YORK City Knights head coach James Ford is thrilled with his side's first fixture of the Super 8s - at home to moneybags new boys Toronto Wolfpack.

The Knights sealed fourth spot in Kingstone Press League One on Sunday with victory over Workington at Bootham Crescent in the last match of the regular season. That final position gave them an extra home fixture in the 8s and, given the format, meant they would not face another transatlantic trek.

Instead, the table-topping Canadians - whose team of former Super League and Championship stars have swept all before them in their maiden campaign - will come to the Minster city first up, on Sunday July 30.

"It will be a big crowd," said Ford. "It will be a big challenge for us but it's one we're really excited about.

"The chance to bring Toronto to York is really positive for the city, the area and the club.

"I'm really looking forward to having another crack at them on our home ground. They're the best team we've played certainly this year and maybe since I've been in charge."

Asked if it was good to get this game early, or if he would have preferred easier contests to start with in the race for the top-five play-offs, Ford said: "All the games in the Super 8s will be hard.

"We want to test ourselves against the best, and Toronto are the best in the competition - 15 wins from 15, the league table doesn't lie."

Potentially tough trips to Keighley and bogey team Barrow then sandwich the return to Bootham Crescent of Workington, who were seen off 34-0 on Sunday.

After the competition takes a break for the Challenge Cup final weekend, the Knights return to action at home to Doncaster before heading back to Cumbria to face Whitehaven.

The campaign ends at home to Newcastle and their posse of former York favourites.

"They will all be tough games," said Ford, when asked if the treks to Cumbria were likely to provide the sternest challenges aside from Toronto.

"We just want to win as many games as we can."

As regards which could prove the key clashes in their battle for a play-off place, Ford said: "All these teams are capable of getting in the top five.

"We'll prepare for each game like it's a semi-final and try to pick up as many points as possible.

"Our current run has been good - nine wins from 11 after our start which was not good. We want to continue that run and see where that takes us.

"If we keep playing to the standards we have been, we've got a real chance of being in the top five and having an influence on what goes on beyond that."

York City Knights' Super 8s fixtures

Sunday, Jul 30: Toronto Wolfpack, Bootham Crescent, H, 3pm

Sunday, Aug 6: Keighley Cougars, Cougar Park, A, 3pm

Sunday, Aug 13: Workington Town, Bootham Crescent, H, 3pm

Sunday, Aug 20: Barrow Raiders, Craven Park, A, 3pm

Sunday, Sep 3: Doncaster, Bootham Crescent, H, 3pm

Sunday, Sep 10: Whitehaven, Recreation Ground, A, 3pm

Sunday, Sep 17: Newcastle Thunder, Bootham Crescent, H, 3pm

* LEAGUE One club South Wales Ironmen have new owners after the Rugby Football League approved a takeover by Andrew Thorne, the owner of West Wales Raiders, along with the board of the Welsh Premier League club.

The Ironmen will move to Llanelli’s Stebonheath Park with immediate effect, starting with their League One Shield fixtures. They will play under the West Wales Raiders name as of next year.

The Raiders are the primary tenants of Stebonheath Park and run the bars and cafes at the stadium. The ground holds the record for the largest rugby league attendance in Wales outside of the Millennium Stadium, when over 30,000 attended a Wales versus France match in 1935.

* CHAMPIONSHIP side Swinton Lions have announced Stuart Littler as the club’s new head coach.

Littler, who had been assistant-coach, takes over from John Duffy, who exited on Monday to take charge of Featherstone Rovers. Jay Duffy will continue on Littler’s coaching staff.

Following a 12-year playing career with Salford, Littler had spells at Leigh and Rochdale before joining the Lions in 2015. The former Ireland international hung up his boots at the end of the 2016 season.

Littler told the Swinton website: “I am honoured to have been offered the role of head coach. The departure of John has opened up an opportunity that I could not turn down."