Huge Challenge Cup tie to be streamed free on Youtube

With the NRL starting this morning the rugby league season is back and firing on all cylinders with all British domestic leagues running as well as the competition down under.

One of the most historic competitions that has already seen plenty of fixtures played is the Challenge Cup with the opening two rounds of the competition having already been completed.

Round two concluded this past weekend and saw League One teams enter the competition but also be knocked out, with Cornwall losing to Rochdale Mayfield perhaps being the biggest upset.

Featherstone Rovers hosted the third round draw as part of a way to honour 40 years since their last Challenge Cup victory and as if it was planned they were the first name out of the hat.

They secured a home tie against fellow Championship side Halifax Panthers making it the only all Championship tie in the round and arguably the best tie of the round as well.

It’s certainly going to be one of the games that fans will be looking forward to watching however the match is not being televised.

Instead it will be streamed on Youtube on the Sportsman Rugby League channel as exclusive coverage of the fixture, an absolutely huge coup for the company and a blow to television media.

Streaming is becoming a far larger market and a game as big as Featherstone and Halifax going to an online streaming platform, albeit Youtube, is a seismic shift from the traditional BBC coverage.

The Sportsman announced the news during their flagship weekly show ‘The Last Tackle’ and they’ll air the game on Sunday 12th March for a 3pm kickoff.

Sean Long’s men will head into the game as favourites having already beaten the Panthers this season but it’s still set to be a brilliant game, and it’s great that it will be available to view for free.