Hull Kr Start Super League Title Defence At Newcomers York

8 hours ago

Treble winners Hull KR will commencement nan defence of their Super League title pinch a sojourn to recently promoted York Knights successful nan opening crippled of nan 2026 season.

Rovers will recreation to York's LNER Community Stadium connected Thursday, 12 February (20:00 GMT).

Hull KR won nan Challenge Cup, League Leaders' Shield and Grand Final past season, sealing nan title by beating previous champions Wigan Warriors 24-6 astatine Old Trafford successful October.

York are 1 of 3 caller clubs successful Super League for adjacent play arsenic portion of an expanded 14-team competition.

The Knights and Toulouse Olympique were selected to subordinate nan apical formation by an independent panel, while Bradford Bulls were promoted successful spot of financially troubled Salford Red Devils aft climbing to 10th successful this year's grading system.

York will play successful Super League for nan first clip while Toulouse return to nan apical tier aft their one-season stint successful 2022.

Both nan Bulls, who return to Super League aft an 11-year absence, and Toulouse commencement nan run pinch distant games connected Saturday, 14 February.

Bradford will make nan travel eastbound to look Hull FC, while Toulouse recreation to Wakefield Trinity.

Elsewhere, past season's beaten Grand Finalists Wigan commencement nan play astatine Castleford connected Sunday, 16 February successful a crippled that will beryllium unrecorded connected BBC iPlayer.

The item of 3 games connected Friday, 13 February is simply a derby betwixt Warrington Wolves and St Helens astatine Halliwell Jones Stadium.

There will besides beryllium a gathering of past season's 3rd and fourth-placed teams arsenic beaten semi-finalists Leigh Leopards big Leeds Rhinos, who were knocked retired of nan play-offs successful melodramatic manner by Saints.

In nan last crippled of nan opening information Huddersfield Giants make nan travel to Perpignan to look Catalans Dragons.

Super League announced connected Tuesday that Magic Weekend will move from Newcastle to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium for 2026.

The return of derby fixtures will shape nan centrepiece of nan arena crossed 4-5 July, pinch Hull KR v Hull FC and Wigan v St Helens among nan fixtures.

The remainder of nan fixtures for nan 2026 play will beryllium announced connected Thursday.

(All times GMT)

Thursday, 12 February

York Knights v Hull KR (20:00)

Friday, 13 February

Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants (18:00)

Leigh Leopards v Leeds Rhinos (20:00)

Warrington Wolves v St Helens (20:00)

Saturday, 14 February

Hull FC v Bradford Bulls (17:30)

Wakefield Trinity v Toulouse (20:00)

Sunday, 15 February