Super League explains reason behind reduced on-field activities at Magic Weekend

The timing of this year's Magic Weekend being later than usual has led to a late decision to cancel several scheduled events that were due to run alongside the on-field action. Super League say that they have had to make late calls to remove events such as Try Tag from the schedule, in a bid to avoid as much wear on the pitch as possible at St James' Park.

With the new Premier League season just weeks away, and Magic Weekend in a later spot than usual on the calendar to support the Rugby Football League's switch of the Challenge Cup Final to Tottenham, it has left the competition in a difficult position in regards to events running alongside the six Super League games.

Whereas in the usual May slot, any resurface of a pitch would have not yet taken place, the fact the event is in July this year means the new surface has only just been laid. That has now resulted in Try Tag rugby games plus other events like Masters exhibition matches being taken off the St James' Park pitch.

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Those events have been offered alternative locations in the park outside the stadium where the warm-ups will now take place - they were due to be on the St James' Park pitch too - but it remains to be seen whether they will now go ahead.

The planned Year 7 Boys Champions Schools final, which normally takes place before the cup final, plus the much-anticipated Learning Disability Super League festival, however, are not impacted. They will still be held as planned on the St James' Park pitch throughout the course of the weekend.

A Super League spokesperson told Rugby League Live: “Super League has viewed Magic Weekend as a festival for the sport, and more recently