Wigan v Widnes postponed

World Club Champions Wigan Warriors have called off tomorrow’s Super League game against Widnes Vikings.

The Warriors were due to play the Vikings in their first home league game of 2017, five days after their win over Cronulla, but with severe weather in the area, they have decided that the pitch can’t cope with two games over the weekend.

Shaun Wane’s side share the DW Stadium with Wigan Athletic, who are due to play fellow relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday.

With the North West being battered by Storm Doris, it was decided mutually between club chairmen David Sharpe (Wigan Athletic) and Ian Lenagan that the football fixture would take priority.

Wigan Warriors chairman Lenagan said in a statement on the club website: “With the inclement weather over the last day resulting in intermittent standing water on the pitch and the further forecasted bad weather over the next 24 hours, the DW Stadium pitch simply cannot sustain two games this weekend.

“With Wigan Athletic’s season at such a critical stage and after detailed discussions between myself and Wigan Athletic Chairman, David Sharpe, it was agreed that they need to play this fixture more than we need to play ours.

“Potential for the game to be moved to Sunday was discussed but this simply isn’t an option with the pitch in its current state, therefore the game will be rescheduled for later this season. We apologise to our fans for the inconvenience and disappointment this causes.

“I too am bitterly disappointed not to be able tomorrow night to welcome our Champion team but feel certain that we have made the right decision.”

The game would have been the clubs first since the win over the Sharks at the weekend and means the Vikings will have only played once this season as we enter March, and will have not played for three weeks by the time they go to France to take on Catalans next week. It is unclear whether Widnes were consulted over the postponement.

Warrington Wolves v Castleford Tigers will now be tomorrow’s live TV game with Sky Sports announcing tonight they will screen that game instead of the one scheduled at the DW Stadium.