Super League matches make Monday switch

Super League matches will be played on Monday evenings throughout the summer months, it was confirmed at today's season launch at Old Trafford.

The switch has come as part of a fresh deal with Sky Sports, who will move their usual Saturday night slot to the beginning of the week.

Matches will be played on the usual Friday and Saturday slots for the first three months of the season, until the change is made in late May.

"The improving stock of stadia within Super League demonstrates the value of licensing and offers extra incentive to those other clubs who have plans to develop new homes of their own," said Super League chairman Richard Lewis.

The first Monday night game will be Leeds's round-14 clash with St Helens, a repeat of last year's Grand Final.