YORK City Knights will play local rivals Featherstone Rovers three times in the Betfred Championship next season after the West Yorkshire big guns were unveiled as their opponents at the Summer Bash.

The encounter will be particularly significant for skipper Tim Spears, who signed for York two years ago after being surprisingly released by the Flatcappers.

He had previously captained Featherstone at two Summer Bashes amid a trophy-laden eight-year stay at Post Office Road.

York head coach James Ford likewise played for both clubs, while Knights backer Mark Campbell is also Featherstone's chairman.

The Summer Bash is the Championship's equivalent of Super League's Magic Weekend, where a full round of fixtures takes place in one venue over two days.

It has been held at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road since being brought into the calendar in 2015 - and will remain there next year, with the seaside venue today being confirmed as hosts on May 18-19.

Four other venues had been considered, including Bradford Bulls' Odsal home, Newcastle Thunder's Kingston Park, and Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium. York’s new Community Stadium had also been on the shortlist but, with the event retaining its May scheduling, will not be open in time.

York versus Featherstone will take place on the Saturday, May 18, with the kick off time to be confirmed.

The Knights, promoted as League One champions this year, will be taking their place in the Championship for the first time since 2013, although they have taken part in the Summer Bash once before, after reaching the old iPro Sport Cup final in 2016 which featured in the Blackpool extravaganza. They lost 22-18 to Keighley in a dramatic finale.

Featherstone are yet to win at the Bash, having lost on all four previous occasions.

Other Bash fixtures are: Rochdale Hornets v Swinton Lions, Toronto Wolfpack v Toulouse Olympique, York City Knights v Featherstone Rovers, and Halifax v Bradford Bulls on May 18; and Barrow v Sheffield Eagles, Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams, and Leigh Centurions v Widnes Vikings on May 19.

The full fixture list for the 2019 Championship season will be announced at 6pm today.

Featherstone, meanwhile, are currently without a head coach following the controversial departure of John Duffy. He was axed last week for reportedly not attending pre-season training and was then appointed Leigh Centurions boss on Friday. Rovers say they are taking legal action for an alleged breach of contract.

Former Knights boss Paul March, Rovers’ reserve team coach, and conditioner Greg Stebbings have been put in temporary charge.