Leigh Centurions Head Coach Paul Rowley and Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont have expressed the excitement in the camp after the 2015 fixtures were released. The Centurions face former Super League opposition in each of their first two home fixtures of the 2015 Kingstone Press Championship campaign.

The reigning Championship League Leaders and Grand Final winners have the mouth-watering prospect of Bradford Bulls opening up the new season at LSV on Sunday 15 February 2015. Two weeks later London Broncos, who were also relegated from Super League are the visitors to LSV. The Centurions have three away games in their first five fixtures, all against sides who finished in the leading positions in last season’s Championship. After the trip to The Shay to play Halifax, Paul Rowley’s side are next on their travels to Doncaster, the scene of their only Championship defeat in 2014. In round 5 the Centurions visit Featherstone Rovers, the grand final runners-up.

The Round 14 summer Bash fixtures at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool have still to be confirmed.

The Centurions close their regular season after Round 23 when Doncaster visit LSV at the end of July.

The competition then splits with the top four teams in the Championship playing a middle eight competition for the right to play in Super League in 2016.

Head Coach Paul Rowley said: “I have already labelled the Championship the ‘league of death.’ Every fixture and every game matters and the intensity has risen incredibly from last season.

“As a club we are looking forward to the challenge and we will be prepared to meet every test full-on. We have respect for all the teams in the Championship but no fear. We don’t mind when we face them, in what order, at what time. We’ll take on anyone, at any time, on any date and any ground.

“We have laid out our preparations for the campaign and when we re-group as a team in early November we will be preparing with great intensity and determination for the challenges ahead. The fixtures prove what an exciting competition we will be competing in next season and we can’t wait to get started.

“I’m sure all our supporters and sponsors will be equally as excited as the players and the coaching staff and be looking forward to the season as much as we are.”
Leigh Centurions Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont said: “These are very exciting times and I am particularly pleased we will get to pit our wits against the Super League sides early in the piece.

“As I looked through our schedule I felt both excited and nervous as there are no hiding places and no respites in this league. It is tough from top to bottom. It is good, as we feel challenged as a group and there is no doubt after the first five rounds we will have a good idea of how far we have come.

“The RFL should be championed for the vision they had for the game and the Super League club chairman should also be congratulated for buying into a process that, I believe, has reinvented the game and attracted old and new supporters.

“Our goal this season is to finish in the top four where we can gather our thoughts and re- group ready for the challenge that brings. I am really looking forward to kicking that off at our home against Bradford Bulls in front of a big and vociferous crowd.”

[size=150LEIGH CENTURIONS FIXTURES 2015 (dates and kick-off times subject to change)
[/size
1 15/02/2015 Leigh Centurions v Bradford Bulls - 3pm

2 22/02/2015 Halifax v Leigh Centurions - 3pm

3 01/03/2015 Leigh Centurions v London Broncos - 3pm

4 08/03/2015 Doncaster v Leigh Centurions - TBC

5 15/03/2015 Featherstone Rovers v Leigh Centurions - 3pm

6 29/03/2015 Leigh Centurions v Whitehaven - 3pm

7 03/04/2015 Hunslet Hawks v Leigh Centurions - 2pm

8 06/04/2015 Leigh Centurions v Workington Town - TBC

9 12/04/2015 Sheffield Eagles v Leigh Centurions TBC

10 26/04/2015 Leigh Centurions v Batley Bulldogs - 3pm

11 03/05/2015 Dewsbury Rams v Leigh Centurions - 3pm

12 10/05/2015 Leigh Centurions v Halifax - 3pm

13 17/05/2015 Leigh Centurions v Hunslet Hawks - 3pm

14 [iSummer Bash fixtures to be played on weekend of the 23rd/24th May[/i

15 31/05/2015 Whitehaven v Leigh Centurions - 3pm

16 07/06/2015 London Broncos v Leigh Centurions - 3pm

17 14/06/2015 Batley Bulldogs v Leigh Centurions - 3pm

18 21/06/2015 Leigh Centurions v Sheffield Eagles - 3pm

19 28/06/2015 Leigh Centurions v Dewsbury Rams - 3pm

20 05/07/2015 Workington Town v Leigh Centurions - 3pm

21 12/07/2015 Leigh Centurions v Featherstone Rovers - 3pm

22 19/07/2015 Bradford Bulls v Leigh Centurions - 3pm

23 26/07/2015 Leigh Centurions v Doncaster - 3pm

What a great season ahead of us, let's show the rl world this town wants a sl club
That looks like a highly competitive league, the 18th man needs to be well up for it starting with a 6000 gate for the opener

If marketed properly there's no reason why we can't get all four stands open

Fantastic - roll on 15th Feb and beyond

Well you've just short of 4 months to figure out how to achieve it, I assume work starts in the morning

Looking forward to the first game of the season now. Never been to LSV so I look forward to it, plus it's not too far for me to travel!

You will be made to feel most welcome - don't forget to bring a few friends - say about 6,000

Hit the ground running against Bradford in front of a packed house.

May and June are looking pricey though!

Tough start, that, the two relegated teams plus the three who finished 2nd, 3rd, & 4th in the Championship. Now wouldn't five wins there set down a marker?

Might as well get them out of the way early doors, will be a great indication of how we'll do.

Can't wait.
Tough start but I fancy it gives us a good chance to beat the ex SL teams as we will be a relatively unchanged and settled team since we have retained most of our team and all our key position players.
I love Paul Rowley's response. Don't care who, where or when just bring em on. Respect them all but fear nobody

Be on the phone tomorrow for me season tickets.

London away , the Carolis 30th wedding anniversary .

Some tough fixtures early doors,but come through those unscathed we will have done well.Its going to be a cracking season tho,cant wait.

Is the championship on Sky next year or is it just the Super League Qualifiers that are on?

Just the Summer Bash and the Super 8's.

Didn't think your eldest was 30

Wow you couldn't get a much tougher first five games than that the boys will have to be ready from the word go.

Going to be a very exciting season & league! Yes we've got a tough (but very exciting) start but looking at everyone else's fixtures everyone has a few runs of hard games and no one gets any easy runs (not that there are many easy games in this league next year!) Really can't wait for February now.

Last 3 could be interesting too especially if top 4 isn't sorted by then

Scored 52 points in each of the first three games last season expect us to do the same again next season.

Why are the dates and KO times subject to change?

It says that every year.

My Brothers wedding on the Friday and off to London ON THE Saturday sound s like a good plan

Not been to Leigh since you were at Hilton Park.

See you soon!