LEIGH have been handed a Friday night trip to Dewsbury to kick-off their 2020 Betfred Championship campaign.

And head coach John Duffy is already counting down the days to Centurions’ January 31 date at the Tetley’s Stadium.

“The release of the new season’s fixtures is always an exciting time for coaches, players and fans alike,” said Duffy.

“The Championship has been fiercely competitive in recent years.

“And that will be the case again in 2020 with many teams recruiting well during the off-season.

“I am sure our fans will continue to back us in great numbers home and away as they always do.

“Our players, especially the new arrivals, can’t wait to play in front of them.”

Leigh defeated the Rams home and away last season on the way to securing a top five finish.

Sheffield Eagles will provide the first opposition at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday, February 8 followed by the visit of York City Knights on February 16.

Duffy’s side face three Championship fixtures against Widnes Vikings, including a Summer Bash show down at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool on Sunday, May 31 at 5.30pm.

Last season’s Fylde Coast clash was the most watched fixture of the 2019 weekend and produced an enthralling contest which Leigh won 36-22.

Other eye-catching fixtures include games against 2019 Super League outfit, London Broncos (April 19, away and June 21, home) and Million Pound game runners-up, Featherstone Rovers on March 29 (a) and August 2 (h).

Leigh fans can add a new ground to their list on July 12 when they visit York’s Community Stadium while the away game at Oldham on June 14 will take place at Bower Fold, home ground of non-league football outfit, Stalybridge Celtic.

Dewsbury Rams bring the curtain down on the regular season on Sunday, September 6.

*LEIGH fans used to making an annual trip to Wembley for the Coral Challenge Cup final won’t be heading to the capital in August next year.

For the first time the climax to the historic cup competition will take place in July, on Saturday the 18th.

Centurions and the other 12 English clubs in the Betfred Championship will enter at the fourth-round stage on the weekend of February 22-23.

The semi finals will be played as a double header for the third year on the weekend of June 6-7.

The final will go ahead on Saturday, July 18.