Hull to miss out on Four Nations rugby
Hull is set to miss out on hosting a major rugby league international later this year after a date at the KC Stadium could not be agreed, the Mail can reveal.
Venues for games in Rugby League's new Four Nations series are due to be officially announced on Monday.
The tournament will feature matches between England, France, New Zealand and Australia.
But the Mail understands none of the games will be played in Hull after KC Stadium operator the Stadium Management Company (SMC) said it could not commit to a date.
However, Wigan's JJB Stadium – which also hosts both football and rugby league – will be one of the venues taking part.
It is believed senior Rugby Football League (RFL) officials were keen for the KC to stage a clash between England and world champions New Zealand.
Sally Bolton, the RFL's director of events and projects, said: "We regret very much that the Stadium Management Company has been unable to make the stadium available for this year's series.
"Over the course of the past few years, the KC Stadium has been an integral part of all of our international matches and tournaments and we are very disappointed not to be able to stage a Four Nations match there this year.
"The venue would always be high on our list of potential venues when we organise an international tournament because of the tremendous support for major rugby league matches previously staged there and the genuine passion for sport that exists throughout the city of Hull and the surrounding region."
Since opening in 2002, the KC Stadium has hosted four rugby league internationals. All of the games attracted crowds of more than 20,000.
The Mail understands RFL officials recently met SMC and Hull City chairman Paul Duffen and city council leader Kim Ryley in a late effort to include Hull as a venue for one of the Four Nations series games.
City council leader Councillor Carl Minns said: "I know a lot of rugby league fans in Hull will be upset at the city missing out on one of these games. I am disappointed myself that a solution could not be found to make it possible."
Mr Duffen was unavailable for comment.
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by Pob, Bev
Monday, February 23 2009, 10:47AM
“"We get more fans then you."
"No, we get more fans then you."
Grow up.”
by Stan, Hull
Monday, February 23 2009, 10:44AM
“Well done SMC... you turned down the chance to have the World Champions playing at the KC... It`s OK, we will travel to Doncaster and spend our money there... and I can take my beer to my seat too. Would you have found a date if it had been England football U21`s?”
by Mick, Hull
Sunday, February 22 2009, 9:10PM
“After reading some of these comments no wonder hull is bottom of the league in most things and has a bad name,
One city supporters should comment on there own stories and secondly rugby supporters should comment on their own stories, Fact is reading comments put on here by mindless idiots shows why our society has gone rapidly down hill. Its the same old folk on this site who wish to set off a s***storm between everyone else, Ive read other daily newspapers comments and they aint as bad as this one, No wonder no one wants to invest in this city with the same old attitude towards eachother.”
by Eddie Waring, Raich Carter Way
Sunday, February 22 2009, 9:02PM
“There is no police inside the stadium when FC play because they will not pay for any. Same at Rovers. In football its different. A game cannot take place until a set number of police are in situ. Its a big arguement in football now and several clubs have refused to pay the massive bills that are dropping through the leter box. The argument is that the police can almost write there own pay cheques and present it to the football clubs. The idea you are trying to tout that football is riddled with hooligans is rubbish. If any sport is expanding it certainly itsnt rugby league. Your two superleague attendances put together this week end didnt come close to one of the Union games played. In fact in this area, besides City the biggest growing sport is rugby union. I have heard this "rugby league is exanding tosh" for 30 years now and they still havent got a club on the other side of the Humber, Rugby League is dying on its feet, thats why the government classed it as a catergory B sport.”
by Steve, Hull
Sunday, February 22 2009, 8:23PM
“lucy, are you seriously trying to make out that Hull City supporters never cause trouble!
Talk about being stupid & deluded.
City games as with most football games are heavily policed because they need to be.
I am not naive enough to think there is never any trouble after Rugby matches but you need to consider there is no police presence at these games to defuse situations before they flare up.
Could the same be said for Hull City?”
by Steve, Hull
Sunday, February 22 2009, 8:11PM
“Lets face it, City games are heavily policed because they need to be.
Some of you City fans need to wake up and face reality , and you make comments about FC fans being deluded!
I'm not naive enough to think there is never trouble after Rugby games but for a sport that has no police presence at all that's not bad going, could you say the same if they removed the police from City games?
Rugby League is a growing sport, gaining popularity & support, obviously its not as big as football and probably never will be, but it is a big part of what this City is about.”
by Les Rostbif, Hull
Sunday, February 22 2009, 8:01PM
“Eddienomark; was that City fans fighting at bridgend then, wearing Hull FC shirts with flags around thier shoulders? Dont tell me you know nothing about it?”
by Sue Hood, Hull
Sunday, February 22 2009, 7:37PM
“eddiemarks: when did you see this trouble at football then? I've been to every match this season home and away and i havnt seen any at all. I do not count Millwall fans ripping seats out in that. I'll conceed that one. All this tosh about "at rugby all the fans mix openley and can walk out of the ground together" What do you think football fans do then? Hover in the air? spout wings? tunnel underground? If eggchasing was the fantanstic sport you claim it be perhaps it might have caught on a bit more dont you think? You thinks its fabulous taking 1000 to Wales. Big deal. City sell out every seat at every away game we go to every week. And if you still think Hull is a rugby town you are more deluded than you sound.”
by R.Thority, Dean Windass Way
Sunday, February 22 2009, 7:30PM
“Hull a rugby town? Is it April 1st already?”
by eddiemarks, east hull
Sunday, February 22 2009, 7:23PM
“Jon.Still plenty of trouble at Hull City games even now.It just doesnt happen in the stadium much these days because of cctv.I am not anti City just sick of city fans thinking they own the place.As has been posted before,its a council owned facility for the benefit of all Hull.I do attend games at all 3 grounds in Hull so do know what im talking about,& there has been far more trouble at city games.Trouble at rugby makes headlines as its unusual,at football its almost par for the course. City also would struggle to keep the stadium if the bad times returned & you were sole owners.Remember Boothery park was very modern when it was built,but years of poor football & dwindling crowds paid a heavy price regarding maintaining it.”