Next year’s Super League season will include a mid-season ‘Nines festival”, according to Hull owner Adam Pearson.
Speaking on the BBC Rugby League Podcast, Pearson stressed the need for the British game to come up with a new format for a younger audience – although he said in his mind, this would be third variant of the sport and not Nines.
However, he revealed that talks were at an advanced stage for nine-a-side rugby league to be played next season anyway.
“We need a new competition, we do need a Nines festival, we need an improved Magic, we do need to get the number of games right obviously … and we need to spice Challenge Cup up somehow,” he said.
But a “summer Nines festival” in mid-season was very much on the agenda for 2022, Pearson revealed.
Nines is also on the way back to Japan, with the Riverside Nines to be staged on Saturday September 4. Sankei Sports Centre in Tokyo will be the venue with Abiko Ducks the home team. Competing clubs are yet to be announced.
