Despite there being just three Super League games this weekend, there’s a fixture clash on Friday night and here’s why.

Super League Round 20 is a split round with three of the six games taking place this past weekend and the other three being played this coming week.

In a congested calendar, the split round affords teams a week off and for both Hull KR and Warrington Wolves, it marked the first of the season.

Having progressed to the Challenge Cup Final, neither side have had a week off until last week but they’ll return to action on Thursday and Friday as the Robins travel to Salford and the Wolves to Leigh.

That clash between Leigh Leopards and Warrington Wolves is one of two games kicking off at 8:00 pm on Friday night, a seemingly farcical clash given the fact that there are only three games to be played this weekend over the course of four days.

Super League fixture clash explained

St Helens will also host Castleford Tigers on Friday night at the same time as Leigh taking on Warrington Wolves with Sky Sports covering both matches, albeit the Saints and Cas clash on their Red Button.

Fans have questioned the decision to play both games on the same night but there is no precedent why they cannot both play, given that every single Friday in Super League this season, bar last week, has had two games play at the same time.

With no defined rules on when games can and cannot be played, neither team are in breach of any such rule.

It’s also been confirmed to Serious About Rugby League that both the Red Vee and the Leopards wanted to play on Friday night with each team opting for that evening.

Friday nights have proven very successful commercially for Super League clubs in recent years with the ability to sell boxes to businesses far more financially viable than selling more tickets on Saturdays or Sundays.

Moreover, with both teams pushing for the top four, and potentially even the top two in Leigh’s case, playing on either Saturday or Sunday would simply give them a bigger rest disadvantage over their upcoming opponents.

In Round 21, Leigh play Leeds, who played last Thursday and will have a 14-day turnaround compared to Leigh’s six, whilst St Helens play Wakefield who have a 15-day turnaround compared to Saints’ seven.

Whilst it’s disappointing for fans who wish to watch both games spread over the course of the weekend, it’s simply a case of preference for both clubs.