Leigh Centurions are pleased to confirm that they have finalised a pre season friendly game against North Wales Crusaders on Sunday 25 January 2015 at Leigh Sports Village (3pm).

Ticket prices are as follows: Adults £10, Concessions £8, Under-16s £5, Under-12s free (when accompanied by an adult).

This will be the Centurions’ second friendly fixture as they prepare for their eagerly awaited Kingstone Press Championship opener against Bradford Bulls on Sunday 15 February 2015 (3pm).

They will play Wigan Warriors in the ‘Battle of the Borough’ as part of the Paul Prescott Testimonial on Sunday 18 January 2015 (3pm) at LSV.

Leigh Centurions Head Coach Paul Rowley was delighted that the Crusaders, whose Head Coach Anthony Murray and Assistant Coach Alan Hadcroft are former Leigh favourites, agreed to come to LSV. “We are on good terms with the Crusaders and the game will be of mutual benefit to both teams as we finalise our preparations for the season,” he said.

Leigh Centurions Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont said: “I would like to thank North Wales Crusaders for stepping in to take this fixture after we had been left wanting from the cancelled friendly we had arranged with Salford. Anthony Murray and Alan Hadcroft are personal friends of Paul and I and those kinds of relationships are always useful in our sport.

“North Wales gave us two good games last year with a stand-out performance from Ryan Duffy on loan in their last game against us who is now a permanent signing for them. I am sure North Wales will provide a tough hit-out for our boys whilst they themselves gauge where they are for the strong challenge that they face next year. They have a good following of friendly supporters who we look forward to welcoming to the LSV.”

North Wales Crusaders Head Coach Anthony Murray said: “I've obviously got strong connections with Leigh, and so has Alan Hadcroft, with us being past players. When Paul got in touch about having a friendly match, I snapped his hand off.

“It's a good opportunity for us to test ourselves against the best Championship team from last year and a team who will no doubt be up there again this season. It's a really strong test for us and one that we're all looking forward to."

North Wales Crusaders Team Manager Bob Wilson said: “This is a good opportunity to develop our squad; you don't get any sterner opposition than Leigh. We all know they had an incredible season last year and 2015 will see them get a chance to claim a Super League spot, something they have been working towards.

“However, we have retained and added to a very good squad who in 2015 have the same aspirations and determination to do as well as they can in their respective league.”

There will be a que round the block for this one when the tickets go on sale I no its last minute but when need to be testing ourselves against better than championship 1 be lucky to get 1000 on for this one I will not be going ...

I will be going as I want to see how our new signings perform.

I'll be there.

Do you just go to the 'Big' matches then Tony? You're not prepared to give YOUR team some much needed cash at the end of the long winter months when no match income has been coming in, but the players have still needed to be paid. You should support the team no matter who is stood in front of them.

Should be a good game - like Frank says a chance to see the lads running out - true fans will be there

I thought it was generally accepted wisdom these days not to have [itoo[/i much of a testing pre-season? That said, I'm sure Crusaders will give us a decent workout just as they did last season in the league.

Tenner...oh aye, will be there ! Old Toni is making us out to be a Sooper League club, we were in the same league last season, and they gave us 2 tough games.

Dunno about that Matt last years testing pre season games didn't do us much harm.

Given our start to the season though it might not be in best interests to get bashed about for four weeks before the Bradford game. Seems just about right to me.

People have been starved of RL over winter, why on earth would you not want to go and watch this match. As a leigh fan i'd watch us play hag fold 2nd team.

I know it's a bit late for this year but for future years I would love some friendlies over the Christmas/New Year period for the long distance Leythers who are home for the break.

I was hoping to be home for the Bradford match in Feb but doesn't look likely anymore. Was hoping for some pre-season action over Christmas. Everybody loves a boxing day friendly!

No such thing as an easy or friendly game of RL

I missed two games home and away last season so if that's only coming out for the big games then that's me..All that I am saying is we need to be testing ourselves and I don't think NWC will do that and can you really see the crowds coming out on a cold January Sunday for this one don't think so.

We need to be getting match fit and not getting injuries before the season starts. Wigan will be a good enough test.