Keighley Cougars will kick off their return to the Betfred Championship with a blockbuster home fixture against Featherstone Rovers – which has been selected as the first Monday Night match of the 2023 season for Viaplay Sports.
Following the success of Premier Sports’ Championship broadcasts in 2022, Viaplay will again be providing exclusive and extensive coverage throughout the 2023 campaign – including two games from the Summer Bash in May, and building to the Play-Off series which will again determine promotion to the Betfred Super League.
The Cougars surged to promotion in 2022, winning the Betfred League One title with a 100% record – and have made a number of eyecatching signings to strengthen their squad for the Championship.
They are certain to receive an early test from a Featherstone club who have underlined their determination to launch yet another promotion challenge by appointing the former St Helens and Great Britain star Sean Long as head coach.
That game will be played on Monday February 6, completing an opening round of the Betfred Championship which also includes an intriguing return for Toulouse Olympique, following their relegation from the Super League last season, with a trip to the Barrow Raiders who were such a success story in 2022.
Swinton Lions, who were promoted with Keighley, kick off with a home game against Newcastle Thunder – another club under new management in 2023, following the return of Chris Thorman to his native North-East as head coach.
Round Two includes Featherstone v Halifax, Widnes v Keighley and Newcastle making the trip to Toulouse, and concludes with a Monday Night game between York City Knights and Bradford Bulls at the LNER Community Stadium.
Betfred League One kicks off two weeks later than the Championship, with Dewsbury Rams and Workington Town both handed away games following their relegation from the Championship. Dewsbury travel to North Wales Crusaders, who have signalled their determination to mount another promotion challenge by luring Carl Forster from Barrow as player coach, and Workington will make the long trip to London to face the Skolars at the New River Stadium.
🤩 Your opening round fixtures for @Betfred Championship and League One… pic.twitter.com/h8FE1elA0N
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) November 12, 2022
The 11 League One clubs will enter the Betfred Challenge Cup the following weekend at the Second Round stage – with Cornwall RLFC entering the competition for the first time.
The 13 English Championship clubs will then enter the Cup in the Third Round on the weekend of March 9-12 – with full details of the Cup, including First Round draw arrangements, to be released after the Rugby League World Cup.
The full fixture list for Betfred Championship and League One will be released tomorrow (Sunday November 13) at 5pm.
Betfred Championship, Round One (Feb 4-6)
Barrow Raiders v Toulouse Olympique (Feb 4)
Bradford Bulls v Whitehaven (Feb 5)
Halifax Panthers v Sheffield Eagles (Feb 5)
London Broncos v Batley Bulldogs (Feb 5)
Swinton Lions v Newcastle Thunder (Feb 5)
York City Knights v Widnes Vikings (Feb 5)
Keighley Cougars v Featherstone Rovers (Feb 6, live on Viaplay Sports)
Betfred Championship, Round Two (Feb 11-13)
Toulouse Olympique v Newcastle Thunder (Feb 11)
Barrow Raiders v Sheffield Eagles (Feb 12)
Featherstone Rovers v Halifax Panthers (Feb 12)
Batley Bulldogs v Swinton Lions (Feb 12)
Widnes Vikings v Keighley Cougars (Feb 12)
Whitehaven v London Broncos (Feb 12)
York City Knights v Bradford Bulls (Feb 13, live on Viaplay Sports)
Betfred League One, Round One (Feb 18-19)
Doncaster v Hunslet
London Skolars v Workington Town
Midlands Hurricanes v Cornwall
North Wales Crusaders v Dewsbury Rams
West Wales Raiders v Oldham
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