New-look Championship fixtures revealed as Leeds side Hunslet RLFC paired with Salford Red Devils
Leeds-based Hunslet will face former Super League side Salford Red Devils in next year’s new-look Championship.
The Betfred Championship and League One competitions have been merged to form a 21-team second-tier, with sides playing a 24-round season before a 10-week play-off format to decide the Grand Finalists. Teams will face 12 rivals on a home and away basis, with 10 opponents being based on positions on the 2025 tables and two selected by geographical location, to ensure all clubs have some derby matches.
Hunslet RLFC finished bottom of the 13-team Championship this year. As well as Salford, who were bottom of Super League, the Parksiders will play Oldham (fourth), Featherstone Rovers (sixth), Widnes Vikings (seventh), Barrow Raiders (ninth), and Sheffield Eagles (11th) from the 2025 Championship, as well as Workington Town (second), Dewsbury Rams (fourth), Rochdale Hornets (sixth), Whitehaven (eighth), Keighley Cougars (ninth) and Newcastle Thunder (10th) out of League One.
Featherstone also face Salford, as well as big-spending London Broncos who are expected to be Grand Final contenders after signing several players from the southern hemisphere NRL under their new owners, led by former Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington. The season begins on the weekend of January 16-18, with the final league round on August 30.
Play-offs start on September 5-6 and the Grand Final is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, the day after the Super League title decider. All lower league clubs will compete in the 1895 Cup, but the final will be held away from Wembley for the first time. Details of that competition have yet to be confirmed.
Hunslet kick-off their campaign at home to Dewsbury on Sunday, January 18. Featherstone visit Batley Bulldogs the same afternoon. The RFL’s interim chief executive Abi Ekoku insisted: “A new-look Betfred Championship in 2026 is set to deliver an enthralling week-in, week-out competition.
“The exciting new structure ensures every single game will have meaning and it is pleasing to see the return of many old rivalries, plus some intriguing stardust from new club ownership groups. I would like to thank all Championship clubs for their cooperation and support and wish all teams success in their 2026 campaigns.”