Five Betfred Super League fixtures at Emerald Headingley in historic weekend for Leeds Rhinos' stadium

But the Covid-19 secure stadium will be locked down, with only accredited venue staff, teams and match officials allowed access.

Fans of the ten Betfred Super League clubs can watch all the games live on Sky Sports or catch highlights on the BBC.

The Rugby Football League and Super League say playing all games at one stadium ensures greater control over the safety and well-being of the players, staff and match officials

The action starts this afternoon (Sat Aug 8) when Castleford Tigers face Catalans Dragons at 4.15pm followed by Warrington Wolves V Hull KR at 6.30pm.

On Sunday, Salford Red Devils will play Hull FC at 1pm followed by Wakefield Trinity v Wigan Warriors at 3.15pm

Top of the table Leeds Rhinos and 2019 champions St Helens top the bill at 6.30pm on Sunday for the climax of a historic weekend of rugby league in Leeds.

The Betfred Super League 2020 season, which got underway on January 31, was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was a major blow for the sport and Leeds Rhinos, who were due to play St Helens at Headingley when the suspension was announced.

Sian Jones, head of customer experience at Leeds Rhinos, said everyone at the club hoped the season would only be suspended for a short period of time, but rugby league did not return to Headingley until last weekend

Rhinos' first game back after lockdown on Sunday August 2 ended in a thrilling 27 points to 26 victory for Leeds over Huddersfield Giants at Emerald Headingley Stadium.

The victory pushed Rhinos to the top of the league going into this weekend's fixtures as Emerald Headingley stages all this weekend's Super League clashes.

Sian said: "We are a central venue and have effectively been hired by the Rugby Football League and the Super League to host the matches in the fixture calendar for this weekend."

Headingley has two sets of changing rooms - one set on each side of the ground - which make it an ideal choice as a multi-match venue.

Sian said: "The stadium is broken down into two areas, an amber zone and a red zone.

"Venue staff are all amber zone and the teams, coaching staff and match officials are all red zone based.

"Everybody in the biosecure red zone will have undergone COVID-19 testing and daily well being checks.

"They have to check in every day to say how they have been, what they have been doing and how they are feeling."

Players have their temperature taken on arrival at training and before they get on the coach to travel to games.

Sian said: "It is a change from the norm for the players but I know they are happy to be back.

"It has been a difficult few months for them in lockdown, as it has for everybody. They just miss doing their job.

"It was strange because there were no fans there on Sunday. We have cardboard cutouts in the stadium of supporters from all Super League Clubs, who have been able to buy them.

"It is very bizarre. On match days when there are no fans and no hospitality guests it is quite a strange place to be when you are used to 16,000 plus in the stadium.

"The maximum number of people we had in the stadium on Sunday was about 300.

"We brought in an announcer and we played music to at least give some sort of feeling as opposed to playing in silence.

"The fans are the heartbeat of the club, whether you are in the South Stand or a corporate member.

"We definitely miss having them here. We are a spectator sport. Having fans in the stadium to watch games is what it's all about.

"We are in a situation where we need to come back slowly until we are able to have fans return to the stadium.

"The fans are chuffed that the games are back but they would all prefer to be back on the terraces."

Speaking about this weekend's five fixtures, Sian, who has been at the club for 16 years, said: "It is very different but exciting. We love a challenge at Emerald Headingley."

Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "We are very proud that Headingley has been chosen to host these five big Super League games. The pitch is in superb condition. The ground staff have done a marvellous job.

"The players have been so frustrated at not being able to play - it has been the longest off season ever. They have only had a few weeks since they came back to training.

"They had a great win last weekend and are really looking forward to to taking on the champions St Helens this Sunday."

St Helens Totally Wicked Stadium will be staging Super League fixtures on the weekend of August 15 and 16 with all matches live on SKY Sports.

Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium will host two Coral Challenge Cup Rugby League sixth-round ties in a double-header on Saturday August 22.

Wigan Warriors will take on current holders Warrington Wolves at 2.30pm followed by St Helens versus Salford Red Devils at 5pm.

Both those games will be shown live on the BBC.

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Thank you

Laura Collins