THE structure of the forthcoming season for the Basingstoke Bison was announced late last week.

It will see the 2021/22 campaign open with a cup competition from September 4.

This will be followed by the league, which runs from the first weekend of October to the first weekend of April.

The end of season play-offs will then take place with the finals weekend at the end of April in Coventry.

These dates have been issued working on the basis that the current restrictions will be ended by the autumn.

The cup competition will be optional and the setup will be announced when the participants are known.

The league campaign will have the same format and teams as the 2019/20 season which will see a total of 52 games.

The Bison will be in the Southern Conference along with the Bees, who play out of Slough, Peterborough Phantoms, Swindon Wildcats and the Raiders from Romford.

The Northern Conference will be made up of Hull, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Telford.

Each team will play their conference opponents four times home and away and the sides in the other conference twice home and away.

The fixture list will be released as soon as possible and is being planned on the basis that fans will be able to watch their team in person.