1895 Cup

[saints10coach]

Do you think the 1895 Cup will generate more interest in the game at our level?

[clifford]

Locally it depends on the length we are in the mix, say if we get to the quarters then yes. Otherwise no. 

Generally I think that it will go the same way as the captain Morgan Cup, BBC 2 floodlight trophy and the cup Hull kr got to Wembley in the ninties. 

Plus point for me is the Yorkshire Cup, pitty the teams on this side of the hill didn't think of it 

[FailsworthYed]

Maybe, though I'm more worried at the prospect of injuries from midweek games and back into league matches at the weekend. The league is more important but we can't ignore opportunity for extra finance at vital points in the season especially the further we progress. 

[roughyed34]

Agree with Clifford and Failsworth tbh. The 1895 cup is really a kind of revamped "plate" competition that went the way of the dodo some time ago. 

Interest in the cup for me personally is kind of "not that bothered", cup comps can hinder the promotion push and its also a bit of a filler for the poor amount of fixtures in league 1. 

As Scott said at the forum, it could be that clubs could play, Sunday-Wednesday-Sunday, a massive ask for part time players. Extra games when players are fatigued is asking for knocks/injuries. 

There is of course the chance of a Wembley appearance, I don't mean to be glib and it would be great to see Oldham play in a final on the hallowed turf, but I can't help but think it's a bit of a second rate way to get to finally see Oldham at Wembley (if we were to make the final). 

Having said that it's the only chance for us to get to Wembley so I suppose beggars can't be choosers. 

I obviously hope we do well in the competition but for me promotion has to be the holy grail for this season,anything else, apart from hopefully a big payday in the Challenge Cup, is a distraction from the real business we need to be concentrating on. 

[roughyedspud]

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54095/-cup-entrants-confirmed

The 20 clubs who will contest the inaugural 1895 Cup can now be confirmed. The brand new competition provides another opportunity for their players and supporters to earn a trip to Wembley Stadium in 2019.

Coventry Bears, London Skolars and North Wales Crusaders have opted not to enter for logistical reasons, meaning eight clubs from Betfred League 1 will play a straight knockout in the First Round on May 5-6 – before the 12 English clubs from the Betfred Championship join the four First Round winners in the last 16.

The winners of those eight fixtures, to be played in the first week of June, will earn places in the 1895 Cup quarter finals later in the month – with the semi finals to be played the day after the Challenge Cup semi finals, on Sunday July 28.

That will leave the finalists with almost a month to prepare for the 1895 Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday August 24.

The Bears, Crusaders and Skolars confirmed their decision not to participate today, in each case for logistical reasons, with the later rounds of the competition to be played in midweek.

Mark Croston, the Skolars Director of Rugby, said: “Due to scheduling matters and player welfare issues, we have decided that we couldn’t commit to the 1895 Cup this year.

“Given League 1 and Championship consist mostly of players who currently have full-time jobs, it is unrealistic to expect them to spend a full day on weekdays for away games, potentially returning in the early hours of Thursdays, thus requiring two days away from work.”

Alan Robinson, the Coventry owner and CEO, added: “The logistics are against us on this one. But we are hoping for another good Challenge Cup run like last year, and Midlands fans will still be able to enjoy the special atmosphere of a floodlit game with Leeds’s visit to Butts Park on Friday 18th January. We will also be looking to focus all our efforts on our league position and developing our young squad in what will be another year of substantial growth for the club in the region."

First round (May 4-5; draw in April on date tbc) - teams enter: Doncaster, Hunslet, Keighley Cougars, Newcastle Thunder, Oldham, West Wales Raiders, Whitehaven, Workington Town. 

Second round (June 2-5; draw in early May date tbc) - teams enter: Barrow Raiders, Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax, Leigh Centurions, Rochdale Hornets, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, Widnes Vikings, York City Knights, plus four First Round winners.

Quarter Finals – week starting June 24

Semi Finals – Sunday July 28

Final – Wembley Stadium, Saturday August 24

I like it

[jroyales]

Over the past few seasons when we were doing well in the league, we then played against a sooperdooper league side, got beaten heavily and then our promotion push fell apart - HKR possibly the exception. Playing Sunday - Wednesday - Sunday is a nonsense for part-time players and is a money generator for full-time championship sides.

We have to get out of this division this season because the way sooperddooper league have taken over our game I fear that League one won't exist by 2021.

[moorside roughyed]

8 hours ago, jroyales said:

Over the past few seasons when we were doing well in the league, we then played against a sooperdooper league side, got beaten heavily and then our promotion push fell apart - HKR possibly the exception. Playing Sunday - Wednesday - Sunday is a nonsense for part-time players and is a money generator for full-time championship sides.

We have to get out of this division this season because the way sooperddooper league have taken over our game I fear that League one won't exist by 2021.

Spot on mate, especially your second paragraph.