O'Brien has a Bash at the big-time as rugby league returns to Blackpool

Kingstone Press Championship leaders Toronto Wolfpack make their Bloomfield Road bow in the last of Saturday’s three matches against in-form Leigh Centurions.

The Canadian club won promotion to the second tier of professional RL in their debut season and have made some eye-catching signings, including the former Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils full-back Gareth O’Brien.

Ahead of the Summer Bash, in which a full round of six Championship games takes place over two days in Blackpool, O’Brien said: “It’s massively important to grow the brand of Toronto as a rugby league club because we have been established for under two years. The more people who know about us the better it is to grow the sport over in Canada.”

Toronto have been on tour this side of the Pond in recent weeks, playing Halifax in London, Warrington in the Challenge Cup and most recently Toulouse at Super League’s Magic Weekend in Newcastle.

O’Brien (right), 26, added: “It will be my first Summer Bash and also the club’s. No doubt it’s going to be a physical one as all games are in the Championship. Leigh are on a great run of wins and can trouble any side, so we’ll have to be at our best to get the win.

“Bloomfield Road will be a new experience for me but it’s always great playing at new stadiums as they bring different atmospheres, so I’m looking forward to what Blackpool has to offer.”

The Wolfpack have won 12 of their 14 Championship games but O’Brien believes they are still improving.

“I don’t think we have seen the best of us just yet. The standards we set for ourselves are incredibly high, so we are always looking to improve and get better. Promotion to Super League is the main goal. We firmly believe it is a realistic goal,” he said.

Toronto recently played their first game in Canada, against bottom club Swinton, and O’Brien said: “I’ve really enjoyed my short time at Toronto so far. I’m itching to get back over and play at Lamport Stadium. The ambition the club has is really exciting and I’m really happy to be a part of it.”

Last year’s total attendance of 16,444 was a record for the Summer Bash and the RFL is hopeful of topping that over the next two days.

The weekend will begin with the first-ever Women’s Super League match at the Summer Bash between Featherstone and Bradford.

Saturday: Featherstone Ladies v Bradford Women (12.30), Barrow v Sheffield (3pm), Halifax v Featherstone (5.15pm), Toronto v Leigh (7.30pm)

Sunday: Toulouse v London (1pm), Rochdale v Swinton (3.15pm), Batley v Dewsbury (5.30pm)