NRL’s first all-female show scrapped

Fox League’s blockbuster 2020 line-up will not include celebrated Wednesday night show League Life, the star-studded network announced on Tuesday.

The show, fronted by star presenters Yvonne Sampson, Lara Pitt, Jess Yates and Hannah Hollis, won’t be seen in 2020, according to a weekly schedule revealed by Fox League during the channel’s season launch at the SCG on Tuesday.

The overhaul is part of a strategic decision to spread the show’s talent and popular in-depth stories across the network’s fleet of shows, according to Pitt.

“We’ll still be producing League Life stories,” Pitt tweeted. “We’re just all getting out of the studio, hitting the road and bringing this content to you throughout the Fox League broadcast Thursday to Sunday.”

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The network has announced the four League Life presenters have instead begun beefed-up roles with the station where every night of Fox League’s live game coverage will be headed up by the female hosts.

Sampson, Hollis, Yates and Pitt will host Fox League’s pre-game and post-game shows from the Fox League studios in Sydney.

Hannah Hollis, Lara Pitt, Yvonne Sampson, Jessica Yates and Emma Freedman will be front and centre on Fox League.Source:News Corp Australia

League Life started as Australia’s first all-female sports panel show and came to be widely celebrated across the game for its unique perspective of the sport on and off the field.

The shifting roles of the League Life stars was part of the unprecedented star power unveiled by Fox League on Tuesday.

NRL legends Cooper Cronk and Sam Burgess were confirmed as the newest members of the Fox League team at the season launch joining a staggering number of NRL commentary legends, including Matty Johns, Mal Meninga, Kevin Walters, Ben Ikin, Gorden Tallis, Justin Hodges, Corey Parker, Billy Moore, Warren Smith, Andrew Voss, Dan Ginnane, Brenton Speed, Paul Kent, Steve “Blocker” Roach, Geoff Toovey, Phil Rothfield, Benji Marshall, James Graham, Nathan Hindmarsh, Bryan Fletcher, Emma Freedman, Mick Ennis and James Hooper.

Fox League’s weekly schedule for 2020.Source:Supplied

Head of Fox Sports Peter Campbell on Tuesday celebrated Fox League’s 2020 line-up.

“Last year was another strong year for rugby league on Foxtel with Fox League again providing fans with unrivalled coverage and analysis of the NRL competition,” he said.

“In 2019 Foxtel break new ground with the introduction of 4K Ultra HD and FOX Rover Cam bringing fans closer to the game than ever before.

“It only gets better in 2020 with Fox League again bringing fans every game, every round, LIVE ad-break free during play and in HD on Fox League with over 40 games in 4K Ultra HD throughout the season.

Yvonne Sampson hosts League Life.Source:News Corp Australia

“And for the first time ever, Fox League’s live game coverage will be headed up by female hosts with Yvonne Sampson, Hannah Hollis, Jessica Yates and Lara Pitt guiding fans through all the pre and post-game action in 2020.

“At Foxtel the conversation around rugby league never ends. Fox League’s plethora of magazine shows will continue to provide fans with unrivalled access and insight into the game.

“We have simply the best and biggest line-up of commentators to give fans unrivalled insight and analysis including greats of the game like Matty Johns, Mal Meninga, Kevin Walters, Michael Ennis, Greg Alexander and Gorden Tallis.”

Rugby league commentators, however, were still left saddened by the decision to break-up League Life.

Disappointed League Life no longer part of the Fox Sports lineup. Hope there’s still scope for longer interviews on issues or with players midseason as they arise.

R.I.P League Life

The show regularly displayed the game in a positive light while also being able to get the best answers out of the tougher questions compared to others. https://t.co/HzxgEBZyH7

Anyone know what happened to League Life? ? pic.twitter.com/ApAScmI08S

This is a positive account but this is sad news that League Life won’t be back on @FOXNRL in 2020.

Yvonne, Lara, Hannah and Jess had a brilliant show going which highlighted the positive aspects of the game and had deep interviews.

We’ll miss the show. https://t.co/ROA0BG8OFt

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