BRADFORD Bulls face the toughest possible examination of their promotion credentials with a mouthwatering opening-day trip to Championship rivals Hull KR next season.

Rohan Smith's men travel to Craven Park on Sunday, February 5 in a game that could see Danny Addy and Mitch Clark make their debuts for Tim Sheens' side.

Legendary former Australia boss Sheens is expected to lead a strong promotion challenge in 2017 following the Robins’ heartbreaking defeat to Salford in the recent Million Pound Game.

That condemned Rovers to life outside of the top flight for the first time in a decade but the bulk of their squad have since signed new deals.

They have also been joined by new recruits such as Addy, Clark and Wakefield prop Nick Scruton – Bradford's player of the year in 2013.

The Bulls’ visit to east Hull is followed by a first home game of the season against newly-promoted Rochdale and then a trip to Swinton at Heywood Road.

Then comes a home clash with another promoted side in ambitious French outfit Toulouse, who visit Odsal on Sunday, February 26.

The corresponding fixture in France comes on Saturday, April 29.

The Easter period sees Bradford host rivals Halifax on Friday, April 14 with an 8pm kick-off and a trip to Featherstone on Easter Monday.

Bradford play Hull KR in the Summer Bash at Blackpool on Saturday, May 27 and host them at Odsal in a third meeting of the regular season on Sunday, July 9.

Smith's men end their regular-season campaign with a trip to neighbours Batley and a final-round home clash against Swinton on Sunday, July 23.

Other notable fixtures include the away trip to London Broncos on Sunday, March 5 with the return game in Bradford on Sunday, May 21.

Meanwhile, Bulls prop Ross Peltier starred for Jamaica in their 16-16 draw against Wales at Wakefield on Friday while England women’s team beat France 36-6 in Avignon on Saturday, with 22 of the 36 points scored by Bradford players.

BRAFORD BULLS 2017 FIXTURES

FEBRUARY
Sun 5 Hull KR A
Sun 12 ROCHDALE HORNETS H
Sun 19 Swinton Lions (at Heywood Road) A
Sun 26 TOULOUSE OLYMPIC H
MARCH
Sun 5 London Broncos A
Sun 12 BATLEY BULLDOGS H
W/E 18/19 Challenge Cup fourth round TBC
Sun 26 DEWSBURY RAMS H
APRIL
Sun 2 Oldham A
Sun 9 SHEFFIELD EAGLES H
Fri 14 HALIFAX H
Mon 17 Featherstone Rovers A
W/E 22/23 Challenge Cup fifth round TBC
Sat 29 Toulouse Olympic A
MAY
Sun 7 Sheffield Eagles A
Sun 21 LONDON BRONCOS H
Sat 27 Hull KR (at Blackpool)
JUNE
Sun 4 Dewsbury Rams A
Sun 11 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS H
Sun 18 Rochdale Hornets A
Sun 25 OLDHAM H
JULY
Sun 2 Halifax A
Sun 9 HULL KR H
Sun 16 Batley Bulldogs A
Sun 23 SWINTON LIONS H