Hornets fixtures

Rochdale Hornets fixture list

The season starts with the first round of the iPro Cup competition, which will be drawn on a regional basis in Round One.

The following week sees Hornets enter the Challenge Cup at the third round stage alongside the remaining amateur teams before the league gets underway on 6 March.

Hornets travel to North Wales Crusaders on Good Friday, the first league game for which Jono Smith is eligible, and host new boys Toulouse at Spotland on 24 April.

Hornets face only three away games in four weeks whilst the annual pitch works take place and finish the regular season with home games against Keighley and Doncaster in July.

There is then a free week for all teams ahead of the Super8 fixtures being scheduled dependent upon who finishes where in the regular season.

The play offs remain the same format as 2015, with a one versus two promotion final followed by a semi-final/final for the final remaining spot.

"It is an exciting, new format", commented Hornets CEO Ryan Bradley.

"The Super8's concept has really shaken up the Super League and Championship divisions and I’m sure it will do the same for League One.

"Everyone plays everyone in the first half of the season before splitting on merit for the second half, where you play the other teams of similar standard once more.

"It will mean that Spotland Stadium will host compelling, exciting games that matter every time we play at home.

"There will be no foregone conclusions, every game will be tough but we are confident that we will be challenging for promotion once more.

"All games will kick off at 3pm on Sundays, season tickets remain as competitive as ever and we are assembling a young, exciting squad that will play a good brand of rugby league.

"I urge everyone to buy their season tickets and get behind the next generation of the Hornets family."