YORK City Knights, having travelled to Toulouse three times in 2016, will be on their plane travels abroad next year too - their regular season fixture against newcomers Toronto Wolfpack being an away game.

James Ford's men will fly to Canada for the first weekend of July, the third-last round of Kingstone Press League One fixtures before the competition breaks into two for the Super 8s.

Confirmation comes as the 2017 fixture list is reissued with the Knights included, the club having been reinstated into the league on Friday following the successful takeover by the consortium fronted by Jon Flatman.

The Press understands they are to have up to three pre-season friendlies, before the season starts on the weekend of February 18/19 with the first round of the iPro Sport Cup, followed one week later by the opening tie in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup. Those ties are yet to be drawn.

As expected they will then kick off their league campaign away to bogey side Barrow on Saturday, March 4.

York have not beaten the Raiders in 11 attempts, those omens making it a particularly tough task for Ford's new-look team to start their league campaign with.

On that opener, Flatman said: “It’s a challenge. Any Cumbrian team away from home is tough.

“But we will take every game as it comes. I’m sure James Ford and the players are excited about all the challenges ahead.

“It will be great to see the team out on the field and see the fruits of the pre-season labour.”

On new club Toronto's controversial inclusion in the league, Flatman reckoned it was "absolutely" a good thing.

"Toronto have demonstrated their commitment to the sport," he said. "Eric (Perez, CEO) and his team are passionate, enthusiastic and committed, and everyone at York wishes them all the best for the challenges ahead.

“I think it’s fantastic to take the greatest game to different countries. If their financial model is sustainable, I’m sure they will be welcomed across the game. It has already generated media interest, access to a new talent pool and a profile in North America, and I would hope it kickstarts a professional North American league.”

The Knights' first home league fixture will be against the new-look South Wales Ironmen - a new moniker for the expansion club - on Sunday, March 12.

It is yet to be confirmed that home games will take place at York City's Bootham Crescent ground as part of City of York Council's community stadium scheme.

The last match of the regular season is at home to Workington, who came down from the Championship with Cumbrian neighbours Whitehaven.

The Knights will again be Newcastle Thunder's visitors on the eve of Super League's Magic Weekend on Tyneside, on Friday, May 19.

York City Knights' Kingstone Press League One fixtures

Saturday, March 4: Barrow Raiders v York City Knights, 6.30pm

Sunday, March 12: York City Knights v South Wales Ironmen, 3pm

Sunday, March 26: York City Knights v North Wales Crusaders, 3pm

Sunday, April 9: Oxford v York City Knights, 2pm

Friday, April 14: York City Knights v Doncaster, 3pm

Sunday, May 7: University of Gloucestershire All Golds v York City Knights, 3pm

Sunday, May 14: York City Knights v Coventry Bears, 3pm

Friday, May 19: Newcastle Thunder v York City Knights, 8pm

Sunday, June 4: York City Knights v London Skolars, 3pm

Sunday, June 11: Hunslet v York City Knights, 3pm

Sunday, June 18: York City Knights v Whitehaven, 3pm

Sunday, June 25: Keighley Cougars v York City Knights, 3pm

Saturday, July 1: Toronto Wolfpack v York City Knights, TBC

Sunday, July 9: York City Knights v Hemel Stags, 3pm

Sunday, July 16: York City Knights v Workington Town, 3pm