But the shine was taken away from 2025\u2019s semi-final showdown between the two neighbours by a ticketing row between the two clubs after Wigan alleged that Leigh, and Beaumont in particular, had refused to play the game<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those allegations stemmed from Leopards supporters seeing tickets they had bought in Wigan areas of the ground cancelled, with the away end allocation of around 4,800 snapped up almost immediately.<\/p>\n \u2018It was unacceptable to me, to our fans and our sponsors and we simply won\u2019t tolerate it\u2019<\/p>\n In-between Wigan\u2019s initial allegation and the game itself, Leigh owner Beaumont released a statement in excess of 4,000 words addressing the situation<\/a>.<\/p>\n And just a few days after the game took place, it was confirmed that the Leopards had lodged an official complaint with the RFL<\/a> over not just the ticketing allocation row but the manner in which their supporters were treated on the night of the semi-final at The Brick.<\/p>\n Speaking to a selection of the media \u2013 including LoveRugbyLeague \u2013 on Wednesday night at Leigh\u2019s home kit launch for 2026, Beaumont confirmed that the RFL investigation remains ongoing and made his feelings towards Wigan abundantly clear.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI\u2019ve never heard anything from them, I refused to shake (Wigan chairman) Chris Brookes\u2019 hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t behave like that and then come and think you can shake someone\u2019s hand and it\u2019ll be okay \u2013 that\u2019s far from okay.<\/p>\n \u201cI still reserve my position on it. I\u2019m waiting until the outcome of the RFL\u2019s investigation into it. Depending on what the outcome of that is will depend on what I do, or if I do anything.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was despicable. Unprecedented actions to keep fans from going into the stadium and turning them away on the night of the stadium and causing massive queues, patting them down.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just despicable behaviour. It was unnecessary, ringing up people and cancelling their tickets and trying to use the excuse that pyros were used the season before.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was unacceptable to me, to our fans and our sponsors and we simply won\u2019t tolerate it.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know (when the outcome will be decided). I know it has started, I sent an email to send some various details in, and I know a lot of sponsors did to (RFL chair) Nigel Wood directly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe won\u2019t do to them what they did to us, they (Wigan supporters) will come here and get treated exactly as you should treat every other away fan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018As it stands, there\u2019s no relationship with Wigan, I certainly won\u2019t be attending their stadium and I have zero respect for them\u2019<\/p>\n On the night of the semi-final, The Brick was far from full: with a crowd of 18,523 watching on in a venue which can hold more than 25,000 at full capacity.<\/p>\n Notably, Leigh<\/a>\u2018s allocation was reduced from what it could have been as the Leopards opted to take up unallocated seating as opposed to reserved in the away end.<\/p>\n For now, the arguments around who, if anybody, is to blame will rage on behind-closed-doors. But as things currently stand, Beaumont says he has \u2018zero respect\u2019 for the Cherry and Whites.<\/p>\n On whether the two clubs could kiss and make up, the Leopards owner said: \u201cThat\u2019s on them.<\/p>\n Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened to our fans, if they\u2019re vindicated by the punishment that Wigan receive, and the malicious tweet that was put out referencing the email late at night, when it was a private message.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t share private Whatsapp messages, I reserve my rights on that.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact of the matter is, they\u2019ve put a tweet out there incorrectly and knowing it\u2019s incorrect, because they had a formal email that took two hours to write and went to all the owners of Super League<\/a>, Super League Europe and RL Commercial highlighting issues and clearly stating that we fully intended to play the game.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the RFL deals with it correctly, then that can be that and it\u2019s up to them how it moves forward.<\/p>\n \u201cAs it stands, there\u2019s no relationship with Wigan, I certainly won\u2019t be attending their stadium and I have zero respect for them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m not going to put a stamp on where we play saying \u2018Progress With Unity\u2019. There is no unity\u2019<\/p>\n Leigh earned their spot in the semi-final at Wigan by beating Wakefield Trinity in a play-off eliminator on home soil the week prior.<\/p>\n Notably, that game took place at the \u2018Progress with Unity Stadium\u2019, with the Leopards\u2019 home ground renamed in the build-up to that clash with Trinity: taking on the name of the ten-year plan being led by Wigan Council which aims to create fair opportunities and help its communities thrive.<\/p>\n As part of that initiative, figures from the Leopards, the Warriors and Wigan Athletic Football Club all took part in a video about the community within the borough.<\/p>\n But now, after the ticketing row and the frayed relationship between themselves and the Warriors, they have opted not to use the \u2018Progress with Unity Stadium\u2019 name. Instead, when they play at home, the venue will still be recognised as the Leopards\u2019 Den at Leigh Sports Village.<\/p>\n![\"Derek](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/LRL-Feature-Image-54.jpg\")
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Leigh-Sports-Village.jpg\")
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