YORK City Knights will kick off the 2021 rugby league season at Sheffield Eagles on Friday, March 19.

The Betfred Challenge Cup first round tie (7.45pm kick-off) will be the first domestic rugby league game of the year and will end a year-long wait for the Knights’ return to the field.

The news comes as the RFL outlined its full schedule for the first round of the Cup and round one of the Betfred Championship, with all matches being streamed.

York’s trip to Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium to face Sheffield has been selected for live coverage by tournament sponsors Betfred, with further details on the stream to follow next week.

A fortnight later, the Knights will play their first game at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday, April 3 as they host Toulouse Olympique (5.15pm).

The game will be streamed on the RFL’s Our League platform, which is free for home club season ticket holders to watch.

Season ticket holders will receive their access codes directly from the club.

For those without season tickets, the Early Bird pass is priced at £4.95, which increases to £10, if buying on the day of the game.

A Day Pass, which secures live coverage of all fixtures on a particular day, costs £15, while a Weekend Pass costs £20 and allows viewers to watch all matches being shown on Our League in a particular round.

Streaming and scheduling details of the Challenge Cup second round, to be played on the weekend of March 27-28, will be made after the first round while more information on the Championship will be delayed until there is further clarity on the timetable of fans returning to grounds.

Streaming details can be found at: www.rugby-league.com/livestream