Featherstone Rovers’ boss James Webster takes midweek trip to Toulouse in his stride

Like most Championship sides, Featherstone won’t play on Easter Monday, but do have a game two days later, on April 15, when they visit Toulouse Olympique.

That will be a tough challenge for part-time players, but Webster insisted: “It’s just the way it is.”

He said: “Everyone wanted to get rid of playing two games at Easter. We are still playing the same amount of games so they had to find a way to do it and they’ve come up with playing on the Wednesday.

“To do that, either they [Toulouse] had to come and play someone over here on the Wednesday or someone had to go there. It just happens to be us. It is the school holidays so I expect plenty of Featherstone people still to go. Someone had to do it and it’s us this year.”

Rovers are York City Knights’ opponents on March 22 when the North Yorkshire club’s new stadium will also host a Super League clash between Toronto Wolfpack and Wakefield Trinity. Webster said: “I’ve seen pictures of the new stadium and it looks fantastic. I think it will be great for the city of York and it has been fantastic what they have done over the last couple of years.

“Full credit to them, they have been a massive success story in rugby league and to play there before Toronto and Wakefield will be great for us.”