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Leeds Rhinos Challenge Cup decision explained amid ‘no choice’ admission

Leeds Rhinos play in Super League at Headingley England rugby league

Non-league Wests Warriors have explained why they gave up home advantage for their glamour Challenge Cup tie against Leeds Rhinos.

Super League sides were seeded to play away from home when they enter the competition at the third round stage, but Warriors coach Kimbo Parkinson said they had “no choice” but to move next Saturday’s tie to AMT Headingley.

Wests – who usually attract crowds of a few hundred – play their Southern Conference home games at Wasps FC in London, which does not meet minimum standards for staging a match against a Super League team.

“We were actually hoping we could host it at Wasps, but unfortunately we didn’t meet the RFL criteria so Leeds were kind enough to offer to host us, which is really exciting,” Parkinson said.

“The boys get to play at a world-class stadium and experience the gameday hospitality from Leeds, so we are looking forward to it.”

Running out at rugby league’s most iconic ground is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Wests’ players, but Parkinson stressed: “We had no choice in the matter.

“We looked at other venues in London as well, for example London Broncos at Wimbledon.

“The other alternative was to hire a temporary grandstand at our facility, but the cheapest quote we could get for that was £6,000 and we just don’t have that money.”

Parkinson added about the clash with Leeds Rhinos: “We are just happy to be experiencing Challenge Cup round three against a Super League team.

“It is going to be a pretty unreal experience, just being in the changing rooms at Leeds. Leeds hosted the first Challenge Cup final [in 1897] so there’s a lot of history in that ground.”

Wests will stay at the Headingley Lodge hotel at the stadium and Parkinson said: “They have been nothing but helpful since we beat the Army in the last round.

“They are doing everything they can to make it as easy as possible for us.”

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