RUGBY LEAGUE’S biggest weekend of the year will once again be staged in Newcastle with St James’ Park due to host 2017’s Magic Weekend event on May 20-21.

Having first been held in Newcastle in 2015, the Magic Weekend returned to Tyneside for a second year this spring, with more than 68,000 fans attending across the two days of fixtures.

The schedule for next year’s Magic Weekend has been revealed, with three Betfred Super League games taking place on the Saturday and three on the Sunday.

Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves will face each other in a rematch of this month’s Super League Grand Final in the closing game on Saturday evening. The Warriors, who beat the Wolves 12-6 at Old Trafford earlier this month, will lock horns with Warrington for the first time at a Magic Weekend at 7pm on Saturday, May 20.

The two other Super League semi-finalists, Hull FC and St Helens, will face each other on Saturday afternoon at 4.45pm, following the opening fixture of the weekend, Widnes Vikings v Wakefield Trinity, which kicks off the round of Super League fixtures at 2.30pm.

Catalans Dragons and Huddersfield Giants will kick off the second day of the annual rugby league showcase when they go head-to-head at 1pm. Leigh Centurions will get their first taste of a Magic Weekend as they take on Salford Red Devils at 3.15pm, before one of the most eagerly-anticipated clashes of the rugby league season, a Yorkshire derby between Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers, brings the curtain down on an action-packed weekend at 5.30pm.

Super League general manager, Mark Foster, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Dacia Magic Weekend back to Newcastle for the third successive year.

“The city has made us feel incredibly welcome and we know that our fans love visiting the North-East, not just to witness a whole round of the Betfred Super League, but also to take in everything else that this wonderful city and surrounding area has to offer.”

Lee Charnley, Newcastle United’s managing director, added: “It is fantastic to welcome the Super League’s Magic Weekend back to Newcastle and St. James’ Park for a third successive year.

“It has become a real highlight in the North-East’s sporting calendar over the past two years, with record attendances and a great atmosphere in and around the city.

“It’s excellent news too for the local economy, and we are proud to work together with our partners in the city to attract events of this calibre to Newcastle.”

* Tickets for the 2017 Magic Weekend are now on sale. Day tickets are priced from £25 for adults and £12.50 for concessions, with weekend tickets available from £40 for adults and £20 for concessions. Tickets can be purchased from rugby-league.com/tickets or on 0844 856 1113.