Something was mentioned in the League Express some time ago that there would be a European Cup featuring the top four from the Championship and the French top three of 2010/2011 (plus Toulouse) to take place in May 2012.

As the RFL don't seem to be announcing any details so far or even confirm in the public domain that they are persuing this competition, I thought I'd share what we were told at the Leigh fans forum last night by our chairman;

The quarter finals will take place in May with Leigh and Featherstone at home to French sides, while Sheffield and Halifax (not Batley) will travel to France. Nothing has been confirmed as to the set up of the semi finals or when/where the final would be and how it will fit amongst the league season, but the RFL & French RFL will be covering the travel costs and there will be a prize pot of £17,000 for the eventual winner and a certain amount of prize money for the losing finalist.

I think it's certainly a good idea in theory so hopefully details can be confirmed shortly, with the potential fixtures clearly outlined so that people are in a position to look at sorting their travel/accomodation for any further fixtures.

Great stuff, sounds good.

I've read that the SL fixtures come out at the back end of next week, so I'd imagine all the info would be put out at the same time or possibly the week after...

When are the Championship fixtures released?

And, is the NRC continuing in the same form?

That's great news. The LER final is on May 12th, so I imagine this competition would start the week after that.

Well yes they have confirmed it in the public domain (their document on restructuring the championships). What they haven't done is release the 2012 fixtures (for any competition). Are you seriously complaining that the the RFL haven't released the fixtures before the fixtures are released?

hmm interesting. How about;

May 12th - LER Final
May 19/20th - Euro Cup QF
May 26/27th - Euro Cup SF
June 1st - Final

Hold final in Salford and have Magic Weekend in Manchester on 2nd and 3rd of June (with double Bank holiday on 4th and 5th)?

Believe the fixtures are out in early December and the NRC is continuing in a similar structure to normal.

Whilst wishing to ignore tb trying to twist the entire point of the thread, it would be good if the RFL confirmed the weekends of each round of the competition and whether the semi finals will be an open draw/who will get home advantage and what the plans are for the final, depending on the potential participants.

Would also be good to know how this will fit in with the rest of the Championship fixtures (the dates are available tb as we know there will only be one game at Easter), ie will the other clubs go for 2+ weeks without a game, or will the Euro Cup teams have to fit in midweek games to catch up?

And I know it now looks like I have unwittingly taken tb's bait but I'm sure others will agree that there are currently more questions than answers at the moment and it's better for all concerned to get the structure announced as soon as possible.

Yes, I'm sure the fixtures will be announced, when the fixtures are announced.

I agree it would be better for those supporting the teams to know when the matches will be, particularly if it involves travel abroad, but I can understand why the RFL wouldn't release them just yet (what with the 4N's being on and all that).

I'd have said for the benefit of the EC comp it should start the week after the LER and the three rounds take place one after the other. This way the French are in form and should make for a good comp. Matches should take place on the weekend as well, firstly, for the fans, and, secondly, for the players, who will be largely part timers.

Euro 2012 kicks off on the 8th of June, so it'd be an idea to get a European competition in another sport out of the way before that media juganaunt kicks into gear and try glean some media attention by association. Plus, if you have the final in the same city on the same weekend as Magic weekend there will be a much larger attendance than having it in isolation.

But, yes, it seems there would be a number of issues with the Championship fixtures. A solution could be that the four teams taking part in the EC don't take part in the NRC or admitted straight into the knock out rounds. This would mean while the EC takes place the other Championship clubs could play their NRC pool matches.

That's what I'd have said as well but if it's extending in to June then it would take a chunk out of the French off-season with players going on holiday etc - maybe best to play the quarters/semi final immediately after the LER season's conclusion (again, presumably it's based on the 2010/2011 top three plus Toulouse rather than the top four of the current season, if indeed there is much difference?) and then leave a gap for the final to take place in France as the curtain raiser to the 2012/2013 LER season? Not that I want to retain an excuse for a mid-season jaunt to France

It's just one game, isn't it ?

If the UK teams win more than the French, the UK wins.

If the French teams win more than the UK, the French win.

Bit like the Davis Cup.