Rugby League: Rochdale Hornets 2021 fixtures announced

The 2021 League 1 fixtures for Rochdale Hornets have been confirmed by the RFL.

Hornets will play 18 league games in 2021, with nine home fixtures at the Crown Oil Arena.

Well over a year since the club's last competitive fixture on 15 March 2020, Hornets will welcome West Wales Raiders at the Crown Oil Arena in the league opener on Sunday 9 May 2021, with some of the biggest names in Welsh rugby league set to feature, including former Hornets player Gavin Bennion and recent code convert Gavin Henson.

Matt Calland's side are then set for six straight away games as the Crown Oil Arena undergoes pitch maintenance, which possibly provides a greater opportunity for a fans' return to the home ground in late June.

The season concludes on Sunday 12 September, with a home fixture to Coventry Bears.

Championship and League 1 clubs have agreed with the RFL that positions on the league table in each competition will be determined by points percentage, as in the Betfred Super League in 2020.

This is to recognise the likelihood of fixtures being affected by Covid-19, with postponements permitted if a team loses seven or more players for Covid-related reasons – either players with positive tests, or who have been ruled out through test and trace analysis of close contacts in matches or training.

The first option will be for matches to be rearranged on a free date – but if this is not possible, then fixtures will be cancelled.

"We're really looking forward to the season starting in May," said head coach Matt Calland.

"Pre-season is up and running and all the boys are excited to be back. There is a lot of hard work to be done in training and things are getting real now with the fixtures being released.

"The first tie should be a cracker against West Wales who have recruited some real quality players, and the period of consecutive away games will be a challenge. I am delighted with the squad we have built and can’t wait for the first game."

Team captain Sean Penkywicz said: "It's that time again where everyone’s looking forward to the fixtures coming out and players are planning on when you see your old teams and mates again.

"This year everyone will just be looking at the first game after the year we’ve had. It's definitely been too long and hopefully we're now over the worst and we can get to keep to these dates as everyone’s missed game day and we hope to be back to normal soon."

Full fixtures: 

May 

9 - West Wales 3:00 (H)
16 - Doncaster 3:00 (A)
23 - Keighley 3:00 (A)
30 - Coventry 3:00 (A) 

June 

6 - Hunslet 3:00 (A)
12 - Barrow 3:00 (A)
20 - Workington 2:00 (A) 
27 - North Wales 3:00 (H) 

July 

4 - London Skolars 3:00 (H)
10 - West Wales 3:00 (A)
25 - Workington 3:00 (H) 

August 

1 - Keighley 3:00 (H)
7 - London Skolars 3:30 (A)
15 - Doncaster 3:00 (H)
22 - Hunslet 3:00 (H)
29 North Wales 2:30pm (A) 

September 

5 - Barrow 3:00pm (H)
12 - Coventry 3:00pm (H)