Wednesday 18 October 2017 09:19, UK
Leeds and Castleford will meet for a Grand Final rematch at Super League's Magic Weekend which will be held in Newcastle for a fourth successive year in 2018.
The clash of the champions and league leaders will bring down the curtain on the opening day at St James' Park on Saturday May 19, while the return of the Hull derby will round off the action on the Sunday.
Hull KR will once more do battle with Hull FC after gaining promotion from the Championship.
The other Saturday fixtures are also derbies, with Wigan taking on Warrington and Widnes meeting St Helens, while on the Sunday Salford play Catalans Dragons and Wakefield face local rivals Huddersfield.
Newcastle, which has drawn the three highest aggregate attendances in the 11 years of the Magic Weekend, is thought to have fought off competition from Coventry, London and Manchester to retain the event, which began at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in 2007 and has also been held at Murrayfield and the Etihad Stadium.
Super League general manager Mark Foster said: "We are delighted to be bringing the Dacia Magic Weekend back to Newcastle for a fourth year.
"We had a number of other cities bid to host what is a fantastic event but Newcastle is a great venue for us. The city has made us feel incredibly welcome over the last three years and we know our fans love to come to Newcastle for the weekend."
Lee Charnley, Newcastle United's managing director, said: "We're very proud to have hosted the Dacia Magic Weekend for the last three years and as excited as always to be hosting this magnificent sporting event once again in 2018.
"As everyone who's attended in previous years will know, it's a fantastic weekend of rugby which has consistently welcomed sell-out crowds and has become of the 'jewels in the crown' in Newcastle's annual sporting calendar.
"We're delighted that the Super League continues to recognise the quality of the venue, facilities and support we provide at St James' Park, as well as the great working relationship we have developed with the Super League and our partners across the city in playing host to such a fantastic event."
