LEIGH Centurions will kick off their 2016 quest for a third successive League Leaders Shield in the Kingstone Press Championship with a trip to Batley Bulldogs.

Paul Rowley’s side powered their way to the title this year but were found wanting in the Middle 8s competition, when they won just one of their seven matches and missed out on promotion to Super League.

They will be going all out to put that right next season but are sure to face even tougher competition from the likes of Bradford Bulldogs, who were beaten in the Million Pound Game.

Leigh will take on Bradford three times next season after they were paired together for the Big Bash in Blackpool, when all clubs will return to Bloomfield Road over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 28-29 to play an additional game.

The 2016 season sees rugby league continue with the exciting new structure that involves the 12 Super League clubs and 12 Championship clubs splitting into the Super 8s after 23 rounds to determine all the biggest issues of the year: promotion, relegation and Grand Final glory.

Each team will play 23 games in the regular season, home and away against the other 11 clubs, plus the Big Bash weekend.

Sky Sports will screen selected matches throughout the season plus all six games from the Summer Bash.

2016 Kingstone Press Championship fixtures

(All kick offs 3pm unless stated)

Sun Feb 7: Batley Bulldogs v Leigh Centurions

Sun Feb 14: Leigh Centurions v Oldham RLFC

Sun Feb 21: Leigh Centurions v London Broncos

Sun Feb 28: Bradford Bulls v Leigh Centurions

Sun Mar 6: Leigh Centurions v Sheffield Eagles

Sun Mar 13: Halifax RLFC v Leigh Centurions

Thu Mar 24: Leigh Centurions v Swinton Lions (8pm)

Mon Mar 28: Workington Town v Leigh Centurions

Sun Apr 3: Dewsbury Rams v Leigh Centurions

Sun Apr 10: Leigh Centurions v Whitehaven RLFC

Sun Apr 24: Featherstone Rovers v Leigh Centurions

Sun May 1: Leigh Centurion v Batley Bulldogs

Sun May 15: Oldham RLFC v Leigh Centurions (TBC)

Mon May 16: Whitehaven RLFC v Leigh Centurions (6.30pm - TBC)

Sun May 22: Swinton Lions v Leigh Centurions

Sat May 28: Bradford Bulls v Leigh Centurions (7pm)

Sat Jun 4: Whitehaven RLFC v Leigh Centurions (6.30pm)

Sun Jun 12: Leigh Centurions v Featherstone Rovers

Sun Jun 19: Leigh Centurions v Workington Town

Sun Jun 26: London Broncos v Leigh Centurions

Sun Jul 3: Leigh Centurions v Bradford Bulls

Sun Jul 10: Leigh Centurions v Halifax RLFC

Sun Jul 17: Sheffield Eagles v Leigh Centurions (TBC)

Sun Jul 24: Leigh Centurions v Dewsbury Rams