Reigning champions Featherstone will launch the defence of their Co-operative Championship title against promoted Keighley at Cougar Park on Sunday, March 11.

The league campaign will get under three days earlier when Leigh host Batley in the first match to be televised by Premier Sports, who have been awarded the broadcast rights for Championship fixtures.

The satellite television company, who have taken over coverage from Sky, have 12 Championship matches scheduled so far and will also show the inaugural Championship One ‘derby’ between North Wales Crusaders and South Wales Scorpions in Wrexham on April 9.

The season for clubs outside Super League gets under way on Sunday, February 12, with the first of four rounds of the Northern Rail Cup, and culminates in the Championship finals day on Sunday, September 30.

Keighley Cougars 2012 fixtures

February

Sun 12 BATLEY (NR Cup) H

Sat 18 Toulouse (NR Cup) A

Sun 26 Rochdale (NR Cup) A

March

Sun 4 OLDHAM (NR Cup) H

Sun 11 FEATHERSTONE H

Sun 18 Batley A

April

Sun 1 HUNSLET H

Fri 6 Halifax A

Sun 22 SHEFFIELD H

May

Sun 6 Dewsbury A

Sun 13 Leigh A

Thur 17 SWINTON H

Sun 27 York City A

June

Sun 10 HALIFAX H

Sun 24 BATLEY H

July

Sun 1 Hunslet A

Sun 15 YORK CITY H

Fri 20 Sheffield A

August

Sun 5 DEWSBURY H

Sun 12 LEIGH H

Sun 19 Swinton A

September

Sun 2 Featherstone A