NEWLY-promoted Bradford Salem's fixtures against newly-relegated Bradford & Bingley were always going to be the ones to look out for when the SSE Yorkshire Division One programme for 2015-16 was published.

And, as it happens, they top and tail the 26-match schedule, with Salem visiting Wagon Lane on September 5 and the Bees making the short trip to Shay Lane on April 23.

Local rugby union fixtures are not normally altered, unlike national football and rugby league, which have to bow to their TV paymasters.

However, the Wagon Lane derby was a bit more problematical as it coincides with Bingley Music Live, which seems to grow in importance year on year.

There could be as many as 2,000 campers using the facilities at The Hive that weekend, which, coupled with their catering needs, a pre-match rugby luncheon for some 200 and a crowd that could be above 750, obvious logistical problems are posed.

However, the Bees, who will obviously need a mass of volunteers on the day, have two months and three weeks to sort that out and they are very reluctant, given their poor away record, to cede home advantage to their neighbours by reversing the fixture.

The Bees have therefore confirmed that they will definitely be at home to Salem on Saturday, September 5.

Salem's first-team manager Neil Klenk said:"I was showing the fixtures to Hamish Pratt (Keighley's new forwards coach) and he said 'You cannot fail to have your appetite whetted because of the number of derbies'.

"Our second-rower Rhys Green works down in Lichfield, who play in National League Three Midlands, and they keep tapping him up to play for them.

"However, when he saw the fixture list for next season with the Bees first, he said 'I am definitely committing myself to Salem for next season'. This fixture list has that sort of power."

With Yarnbury, West Park Leeds, Old Brodleians, Heath, Old Crossleyans and, at a pinch, North Ribblesdale also involved, there will be a staggering 56 derbies in Bradford, Halifax and Settle next season in Yorkshire Division One.