Rugby league’s 2025 key dates including Super League, Challenge Cup and Championship plans

[josie andrews]

Super League, Championship and League One clubs will learn their route through the 2025 season later this month when the fixtures are released.

The 2025 Super League fixtures are due to be released on Thursday, November 21 at 8am. Clubs are expected to tease their opening weekend fixtures the night before the schedule unveiling as they have done in previous years, which will also clear up when the mid-season break will be and who each team will play at Magic Weekend.

The release comes 12 weeks before the start of the new top flight season, which is understood to be scheduled in for the weekend of February 14, with a Thursday opener (February 13) a possibility. However, that won’t be the first competitive game Super League teams play next season, with the Challenge Cup third round to be held the week before the new league season gets underway.

The competition will have a new format next season, with Super League clubs entering at an earlier stage. Top flight outfits will enter in round three, with a seeded draw taking place to ensure they are drawn away from home at a lower league club.

The Challenge Cup will get underway for those NCL and community teams involved over the weekend of January 11, with the second round, which will include all Championship and League One clubs barring Toulouse Olympique, taking place two weeks later during the weekend of January 25.

The draw for rounds one and two is expected to take place on December 2. That comes just a week after the Championship and League One fixtures are released. November 26 is the date for the second and third tier schedules will be released.

Here’s all the key dates you need to know heading into the 2025 season


November 21 – Super League fixture release

November 26 – Championship and League One fixture release

December 2 – Challenge Cup first and second round draw

January 11-12 – Challenge Cup first round (NCL and community clubs enter)

January 25-26 – Challenge Cup second round (Championship and League One clubs enter)

February 8-9 – Challenge Cup third round (Super League clubs enter)

February 13-16 – Super League Round One

March 1 – Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves in Las Vegas

June 7 – Challenge Cup final

October 11 – Super League Grand Final

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-le ... ans-98881/

[josie andrews]

Date lined up for Super League’s Magic Weekend as return to Newcastle & St James Park is on the cards

AN official at Newcastle City Council has revealed that a return of Super League’s Magic Weekend to the city is being lined up following a year away.

The 2024 Magic Weekend event took place at Leeds United’s Elland Road – but it was far from a popular choice with the attendance totalling the second lowest figure in the concept’s history.

A return to Newcastle has been touted in rugby league circles for a number of months, with the RL Commercial’s Managing Director, Rhodri Jones, previously outlining the desire to bring the concept back to to the north east.

Now, Jim Mawdsley, the local authority’s principal advisor on events and culture, has confirmed that a return is likely – with a date also being lined up on August bank holiday weekend.

Mawdsley, per ITV, said: “We are in negotiations with Rugby League Super League about bringing Magic Weekend back to the city. The reason we didn’t have it this year was because we couldn’t find a date at St James’ Park, due to Rugby League changing its schedule.

“But we believe at this point that we may have found a date [in 2025] to suit all parties.”

Despite being from Yorkshire, Labour councillor Dan Greenhough has called for the Magic Weekend’s return to St James’ Park.

Greenhough said: “It was a bit of a damp squib this year in Leeds – and I say that as a Yorkshireman. I would be very proud to see it brought back to Newcastle and we know how much it brings into the local economy.”


https://www.totalrl.com/date-lined-up-f ... the-cards/

[Ipinwigan]

I hope Magic isn't on the August Bank Holiday weekend, I am already booked up for that weekend and wanted to go again if it is back in Newcastle

[Coliflower]

I thought it had been finalised as being May Day bank holiday weekend next year. Announced a couple of days ago.
Hope so as we have booked accommodation on the news.

[Ipinwigan]

I thought it had been finalised as being May Day bank holiday weekend next year. Announced a couple of days ago.
Hope so as we have booked accommodation on the news.

I also hope so, I have just booked a hotel, they were dissapearing off the websites, selling like hotcakes.