It has been revealed that newly promoted Hull KR requested not to play city rivals Hull FC at the 2018 Magic Weekend.
Rovers wanted to avoid facing Lee Radford’s side in Newcastle with the hopes of their home match against the Black and Whites been a sell out.
Despite requesting to face different opposition at St James’ Park next May, the RFL announced last week that KR would face FC in the last game of the weekend.
It is understood that the announcement surprised the Robins who were expecting to face Widnes, the team they narrowly beat 12-6 in this year’s Qualifiers to secure promotion.
After back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs and top four finishes, Hull FC have established themselves among the big boys in Super League.
With KR only just regaining top-flight status, the fixture could well be regarded as an uneven match-up with the other five games contested between teams in similar league positions.
However, it seems the chance to showcase the Hull derby in Newcastle again was too much to resist for the organisers as the game headlines day two.
Super League’s longest-running rivalry between St Helens and Wigan has not been played at Magic Weekend since 2012 , however it is believed neither of those clubs have requested for that to be the case.
The 2018 Dacia Magic Weekend schedule:
Saturday May 19
Widnes Vikings v St Helens (15.00)
Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves (17.15)
Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos (19.30)
Sunday May 20
Salford Red Devils v Catalans Dragons (13.00)
Wakefield Trinity v Huddersfield Giants (15.15)
Hull KR v Hull FC (17.30)
Rugby League News
Rohan Smith bemoans “huge call” that cost Leeds Rhinos
