Traditional Boxing Day fixture between local rivals confirmed

Boxing Day used to be a day full of rugby league.

Like in the Premier League, when rugby league was a winter sport, Boxing Day was full of league fixtures and home to some big occasions.

This persisted somewhat in Super League and the summer era with many sides arranging their first pre-season friendly for the day after Christmas.

However, that traditional has slowly slipped away.

Last year there were only three games scheduled for Boxing Day: Leeds Rhinos vs Wakefield Trinity, Batley Bulldogs vs Dewsbury Rams and Bradford Bulls vs Halifax Panthers and only one of them went ahead in the shape of Leeds vs Wakefield due to poor weather conditions.

The Rhinos and Trinity are set to meet again this year, as they do every year.

Initially the fixture was to be played on the 27th due to Leeds United vs Manchester City but with the change of this Premier League fixture allowed Leeds to move the game back to its traditional date at 11;30am on Boxing Day.

Now another West Yorkshire derby has been confirmed for the festive period with Batley and Dewsbury set to meet in their traditional clash on Boxing Day.

The two had very differing 2022s with Batley 80 minutes away from Super League and Dewsbury relegated to the Betfred League 1.

Now they will meet on Boxing Day in potentially their only meeting of the new season.

The game is at Batley and will kick off at 12:00.