FANS across the world will be able to watch our second-round Betfred Challenge Cup tie against Swinton Lions, which takes place this Sunday, March 28 (kick-off 12.30pm) for FREE.
This hard-to-call tie at Heywood Road, Sale, Swinton’s home base, will be a BBC production rather than an Our League broadcast, and will be shown on BBC Sport Online, iPlayer and on the Red Button.
Our behind-closed-doors games so far have been featured on Our League, free to our season-ticket holders but under a pay-to-view arrangement for everyone else; £4.95 for Early Bird members paying before the day of the game and £10 for anyone registering and paying on game day.
Our League production costs are considerable, hence the pay-to-view arrangement, but that doesn’t apply to BBC coverage.
With no cost involved, Roughyeds hope fans all over the UK and all around the world will tune in to this one, which will not only give the winners a chance to meet Super League opposition in round three, but will automatically see them through to the semi-final of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.
Come Sunday around 2pm, either Oldham or Swinton Lions will be one game from playing at Wembley later in the season in the final of the 1895 Cup.
“Swinton will have a load of fans supporting them in spirit and on their various devices and we know we will have too,” said Roughyeds captain Gareth Owen.
“Our fans are great. We are missing them a lot. But we know they’re right behind us in spirit and, come Sunday, they’ll all be glued to their little screens.”
Mark Foster, the RFL’s chief commercial officer, is delighted the BBC are broadcasting two ties live for the second time in a week.
He said: “This is another significant boost for the profile of the Betfred Challenge Cup, and clubs outside Super League, as the focus sharpens on which four clubs will book places in the third round when the network coverage begins.
“The revenue generated from all matches so far has comfortably exceeded production costs and we are hopeful that more fans at all levels will join our growing Our League membership, which is now more than 170,000 to watch quality Rugby League which is available in the Betfred Championship, League One and the Challenge Cup.”
