Keighley Cougars begin their assault on the Kingstone Press Championship with a home game against Whitehaven on Sunday, February 16.

Sheffield Eagles will open their defence of the title with an historic fixture against newly-promoted Rochdale at their new home, Owlerton Stadium.

The 2013 Grand Final winners will host Hornets in a repeat of their first-ever game as a professional club, which was also played at Owlerton in September 1984 when the Eagles won 29-10.

Last season's runners-up Batley travel to Leigh on the opening weekend of the season, when the other promoted club, North Wales Crusaders, have a home match against Barrow.

The 2014 season comprises 26 rounds and concludes with the title-deciding Grand Final on the weekend of October 4-5 at a venue still to be confirmed.

The Northern Rail Cup will not be contested next season.

Keighley Cougars 2014 fixtures

February

Sun 16 Whitehaven Home

Sun 23 Doncaster Away

March

Sun 2 Rochdale Hornets Away

Sun 9 Leigh Centurions Home

Sun 23 Workington Town Away

Sun 30 Sheffield Eagles Home

April

Sun 13 Batley Bulldogs (2pm) Away

Fri 18 Featherstone Rovers Away

May

Sun 4 Dewsbury Rams Home

Sun 11 Swinton Lions Home

Sun 18 North Wales Crusaders (2.30pm) Away

Sun 25 Barrow Raiders Home

June

Sun 1 Halifax Home

Sun 8 Whitehaven Away

Sun 15 Batley Bulldogs Home

Sun 22 Sheffield Eagles (2.00pm) Away

Sun 29 Rochdale Hornets Home

July

Sun 6 Halifax Away

Sun 13 Workington Town Home

Sun 20 Leigh Centurions Away

Sun 27 Doncaster Home

August

Sun 3 Swinton Lions Away

Sun 10 Barrow Raiders

Away Sun 17 North Wales Crusaders Home

Sun 31 Dewsbury Rams Away

September

Sun 7 Featherstone Rovers Home