Leeds Rhinos working hard to ensure safe Super League return for fans at Emerald Headingley

HOPES OF fans being allowed into Betfred Super League games later this month have suffered a “setback”, but Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has vowed hard work will continue in a bid to make it happen.
EMPTY: Leeds Rhinos and St Helens play on in front of an empty Emerald Headingley Stadium last month. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.comEMPTY: Leeds Rhinos and St Helens play on in front of an empty Emerald Headingley Stadium last month. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
EMPTY: Leeds Rhinos and St Helens play on in front of an empty Emerald Headingley Stadium last month. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

A government ban on social gatherings of more than six people - indoors or outside - came into force today.

Organised sports events are among the exemptions, but the government’s plan to allow spectators back into stadiums from October 1 is now being reviewed.

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Five Super League matches, including Rhinos at home to Catalans Dragons, are scheduled for Wednesday, September 20 and Hetherington has targeted that date for Leeds’ first game in front of a crowd since March.

HOPEFUL: Gary Hetherington, Leeds Rhinos' chief executive at Headingley. Picture: Gary Longbottom.HOPEFUL: Gary Hetherington, Leeds Rhinos' chief executive at Headingley. Picture: Gary Longbottom.
HOPEFUL: Gary Hetherington, Leeds Rhinos' chief executive at Headingley. Picture: Gary Longbottom.

With five full league rounds, plus one partial round and two Coral Challenge Cup ties, already having been played behind closed doors, clubs are desperate for fans to be admitted, so they can start generating revenue.

Hetherington said Rhinos have been ready to confirm their plans for allowing supporters into Emerald Headingley for around two weeks, but “different things have been cropping up, which have put a different slant on it”.

He said: “The most recent was the government’s statement and we are still waiting for more information.

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“What the government had said was they would allow crowds back to stadia from October 1 and we were hoping, in rugby league’s case, that could be brought forward a few hours to include the evening of September 30.

TOO LONG: Leeds Rhinos' Luke Gale scores a try against Toronto Wolfpack at HEadingley on March 5 - the last time the Rhinos played in front of their own fans. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.TOO LONG: Leeds Rhinos' Luke Gale scores a try against Toronto Wolfpack at HEadingley on March 5 - the last time the Rhinos played in front of their own fans. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
TOO LONG: Leeds Rhinos' Luke Gale scores a try against Toronto Wolfpack at HEadingley on March 5 - the last time the Rhinos played in front of their own fans. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

“We are still waiting for more clarity and more up to date information before we contact all our members, but clearly the events of the last several days are a setback.”

Rhinos have hosted two full Super League rounds and the partial round which restarted the competition last month and Hetherington is confident Headingley will be safe for spectators when the go-ahead is given.

“An enormous amount of time and effort has been put into accommodating crowds at Emerald Headingley for Leeds Rhinos games,” he said.

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“Clearly our priority is our members and we are anxious to communicate with them as much information as we can.

EMPTY: Leeds Rhinos and St Helens play on in front of an empty Emerald Headingley Stadium last month. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.comEMPTY: Leeds Rhinos and St Helens play on in front of an empty Emerald Headingley Stadium last month. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
EMPTY: Leeds Rhinos and St Helens play on in front of an empty Emerald Headingley Stadium last month. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

“We are ready to do that, but we want to be sure what we are sending them is likely to be the case.

“At this moment in time, we don’t know whether September 30 will be accepted as a pilot game.

“Sporting events are still going ahead as pilot events and we would be keen to stage one of those, but we need more information and guidance in terms of what numbers and facilities.”

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Hetherington said Rhinos’ staff are “working round the clock almost” to ensure games can go ahead in front of crowds this year.

He said: “We are working closely with our stadium safety team and also with public health in terms of what we believe possible at Headingley.

“Other clubs are doing the same.

“There was a conference call of all the Super League clubs [last week] headed up by Karen Moorhouse of the RFL, giving us the latest up to date position she had, but a lot of that was ‘we are waiting for this, that and the other’.

“But what was evident from that was the amount of time, effort and work all clubs are putting in to getting their stadiums prepared for a return of a crowd.

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“I know the RFL are working very closely with other major sports - soccer, rugby union, cricket and so on - but rugby league, and all sports, have quite a difference.

“One of rugby league’s differences, for example, is we have a higher proportion of females and families in our audience.

“Families being able to sit together is a feature that differentiates rugby league from other sports.

“We are working hard to identify what can make it all possible and what level of crowd could be safely managed within a stadium like Emerald Headingley - and indeed all the other stadiums in Super League.”

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