Super League are set to see one of their televised games between two current top six sides clash with the England versus Switzerland match in the quarter-finals of the European Championships.
The game in question that will clash is the match between high-flying and in-form Hull KR and the dwindling Catalans Dragons, with Steve McNamara’s side having had 13 players missing from camp this week after being selected for the French national team to take on England.
With Hull KR having lost just once at Craven Park this season and Les Dracs not really have benefited from the international break, it could be another win for Willie Peters’ side, but how many fans will be watching?
That’s a major worry now after it was confirmed that the game will clash with the European Championships Quarter-Final match between England and Switzerland following England’s laboured win last night.
If fans have any common sense, they’d turn the football off and switch to Super League as at least they’d see some attacking intent that way, however, the likelihood is that clash at Craven Park will draw a minute TV audience.
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Super League match faces scheduling issues
Credit: Imago Images
It will be a major shame for fans to switch the Super League clash between Hull KR and Catalans Dragons off in order to watch the England football match but it’s almost certain to happen given the popularity of the national sport and the fact that game will be televised on BBC One.
Meanwhile, Hull KR and Catalans will play on Sky Sports Action and Super League+ with the Super League match kicking off 30 minutes after the game between England and Switzerland.
Given that Catalans had so many players represent France this past weekend, it is unrealistic to have had the game played on the vacant Thursday night and given the travel implications, a late change is nigh on impossible as well.
It’s simply an unfortunate coincidence and one that will no doubt mean minimal viewers for what could be a brilliant game as Hull KR endeavours to push closer to the top of the table, sitting level on points with St Helens and just two points shy of leaders Wigan Warriors.
Sadly, it’s also not the first scheduling issue that Rugby League has faced with the Euros this summer. The game on Saturday between England and France in Toulouse clashed with another of Switzerland’s Euro games as they defeated Italy 2-0 on mainstream TV.
Meanwhile, Super League+ was inaccessible for many fans as they tried to watch England versus France, a sad reflection of the decline in the status of international rugby league.
