Magic Weekend to return to St James' Park in 2016


 
 

Following the success of the 2015 Magic Weekend, the Super League is delighted to announce that the 2016 event will be returning to St James’ Park, Newcastle on Saturday May 21 and Sunday May 22.

Magic Weekend was first held in Newcastle earlier this year and more than 67,000 fans were in attendance across the course of the weekend – the highest ever for the two-day event.

The fixtures for Magic Weekend 2016 have also been revealed, with Catalans Dragons playing Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Sunday May 22.

Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors will be playing in a rematch of the 2015 First Utility Super League Grand Final in the closing game on Saturday evening. The Rhinos, who defeated the Warriors 22-20 at Old Trafford, will lock horns with Wigan for the fourth successive year at Magic Weekend at 7.00pm on Saturday May 21.

Salford Red Devils and Widnes Vikings will kick the two-day Rugby League extravaganza off when they go head-to-head at 2.30pm. Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves will square off at 4.45pm before the Grand Final rematch brings the curtain down on an action-packed first day.

Day two begins with Catalans Dragons and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at 1.00pm followed by Huddersfield Giants facing St Helens in the penultimate game of the weekend. Magic Weekend climaxes with one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes – the Hull derby – where the city’s bragging rights will be up for grabs between Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers.

Super League General Manager Blake Solly said: “We’re delighted that Magic Weekend will be staged at Newcastle’s St James’ Park in 2016.

“Magic Weekend this year was a huge success, where we had a record attendance for the weekend and for the Saturday. I would like to thank everyone in Newcastle for their support with the event and hopefully we can build on the brilliant success of 2015.”

Leader of Newcastle City Council, Nick Forbes, said: “It is great news for Newcastle that Super League Magic Weekend will be returning to St James’s Park. We look forward to once again welcoming the thousands of rugby league fans who thronged the city centre last year.

“The Magic Weekend is a colourful, fun and family friendly event that is a pleasure to host. We will be making sure that this isn’t just about one ‘magic weekend’ by doing all we can to use the event to encourage young people in the city to get active and benefit from a lasting sporting legacy.”

Tickets for the 2016 Magic Weekend at St. James’ Park, Newcastle, are now on sale and day tickets are priced from £25 for adults and £12.50 for concessions. Weekend tickets are also available from £40 for adults and £20 for concessions.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk or by calling the Rugby League Ticket Hotline on 0844 856 1113.

The 2016 Magic Weekend schedule is as follows:

Saturday May 21

2.30pm – Salford Red Devils v Widnes Vikings

4.45pm – Castleford Tigers v Warrington Wolves

7.00pm – Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors

Sunday May 22

1.00pm – Catalans Dragons v Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

3.15pm – Huddersfield Giants v St Helens

5.30pm – Hull FC v Hull Kingston Rovers