A look ahead at ‘week two’ of the pre-season fixtures

The past weekend marked the unofficial start of the pre-season friendlies with a slate of games that featured teams from Super League, Championship and League One have their first hit-outs of 2023.

Whist we’re less than 24 hours removed from some of the action it’s set to come thick and fast with two games on Friday ahead of another full weekend slate in what can be viewed as ‘week two’ of pre-season friendlies.

Obviously we got three games over the festive period with two Boxing Day match-ups and a New Years Eve rivalry game too but for all intents and purposes, this past weekend marked the first significant round of pre-season.

A round-up of the seven Sunday games that we’re fresh off the back of can be found here, but looking ahead to the week in front of us here’s a list of the action including who, when and where.

Friday 20th January

London Skolars vs London Broncos: 2pm at New River Stadium – Capital Challenge
Featherstone Rovers vs Hull KR: 7.45pm at Millennium Stadium – Craig Hall testimonial

Saturday 21st January

Leigh Leopards vs Leeds Rhinos: 3pm at Leigh Sports Village – Bev Risman Trophy

Sunday 22nd January

Bradford Bulls vs Huddersfield Giants: 2pm at Odsal
Barrow Raiders vs Workington Town: 3pm at Craven Park
Doncaster RLFC vs Newcastle Thunder: 3pm at Eco-Power Stadium
Hunslet RLFC vs Halifax Panthers: 3pm at South Leeds Stadium
Keighley Cougars vs Castleford Tigers: 3pm at Cougar Park – Jake Webster testimonial
Oldham vs Widnes Vikings: 3pm at Whitebank Stadium
Sheffield Eagles vs Hull FC: 3pm at Olympic Legacy Park
St Helens Reserves vs Swinton: 3pm at Totally Wicked Stadium
Whitehaven vs Wigan Warriors: 3pm at The Recreation Ground
York City Knights vs Batley Bulldogs: 3pm at LNER Stadium

Perhaps not the stand-out fixture slated for Sunday but one that is a first of it’s kind sees Sheffield Eagles set to host Hull FC however the fixture will be a triple-header.

The club’s wheelchair sides kick off at 10am, the women’s teams face-off at 12.30pm and then the men will get underway alongside the other 3pm games.

As a result fans will be able to attend all three games if they want to with the fixtures being played at Forge Valley for the wheelchair fixture and then the Olympic Legacy Park for both the women’s and men’s games.

That’s the run-down of all the Super League, Championship and League One sides in action but there is more rugby league this weekend and it comes on Saturday with the BARLA Cup which is the British Amateur Rugby League Asscoation.

Whilst all the teams in action are amateur there will be some familiar names in the round one fixtures, particularly for those who caught the Challenge Cup draw on Thursday.

First name out of the hat for the Challenge Cup, Fryston Warriors will travel to face Haresfinch whilst Challenge Cup debutants, Westgate Common will also feature with an away tie against Siddal.

A full list of BARLA cup games can be found on the competition’s website here in case you’ve got a thirst for some local amateur rugby league prior to Sunday’s slate of fixtures.