Rugby League fans could be presented with wall-to-wall Super League in 1999.

Clubs, unhappy with just 11 home League fixtures this season, have given Super League bosses the go-ahead to schedule more games.

The addition of Gateshead, who were yesterday formally accepted by the Rugby Football League Council at a meeting in Salford, will provide at least two more fixtures.

League chiefs will also consider taking Super League 'on the road' following the qualified success of this year's three-week experiment.

Clubs yesterday decided to start the season a month early - on the weekend of March 5-7 - to accommodate Great Britain's trip to Australia in the autumn and are preparing for the return of midweek fixtures which were dropped this year after pressure from coaches.

"There is a need for more fixtures because Super League is such a great product that should be showcased to more people on a more regular basis," said Super League Europe (SLE) chairman Chris Caisley. "You can't open a stadium for 11 or 12 weeks a year and expect your business to grow," added the Bulls chief.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.