Leeds Rhinos to reduce capacity for Challenge Cup tie

Headingley hosts top-flight rugby league, rugby union and cricket

Leeds Rhinos have been told they must cut the capacity of their Headingley ground for their Challenge Cup tie with Wigan Warriors to just 10,000.

The tie clashes with day one of Yorkshire's clash with Lancashire in cricket's County Championship.

An independent safety team have agreed both games can go ahead at the same time but the capacity must be reduced for public safety reasons.

The Rhinos' match will be broadcast live on BBC TV.

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "We were looking forward to a really big crowd. Ten thousand is still a good crowd, but it's not as many as it would have been.

"We are very grateful that we can stage the game, because the alternative would be to have played it somewhere else and that certainly wouldn't have gone down well with our supporters, our coaching staff, players or anybody.

"The game will be shown live on BBC television however I am sure that those fans fortunate enough to get a ticket will have the hottest ticket in town."

Tickets will be available for all areas of the ground but once the capacity has been met, the game will be sold out.

The West Yorkshire club have said there will be no cash turnstiles on the day of the game and fans must pre-purchase their tickets, Wigan have an allocation of 2,500.