Premier Sports and the RFL today confirm eight more fixtures from the Betfred Championship that will be televised through June and July.
Premier’s coverage has proved hugely popular since it was launched at York on January 31, and tonight’s match between Newcastle Thunder and Widnes Vikings at Kingston Park will be the ninth Monday night fixture.
Televised matches had already been confirmed for April and May, and now Championship clubs, players and fans can plan ahead until the Summer Bash weekend at Headingley on July 30-31 – when Premier will cover a full round of seven matches.
June begins with a bonus Thursday fixture, as the Betfred Championship clubs play two rounds over the extended Bank Holiday weekend to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
That allows Premier Sports to cover Jermaine Coleman’s London Broncos for the first time on June 2, when they make the long trip to face a Workington Town team coached by the former Broncos favourite Chris Thorman (1230ko).
Then it’s back to Monday Night Rugby League with a heavyweight showdown between Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Bulls on June 6, and seven days later Premier Sports will focus another huge clash as Featherstone cross the Pennines to face Leigh Centurions.
After a break for the Mid-Season Internationals weekend, the Monday Night Betfred Championship action resumes on June 27 with an intriguing meeting of two Play-Off hopefuls, Barrow Raiders and Halifax Panthers, in Cumbria.
Then the Premier Sports team return to Newcastle for a Friday night match on July 8 as Thunder face Bradford Bulls with a big crowd expected at Kingston Park ahead of Betfred Super League’s Magic Weekend at St James’s Park.
Three days later it’s back down to Halifax and back to Monday Night Rugby League as the Panthers face York City Knights – and the following Monday, July 18, the Knights will feature again, this time at home to Craig Lingard’s Batley Bulldogs.
On July 25, there’s another Monday Night trip to Cumbria as Premier Sports feature Whitehaven’s home game against Leigh – a trip which always brings back special memories for the Leigh club who were last crowned champions at the Recreation Ground 40 years ago.
And July concludes in spectacular fashion with the Betfred Championship Summer Bash – and a feast of action including derby clashes between Halifax and Bradford, Batley and Dewsbury, and Workington and Whitehaven.
*This weekend, Premier Sports continue their coverage of the Betfred Challenge Cup, with live and exclusive coverage of two of the Quarter Finals featuring four Super League teams.
On Friday night, they’ll focus on the repeat of the 1986 Wembley Final as Hull KR host Castleford Tigers (745ko).
Then on Saturday evening, it’s the turn of Hull FC to feature as they travel to the John Smiths Stadium to face Huddersfield Giants (5pm).
Premier Sports Betfred Championship fixtures, June and July
Thurs 2nd June: Workington Town v London Broncos (1230pm)
Mon 6th June: Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls (745pm)
Mon 13th June: Leigh Centurions v Featherstone Rovers (745pm)
Mon 27th June: Barrow Raiders v Halifax Panthers (745pm)
Fri 8th July: Newcastle Thunder v Bradford Bulls (745pm)
Mon 11th July: Halifax Panthers v York City Knights (745pm)
Mon 18th July: York City Knights v Batley Bulldogs (745pm)
Mon 25th July: Whitehaven v Leigh Centurions (745pm)
July 30-31, Betfred Championship Summer Bash, Headingley Stadium
Saturday July 30
1245pm: London Broncos v Sheffield Eagles
3pm: Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams
515pm: Bradford Bulls v Halifax Panthers
730pm: Featherstone Rovers v Leigh Centurions
Sunday July 31
145pm: Barrow Raiders v Widnes Vikings
4pm: Whitehaven v Workington Town
615pm: Newcastle Thunder v York City Knights
The following fixtures have already been confirmed for Premier Sports coverage:
Monday April 4th – Newcastle Thunder v Widnes Vikings (745pm)
April 17th (Easter Sunday) – Whitehaven v Workington Town (7pm)
Monday April 25th – Bradford Bulls v Featherstone Rovers (745pm)
Monday May 2nd – Barrow Raiders v York City Knights (745pm)
Monday May 16th – Batley Bulldogs v Leigh Centurions (745pm)
Monday May 23rd – Sheffield Eagles v Widnes Vikings (745pm)