BetFred 2022 Summer Bash

2022 SUMER BASH | SATURDAY 30 & SUNDAY 31 JULY 2022 | HEADINGLEY STADIUM
WELCOME
FROM RFL CHAIR
SIMON JOHNSON
Welcome to the sixth Betfred
Championship Summer Bash – a
unique celebration of the special
qualities of Rugby League
outside the Super League.
It is three years since the last
such gathering in Blackpool,
and we are at a new venue for
the Bash at Headingley – a
stadium rich in tradition, the
location of so many wonderful
and iconic sporting memories,
on both sides of the Football
Stand - and a venue which has
been so superbly redeveloped
in recent years to become an
arena fit for champions.
Almost all of the clubs involved
this weekend have been involved
in some famous matches and
occasions at Headingley – and
of course the ultimate goal
for the leading lights in the
Championship is to be returning
here to face Leeds Rhinos in the
Betfred Super League in 2023.
But there will doubtless be plenty
of twists and turns through the
remaining weeks of the league
campaign followed by the Top Six
Play-Off series before promotion
is secured at the Betfred
Championship Grand Final on
the first weekend of October.
All that drama will be captured
live by Premier Sports, whose
regular Monday Night coverage
of the Championship – and
of a number of Challenge
Cup ties – has been such a
positive addition to the Rugby
League landscape in 2022.
Their light, entertaining and fun
approach has done so much
to bring the skill, passion and
excitement of the athletes in the
Championship to the attention
of the sports-loving public.
There are now regular
opportunities to enjoy action
from this level live on television –
and it’s a real boost for the Bash
to have all seven games live on
Premier Sports this weekend.
We are delighted that the fixture
list for the 2022 Summer Bash
is augmented by a match from
the Betfred Women’s Super
League – a special welcome to
the players, off-field staff and
supporters of Barrow Raiders and
Featherstone Rovers, two clubs
who have shown such support
for the development of Women’s
and Girls Rugby League.
This is also an opportunity to
express gratitude on behalf of
the sport to Betfred, who have
provided such outstanding and
important support to Rugby
League through the unique
challenges of the last few years.
Fred Done and his team have
really been bitten by the Rugby
League bug since their initial
involvement with the Super
League, extending their support
initially to the Championship
and League One competitions,
and in recent years to the
Women’s and Wheelchair game.
Betfred will also be the principal
partners of our three England
teams – Men’s, Women’s and
Wheelchair – in the Rugby
League World Cup when it
kicks off from October 15th
with England Men’s Opening
Fixture at St James’ Park.
The city of Leeds will be a major
focus, with three attractive
fixtures from the Men’s
tournament here at Headingley,
followed by two double headers
from the Women’s tournament
– including the opening match
between England and Brazil
on Tuesday November 1.
There will also be a Men’s Semi
Final at Elland Road, which was
the scene for such an enjoyable
Betfred Challenge Cup triple
header in the spring including a
thrilling Women’s Final between
Leeds Rhinos and St Helens
in front of a record crowd.
I hope all the supporters
of Betfred Championship
clubs here at Headingley
this weekend join us in the
celebration of Rugby League
that lies ahead this autumn.
But before that, I wish good
luck to all the players, officials
and supporters involved in the
Betfred Championship Summer
Bash. It is a great strength of
Rugby League that we can come
together for occasions such
as this, as with Super League’s
Magic Weekend, to enjoy the
brilliance of the players and
the camaraderie of the fans.
Simon
SIMON JOHNSON
Chair of the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League, Quay West, Trafford Wharf Rd, M17 1HH | rugby-league.com
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