Wigan start Super League defence at Castleford

5 months ago 118

Hull KR prop George King muscles up against Scott Taylor, Jordan Lane of Hull FC

Hull clubs FC and KR will give the season a raucous welcome with the first derby of the campaign at the MKM Stadium on 15 February

Super League champions Wigan Warriors will begin their 2024 campaign away to Castleford Tigers, while Hull rivals FC and KR will kick off the new season on Thursday, 15 February.

Runners-up Catalans Dragons will play Warrington on Saturday, 17 February, the same day Wigan and Castleford meet.

Challenge Cup holders Leigh welcome Huddersfield on Friday, 16 February.

Also playing that same night are new boys London Broncos, who travel to St Helens, while Leeds host Salford.

The Warriors are then pencilled in to host local rivals Leigh in round two but that is likely to be postponed because of their World Club Challenge involvement, with National Rugby League winners Penrith Panthers expected to travel to England for the fixture.

Hull KR host Leeds at Craven Park on Thursday, 22 February in the first match of that weekend, while London welcome Catalans and Warrington play Hull FC on the Friday.

Huddersfield's visit of St Helens on the Saturday, and Salford's game at home to Castleford a day later, complete the opening two rounds.

Wigan won the Grand Final against the Dragons at Old Trafford in October, to end St Helens' four-year dominance, and they will host les Dracs on 2 May.

The regular season consists of 27 rounds of matches, with Magic Weekend to be held at Leeds United's Elland Road home on the weekend of 17-18 August.

The showpiece, which sees all 12 teams play in the same venue in one weekend, has been moved to the latter part of the season to accommodate the Challenge Cup final being moved to Saturday, 8 June.

Once again there will be no Easter double header as had traditionally been the case in previous years, with clubs instead playing just one fixture over that weekend.

Cas will host Leeds on Thursday 28 March, before a Hull derby and Saints v Wigan on Good Friday. Warrington welcome Catalans and Salford play host to local rivals Leigh on Saturday and London Broncos have a home game with Huddersfield on Easter Sunday.

All the teams will bring their league campaign to a close on Friday, 20 September.