Hull KR unhappy with Castleford Tigers fixture change

Hull KR have lost just one of their six home games this season

Hull KR chief executive Mike Smith has labelled the Rugby Football League's decision to move his side's home game against Castleford "a joke".

They were originally scheduled to take on the Tigers on Sunday, 7 June but the game has been moved to Friday, 5 June.

Castleford asked for the game to be switched to give them more rest before their game against Leeds on the following Thursday, 11 June.

Smith told the club website the decision "left a sour taste".

He continued: "We received a request to change the fixture in mid-February, which we rejected at the time, and we have been arguing our case for the RFL to overturn their decision ever since.

"Castleford have known they would be playing Leeds on the Thursday night since mid-October and waited until the middle of February to act, which is totally unfair on our club and our supporters.

"The decision from the RFL has been made on player welfare grounds to allow a minimum of a five-day turnaround between fixtures, yet clubs are asked to play two games in four days over the Easter period.

"Now that we have progressed through to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, we will also have to arrange a midweek fixture against Salford Red Devils. Will the RFL be able to accommodate both clubs the way they have with Castleford? I don't think so."

Chris Chester's side are currently ninth in Super League and reached the last eight of the Challenge Cup with a surprise win against Wigan.