Championship 2018 fixtures released

Drew Darbyshire

The Championship looks to be one of the most entertaining seasons yet in 2018 and the fixtures have been revealed.

Leigh Centurions, who were relegated from Super League in 2017, will start their season off with a clash against the newly-promoted Toronto Wolfpack in February.

The Centurions were relegated following defeat in the Million Pound Game to Catalans Dragons last month, will welcome Paul Rowley’s Toronto Wolfpack to the Leigh Sports Village on Sunday 4 February.

A game between Dewsbury Rams and Sheffield Eagles will actually get the Championship game underway though on Friday 2 February.

The 2018 campaign will continue with the Super 8s structure, with the 12 Betfred Super League clubs and 12 Championship clubs splitting into the eights after 23 rounds.

Barrow Raiders, who won promotion to the second-tier with a League 1 play-off final victory over rivals Whitehaven, will begin life back in the Championship with a trip to the Capital as they face London Broncos and will welcome the Wolfpack at Craven Park a week later.

Swinton Lions will travel to France to face Toulouse Olympique for their first game of the campaign while Rochdale Hornets play Batley Bulldogs.

Featherstone Rovers will host Halifax in a hugely-anticipated clash in the opening weekend.

Toronto will play their first 11 games of the season away from home and Championship clubs will not travel to the Lamport Stadium until the middle of the season.

Every team will play 23 games in the regular season, home and away against the other 11 clubs along with the 2018 Summer Bash at Blackpool.