | Yoga Retreats Europe runinthesun.com |
 The Magic Weekend, previously Millennium Magic, is a concept by the Rugby Football League (RFL) to stage an entire round of Super League matches in prestigious and exciting cities to showcase the sport.[1] The first Millennium Magic round, held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, was played on the weekend of 5 May during the 2007 Super League season. Although the aggregate attendance was less than that of a regular Super League round, the event was hailed as a resounding success.[2]
[edit] Concept Millennium Magic logos used for the 2007 event...  ...and for the 2008 event [edit] Initial ConceptRumours 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 ReasoningThe first Millennium Magic round was confirmed in September 2006 for the weekend of May 5-May 6 2007.[3] 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 event was held in May 2008. [edit] 2007Three 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 7 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. A 58,831 aggregate crowd saw the Magic event at the Millennium Stadium.[4] Super League clubs agreed to repeat the event during the following season with Nigel Wood, the RFL's chief operating officer, saying: "The clubs and fans thoroughly enjoyed the day and our aim is to make next year's event even bigger and better."[4] [edit] Fixtures
[edit] 2008As 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 kicked 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.[5] [edit] Fixtures
[edit] 2009It was confirmed after the 2008 event that the weekend was to be moved in 2009 to Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. The event included matches based on a seeded draw, using finishing positions from Super League XIII.[6][7] [edit] Fixtures
[edit] 2010The 2010 Magic Weekend is once again in Edinburgh, and also in Murrayfield, it will take place on 1st-2nd May 2010, and will be the 4th edition of the Magic Series. After fans critisism of the Seeded draw, The RFL decided to ask all 14 Super League clubs whether they would like to revert to derbies. The Result favour a seeding again, where the top 8 would face each other, whilst the bottom 6 would face the remainders. The Drawing is to be confirmed in the coming weeks. For Fans maximum enjoyment, it was decided that the 4 game day would be on the Saturday, so that fans who went for the Weekend, could enjoy the weekend more, without hassle of early rise for entertainment. The fixtures for the 2010 event will be announced towards the end of November 2009. [edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
