Hull FC face tough start but squad will be buoyed by pre-season challenge and takeover

Hull FC's 2025 fixtures are out, with the Black and Whites now knowing the full make-up of their Super League campaign. It's a tough start, with the first of two trips to Perpignan getting the season underway, before a home opener against last season's quadruple winners Wigan Warriors the following week.

However, the first two rounds will be the perfect chance for new head coach John Cartwright to see exactly what his squad is made of, with players tested from the off as they look to prove their worth and secure spots in the side. Into week three of pre-season, the first team is currently going through the gears in training, with a tough three-month process before the big kick-off.

Of course, there's a Challenge Cup tie against lower league opposition first to kickstart the competitive year, but there's no diluting the anticipation of a new league campaign in what is a fresh era for the club.

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Investment will be pumped in with a takeover set to be completed in the coming weeks, with Andrew Thirkill, exclusively reported by Hull Live back in April, the man behind it. He will be joined by David Hood, with the duo worth around £500 million. That has given the whole organisation a boost, with current chairman Adam Pearson, who purchased Hull back in July 2011, overseeing the transition in a consultancy role.

As for the fixtures, things, on paper, ease up after a tough start, with games against Huddersfield Giants, Wakefield Trinity, and Castleford Tigers to come in the first six rounds, not that you'd imagine Cartwright, his backroom staff, and the players themselves will take any opposition lightly, particularly after a handful of underwhelming years.

Challenged to be competitive, find cohesion, fight, and have an identity, the cogs will hopefully start to spin more and more as the year goes on, with the first derby against Hull KR coming on Good Friday—round eight on the Super League calendar.

Also before the half-way stage of the season is the Magic Weekend, with Hull in action against Huddersfield in round 10. The rest of the cup rounds, including the final, also take place before the halfway stage of the season.

It's also worth noting that just five of Hull's first 14 fixtures are at home. There is also a run of four league games on the road between April and June as the MKM Stadium turf gets its annual makeover. Hull are also on the road for three rounds between weeks 5-7, with a potential cup tie to boot.

After the halfway stage, eight of the remaining 13 fixtures are at home, with a mixture of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday dates. In total, Hull are scheduled to host games two times on Thursday's, three times on Friday's, five times on Saturday's, and three times on Sunday's. The round 20 game against Huddersfield is part of a split round, which takes place over two weekends from July 24 to August 1.

On the road, the second trip to Catalans comes on Saturday 31 May, and is part of the school half-term holidays. Friday night away games come at Huddersfield, Wakefield, Leeds, Warrington, and St Helens, with Hull also on the road twice on Thursday's, making trips to Castleford and Leigh. They make the trip to Warrington again on a Saturday, with Wigan away also falling on a weekend.

Of course, fixtures beyond round 15 are subject to change as Sky Sports and the BBC make their later season feature picks. The season, as it did in 2024, finishes with two home games, with Hull in action against Warrington and Catalans.

In the meantime, pre-season continues, with Hull, buoyed by the incoming takeover and hard at work to better their fortunes, currently in their first six-week block leading them to Christmas. As previously reported, they will then take a short break for the festivities, resuming training again in the new year as they build up to the league and cup campaigns.

For Hull FC's full fixture list, click here

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