CHAMPIONSHIP clubs who were due to play Featherstone Rovers this season have been given replacement fixtures.

Featherstone were denied membership of the RFL, and therefore their place in the second tier, on the eve of the new season.

The governing body initially said that teams who were set to lose out on fixtures would be financially compensated, while the league table would be decided by win percentage as not every club would play the same number of games.

However, they have now changed course and decided to pair up affected clubs to play home and away fixtures against each other.

This will ensure all 20 Championship clubs have 24 regular-season matches, and means the table can be decided in the traditional manner of league points instead.

The pairings are Halifax Panthers/Swinton Lions, North Wales Crusaders/Salford, Oldham/Batley Bulldogs, London Broncos/Hunslet, Doncaster/Barrow Raiders and Widnes Vikings/Goole Vikings.

These twelve fixtures are yet to be scheduled, with the RFL to now work alongside clubs to find space in the calendar.