Rugby league and rugby union are joining up on the Fylde Coast with Blackpool Panthers set to make Fylde's Woodland ground their temporary home this summer.

The Panthers will be forced to spend June away from Bloomfield Road so improvement work can take place on the pitch.

They will become the first rugby league side to play at the Woodlands when they entertain Keighley Cougars on June 18, with Gateshead Thunder in town on June 25.

Panthers' chairman John Chadwick said: "We're delighted to have reached agreement to play at Fylde's famous rugby ground.

"The Fylde officials have been very welcoming and we're really looking forward to playing at the Woodlands."

Fylde chairman Malcolm Jones said: "We'll give the Panthers and their fans the warmest of welcomes.

"The arrangement suits both clubs. It benefits Fylde as it uses our Clubhouse and the rest of the infrastructure at a time of the year when there's no sporting action here.

"We'll see how these games go before sitting down to discuss possible future collaboration."

The ground has passed a Rugby Football League inspection.