Salford set for free-to-air clash
SALFORD Red Devils will start their Betfred Super League campaign on the road as they visit Castelford Tigers.
The new season kicks-off for Paul Rowley’s men with a Friday night clash on February 11.
Their first home game will be against newcomers Toulouse on February 20, which is followed by a visit to Hull FC the following weekend.
Salford’s clash with Wigan in Round 10 will be shown live on Channel 4.
They end the season by
hosting Warrington on September 3.
Wigan travel to Hull KR on the first Friday of the season, and face Leeds Rhinos in their first home game the following week.
Warriors will then play two games in France in consecutive weekends as they face Toulouse and then Catalans.
The first derby of the season at St Helens will be on Good Friday, with the return at the DW Stadium on August 26.
Wigan will play rounds 10-15 on the road against Warrington, Huddersfield, Hull, Castleford and Salford while their home pitch is being relaid.
Champions St Helens will open and close the regular season with a French double.
Super League has retained the top-six play-off system in use for the last two years and clubs will play four loop fixtures on top of their home and away matches and the Magic Weekend in Newcastle to get to 27 games.
To accommodate an earlier Grand Final - and a bigger lead-in to the rearranged World Cup - on September 24, clubs will double up over the Easter and August Bank Holiday weekends.
However, clubs will take a break for the international weekend on June 18-19 when England are expected to play the Combined Nations All Stars.