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The RFL is delighted to confirm that as part of the event's continued development and growth, Rugby League's Magic Weekend will be played at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium next May and be accompanied by a highly attractive admission offer for club season ticket holders.
The Magic Weekend - where a full round of engage Super League fixtures are played in one city over one weekend - will be staged on Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd following a two year agreement between Super League (Europe) Limited, Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and other local partners.
The 2009 Magic Weekend sees the city of Edinburgh hosting top class Rugby League for the first time since 2002, when the Challenge Cup Final took place at Murrayfield.
And as well as the exciting move to the Scottish capital next season, engage Super League season ticket holders will be able to take advantage of an amazing 50% discount voucher enabling them to buy Magic Weekend day tickets at half price.
The move to Edinburgh also means that supporters can look forward to a bigger and better all round experience throughout their stay with the city offering a huge choice of accommodation, an incredibly wide selection of restaurants as well as a hugely expanded game-day entertainment programme in and around the stadium.
Sally Bolton, the RFL's Director of Events and Projects, said: "We are delighted to announce these new and exciting details of the Magic Weekend.
"After successfully introducing the concept in 2007 and 2008 and firmly establishing it in the Rugby League calendar, we believe our plans for 2009 will take the event to the next level and offer supporters a unique family entertainment experience.
"A number of cities had expressed an interest in hosting this event but we believe this new location has all the right ingredients to continue its development.
"The concept of the Magic Weekend is all about taking the sport on the road and staging engage Super League in prestigious and exciting cities.
"Each August the city hosts the world famous Edinburgh festival and for the next two years it will host a carnival of Rugby League in early May."
Gordon McKie, Scottish Rugby's Chief Executive, said: "We are thrilled to have secured another major sporting event for Murrayfield and Edinburgh, again underlining Scottish Rugby's commitment to hosting world class premium events at the Stadium.
"The exceptional and flexible facilities available at Murrayfield allow us to add a unique festival atmosphere to major events.
"We are very much looking forward to working in partnership with our key stakeholders to ensure that the Magic Weekend is a tremendous success."
Statistics confirm that the move to Edinburgh will make the event even more attractive to spectators due to the range of accommodation available and the vast range of places to visit and things to do, aside from a feast of engage Super League.
With 6,074 rooms within 2km of the city centre, Edinburgh has nearly twice as many hotel rooms as Cardiff and offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.
Supporters will also be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a place to eat and drink. The city boasts more restaurants per head of population than any other British city.
Sally Bolton added: "Murrayfield presents a fantastic opportunity for us to take the Magic Weekend entertainment experience to the next level and to provide a complete entertainment package for all supporters.
"Our plans for a specially created fan village around the Stadium are set to create a carnival atmosphere for the whole family.
"The city itself offers family entertainment and a feast of activity before the games kick off each day and also after the final whistle.
"Our event partners for 2009 are committed to working with us to offer a range of accommodation to create an appropriate portfolio for supporters and teams alike."
Edinburgh is Europe's festival capital with over 60 art galleries and major museums, five major performing arts theatres as well as numerous other visitor attractions.
It's not just Edinburgh city centre that will offer more opportunities for Rugby League supporters during the Magic Weekend. Murrayfield Stadium is also set to be a hub of activity.
The Stadium is surrounded by a wide expanse of land, and plans for an exciting family fan village offering refreshments and entertainment are set to be unveiled in due course.
Many of the partners involved in securing the event for Edinburgh have promised a warm welcome to the thousands of rugby fans expected to head north.
Steve Cardownie, City of Edinburgh Festivals and Events Champion, said: "Edinburgh is held in the highest regard all over the world and our reputation for hosting major events get stronger every year.
"Edinburgh's rugby credentials are second to none so this is fantastic news for the city. The many rugby league fans who make their way here can be sure of a warm welcome and a fantastic time."
Visit Scotland, Director of Visitor Engagement, Malcolm Roughead, OBE stated: "VisitScotland is delighted to support the Scottish Rugby and its partners in bringing Rugby League to Edinburgh.
"Edinburgh's appeal as a destination and the easy accessibility of the city for visitors make it the perfect location to spend a weekend enjoying the sights and sounds of the city and the rugby during what promises to be a festival of rugby in May 2009."
Full details of the fixture format for the 2009 Magic Weekend will be revealed in due course.
Tickets for this year's event are now on sale and start from £15 per day, £5 for concessions. Weekend tickets start from £25 for seven games.
For ticket information, please call 0871 226 13 13 or visit www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk
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NEXT FIXTURE
Scotland A v England A
VENUE
Lasswade RFC, Edinburgh
DATE
Saturday 16th August 2008
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