Wigan Warriors and BBC continue standoff against Sky as Latics chief Dave Whelan weighs in

Wigan Athletic hold the stadium record, have sold out numerous times, and had 20k+ crowds dozens of times against a wide variety of teams. By contrast the rugby team have only sold out a couple of time against Saints and for a WCC match, they have achieved far, far fewer 20k+ attendances, the vast majority of which have been against Saints and Warrington.

I think priority should go to the game that will draw the biggest crowd, wonder which is the most likeley to sell out? Has the DW ever sold out for a girly ball game yet? Saturday it should be.

Warriors can't play the saturday as Wigan athletic play the Sunday and the rules state that the premier league team has priority over any other team they share the ground with and needs to be left 24 hours as latics can't reschedule as the premier league won't allow It under the rules then they har priority over that ground and there for the rugby should play either else where or change the day !!

As an avid wigan rlfc fan who has held a season ticket for 16 years i think it is only fair that we shud play saturday afternoon as it was said. Wigan athletic must realize that the stadium is half ours and also wigan is a rugby town with the rugby team being there a lot longer than the latics and have done a lot more for the town than latics ever have and ever will do.

Why should the Warriors have to play on a neutral ground against Saints? Who came with this daft rule that you can't p!ay a rugby match if the football team is playing on the same pitch the following day. Warriors should not be disadvantaged and that's what will happen if the match is played anywhere other than the DW.

Premier league rules apply to ground sharing look it up on google it states that the premier league club has priority over the stadium and the team needs 24 hours in between matches bbc should make a slot on there awful Friday schedule to make Friday like it should be

The Game should be played on Friday, at home and if the BBC can't cover it then not a problem, this will be there loss, Sky has a much better coverage than the BBC, Camera's and presentation, But I'm not bothered if this game is not covered by any of the TV's, as long as we get home advantage, as drawn. as this is as important to us as any cup final. and yes I agree we shouldn't play it on a Saturday, and spoil the preperation for Latics as this game is essential as well, if only for the town of Wigan.

play football on sa
taday rugby on sunday

If the BBC insisted the match be played live at 3 pm on the Sunday, because it suited them - despite the fact that a key game is already planned for then - would we think it reasonable? Of course, not. So why is it reasonable to insist that the game be played on the ground during the 24 hour preparation period the Premier League demands?

The BBC obviously has something against the two Wigan teams. Their pundits have been promising that Wigan Athletic will be relegated ever season since they got into the Premier League.

Yes, it's a home tie and that's what we want it to stay!
Wigan Fan

I don't see how giving up the biggest game of the cup so far would benefit the BBC "in the long term." I also don't see why the BBC should give a rats ass, Wigan are contractually obliged to play on Saturday to meet the commitments to media partners that they are paid for and paid well for. The BBC will be more than happy to have the game played at Stobart, Halliwell Jones or Langtree park.

It is in the games best interest to have such a big game as this on BBC where it can reach more people. You can't just equate what is best for the fans of one club to what is best for the sport. I'm sure the RFL agrees with the BBC that it should be played on Saturday.

As for the FA they require a 24 hour period which I'm sure they would allow seeing the rugby would be done for 4ish (23 hours early) it is Whelan who imposed a 48 hour ban.

Quite right. Latics have their own preoccupations for a win against Wolves and rightly so. Add to this the FA ( who are well known for their respect for fans of any sport - including their own) saying the DW can't host an RL match so close to their own arrangements and we have a problem. It strikes me that if Sky put the game on the BBC may "miss out" in the short term but will be rewarded in lots of ways in the long term. A bit of BBC common sense is called for here.
The club and fans want this game to be played at Wigan, not somewhere else so as to satisfy the wishes of the BBC - who, let's face it, have the best wishes of the game at heart (and pigs have wings).

It's about time Whelan realized its our stadium too! We should be able to play Saturday and the latics play Sunday I don't know what the problem is?

Whelan is not saying he is happy for Wigan to play on Friday, he is really saying he is not happy for them to play on Saturday. Why should BBC give up the biggest clash of the tournament?

This game is one of biggest games in the cup. No TV station should hold the club to ramson. The game has been drawn at home and the fans want it at home.