A new 10,000-seat stadium at the £83m Leigh Sports Village in Lancashire is to host a junior rugby league tournament on 7 December in order to 'ramp-up' its capacity ahead of its full opening.

The tournament has also been organised to allow operators, Leigh Sports Village Company (LSVCo) to obtain a safety license for the £17.5m stadium, which is to be the home of both Leigh Genesis Football Club (LGFC) and Leigh Centurions Rugby League Football Club (LCRLFC).

Hospitality and banqueting suites are also among the facilities at the stadium, which was designed by Derek Walker Associates, and was built by Hall Construction Services.

James Ditchfield, LSVCo's operations director, said: "In order for the stadium to be issued with a safety certificate to allow sporting activity to take place within it, the safety management of the stadium has to be assessed by the local licensing authority.

"The ramp event has been organised for this assessment to take place, however, it is important that members of the local community and sporting clubs are given the opportunity to be involved with this event."

It is hoped that LGFC will play its first game at the stadium on 26 December for a fixture against Witton Albion Football Club, while LCRLFC is scheduled to play its first game at the site on 28 December against Salford City Reds Rugby League Football Club.

As well as the new stadium, the sports village also includes a new 400m running track with covered sprinting facility, a swimming pool, a 150-bedroom, four-star hotel and a multi-use games area.