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Lenagan criticises RFL over cup scheduling

The Wigan v St Helens Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final next Saturday will be played at the DW Stadium.

The Warriors were faced with having to switch the tie to a neutral venue because of a clash with Wigan Athletic's final home Barclays Premier League game 24 hours later.

After two and a half days of negotiations, the cup holders now say the tie will take place at the DW Stadium but have criticised the Rugby Football League over the saga.

Wigan were instructed on Thursday by the governing body to play the game at another stadium if the DW Stadium was not available and they sounded out ground availability at Leigh, Bolton and Warrington.

But the Warriors say they warned the RFL back in October that the DW Stadium would not be available next Saturday or Sunday and are angry they were refused permission to play the tie on Friday night.

Wigan also offered to play the match on Monday, May 14.

The impasse was finally broken following more talks when it was decided "in these highly exceptional circumstances to attempt to allow the quarter-final tie to be played at the DW Stadium the day prior to the Wigan Athletic game following receipt of a favourable weather forecast".

Wigan say Athletic owner Dave Whelan countered football Premier League reservations with assurances that the pitch was in good condition and that special arrangements were in place to ensure it remained so.

Whelan said: "It is scandalous to be put in this position but we cannot see Wigan Warriors playing such a game away from home.

"All Wigan folk, whether primarily rugby or football supporters, come together in wishing to see two such important games shown from the Wigan stadium across the country on successive days next weekend."

Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan said: "It is excellent to be able to demonstrate publicly the togetherness and strength of football and rugby in Wigan."

However, Lenagan added: "We feel let down by the RFL that they are prepared to countenance the loss of integrity of their famous Challenge Cup competition by removing home advantage from the holders in a critical and closely competitive quarter-final in order to fit in with preferred television schedules when valid and practical alternative days and times were available.

"We also feel that the RFL scheduling of Challenge Cup rounds has been poor with three rounds in 30 days followed by nine weeks before the semi-finals."
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