Confirmation that Super League semi-finals will not be moved as one event changed in respect of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

On Thursday night, the country and indeed the world was rocked by the news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at the age of 96.

Of course not the most pressing issue after her death but one that was widely discussed was what would happen to sport in the national period of mourning that followed the news of her passing.

At first many suspected that the play-off games on Friday and Saturday wouldn’t go ahead however both did. Leeds Rhinos’ trip to Catalans went ahead due to the fact the game was being played in France whilst Huddersfield vs Salford went ahead yesterday following official guidance for sport during the period of mourning which did not demand the postponement of sport with the RFL and Super League subsequently deciding that the show should go on with lovely gestures of respect proceeding the games as we saw both on Friday and Saturday.

The other question mark centred around whether or not the semi-finals would go ahead as planned with the Queen’s state funeral set to take place around that weekend.

However, yesterday the news was confirmed that the state funeral would be taking place on Monday 19th September meaning both semi-finals will go ahead as planned as officially confirmed by Super League this morning.

It does however mean that the Super League Awards dinner that was scheduled for Monday at Headingley has now been moved to Tuesday as a mark of respect.

The official statement read:

“Following the announcement by Buckingham Palace that the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will take place on Monday 19 September, Super League can confirm that the Betfred Super League Play-off semi-finals, scheduled for Friday 16 and Saturday 17 September, will proceed as arranged.

“As a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Betfred Super League Awards, which was scheduled to take place at Headingley Stadium on the evening of Monday 19 September will now take place at the same venue on Tuesday 20 September.”

Betfred Super League Play-off schedule

Semi-Finals

Fri 16 Sept: Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos, DW Stadium (8pm KO, Sky Sports)

Sat 17 Sept: St Helens v Salford Red Devils, Totally Wicked Stadium (1pm KO, Sky Sports & Channel 4)

Grand Final

Sat 24 Sept: Betfred Super League Grand Final, Old Trafford (6pm KO, Sky Sports)