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Rugby League

Super League XIII to start early

15/10/2007

Next season's Super League will start one week earlier than normal to allow the home nations extra time to prepare for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

The first matches of Super League XIII will take place over the weekend of February 2nd and 3rd with the grand final - normally reserved for the second weekend in October - set to go ahead on October 4th.

England, under the tutelage of newly-appointed full-time coach Tony Smith, will begin their World Cup campaign against Papua New Guinea in Townsville, Australia, on October 25th.

If the original dates had been adhered to, it would have meant only a two-week turnaround for many of the international players set to be involved in both the World Cup opener and the domestic showpiece.

Following the break-up of the Great Britain squad into each of the individual home nations, Scotland, Wales and Ireland must all navigate the qualifying stages to book their place in the ten-team tournament next autumn.

Those matches take place over the next five weeks and all three are expected to be successful in joining automatic qualifiers England, New Zealand, Australia, France and Papua New Guinea.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has also revealed the fixtures that will comprise the second Millennium Magic weekend at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Newly-promoted Castleford will kick off the weekend's action against Wakefield Wildcats on Saturday May 3rd.

This will be followed by Huddersfield Giants' clash with Warrington Wolves and champions Leeds Rhinos' clash with local rivals Bradford Bulls.

The following day, Harlequins and Catalans Dragons will play each other in the first match before the Hull FC-Hull KR derby and grand final runners-up St Helens' clash with Wigan Warriors.