London Broncos are coming to Kent in May

Top flight rugby league will come to Kent this season after the London Broncos agreed to stage a game at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium.

The south’s only Super League club will take on Hull FC on Sunday, May 20.

It is part of the club’s plans to hold two games away from their usual home at the Twickenham Stoop, with Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road hosting the fixture with Bradford Bulls a fortnight earlier.

Steve Lowe, Gillingham’s commercial director said: “It’s great to be working with the Broncos to bring another professional sport to Kent, particularly just as the football season will be drawing to a close.

“I hope that the people of Kent come out and support us bringing Super League rugby to the county.

“It should be a great sporting occasion and will showcase Rugby League to all those that follow it on TV, play it and read about it.”

The Broncos are into the fifth and final year of a groundshare with rugby union giants Harlequins. They were known as Harlequins RL before reverting back to their original name last November.

Gillingham has experienced something of a boom in rugby league in the last four years, since Medway Dragons were established. The club has quickly grown to include several hundred members, with teams from under-sevens up to senior sides.

Gus Mackay, chief executive at London Broncos, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to take the game to a new audience, meeting our strategic objective of growing the game across London and the south east.

“We very much hope the local community will come out in support of the event and we’re already looking forward to the match.”

Ticket details are due to be announced shortly.