WOLVES' Middle 8s fixtures have been confirmed and The Wire will avoid a trip to France.

A last-minute home win by Toulouse Olympique against Featherstone Rovers on Saturday meant there was still a chance of The Wire crossing the Channel in August or September as one of seven games in the second phase of the league campaign.

However, Halifax's 28-6 win over runaway league leaders Hull KR on Sunday afternoon means Tony Smith's men will visit Featherstone Rovers instead.

Leigh's victory over Salford on Friday night ensured they finish second from bottom of Super League for the splits, with Widnes left to prop up the table.

So we now know Wolves will have home games against Hull KR, Catalans, Leigh and Halifax.

Away games will be against London Broncos, Widnes Vikings and Featherstone Rovers.

Matches will be on August 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, September 1-3, 8-10, 15-17 and 22-24.

Teams going into the Middle 8s start a fresh league table and, at the end of the seven rounds, the top three sides on the ladder automatically have places in Super League next season.

Those sides finishing fourth and fifth have a play-off known as The Million Pound Game, scheduled for Saturday, September 30, with the winners taking the final spot in Super League 2018 and the losers taking their place in the Championship.

Last year, Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants and Leigh Centurions achieved the automatic places while Salford Red Devils edged past Hull Kingston Rovers in the Million Pound Game courtesy of an outrageous long-range drop goal from their Warringtonian full-back Gareth O’Brien.

Fixtures will be confirmed after all Round 23 games have been completed in Super League and the Championship.