COUGARS head coach Craig Lingard has highlighted the importance of developing strong links with grassroots clubs in the Keighley district.

A new date has been finalised for the revived pre-season friendly between his side and a Keighley amateur select outfit, which will take place on Sunday, February 12 (2pm).

The clash – originally pencilled in for January 8 – had been called off due to unavailability of some of the amateur squad but Lingard was keen to get the game on.

He said: "We want to establish ties with the amateur game. We want to create a pathway for those who have not come through scholarship and make sure they are not forgotten.

"It is massively important and why I wanted a game."

The friendly was a regular annual fixture in Cougars' pre-season build-up but had been dropped in recent years.

The select squad is being put together by Darren Lynam – father of Cougars first team player Josh – and Keighley hall of fame legend Keith Dixon.

It is set to include the cream of talent from local clubs – Keighley Albion, Worth Village, Silsden and Cowling Harlequins – with players from Keighley Rugby Union Club and Bradford & Bingley also in line to feature.

Darren Lynam, who is also hoping to persuade former Cougars favourite Olly Pursglove to turn out for the select side, said: "It's an excellent chance for amateur players to pit their wits against the professionals and good for the town as well.

"It is really important to create good links. There are some up and coming prospects in the local amateur game and hopefully some might get picked up by Cougars rather than go to other (professional) clubs."

The match will be the final pre-season friendly for Keighley before they begin their defence of the iPro Sport Cup on the weekend of February 18-19.

They will find out next Tuesday who their first-round opponents are in next year's competition.

The first round draw – which will feature all League One clubs, apart from new boys Toronto Wolfpack, plus Conference Challenge Trophy winners Rochdale Mayfield – will be broadcast on BBC Radio Leeds from 6.15pm.

Cougars will begin their defence against one of nine other sides in Pool A (north), with Pool B featuring midlands and southern regions.

* Cougars Reserves coach Richard Tate has been appointed England’s assistant coach for the Rugby League Students World Cup in Australia next year.

The tournament next summer will see Tate join Nathan Graham Down Under as the Cougars assistant coaches Scotland Students.