Shock as Featherstone Rovers denied Championship place: here's what happens now
Featherstone Rovers have been excluded from this year’s Championship.
The sport’s governing body today issued a shock statement confirming the West Yorkshire club have not been granted Rugby Football League membership or entry into the 2026 Betfred Championship. Rovers were on the fixture list published in December, but went into administration later last month.
Only one bid was subsequently received to take over the club and that has not met the required criteria. Rovers will now sit out the forthcoming campaign, which they were due to begin away to Batley Bulldogs on Sunday, January 18, but the RFL say they are “committed to supporting a sustainable return of professional rugby league in the town”.
The governing body’s statement read: “The Rugby Football League (RFL) can confirm that Featherstone Rovers have not been granted RFL Membership or entry into the 2026 Betfred Championship. The club fell into administration in December and the one submission received to take ownership of the club has not met the required governance criteria and RFL membership has been denied.
“The RFL will continue to work with the Administrator and remains committed to supporting a sustainable return of professional rugby league in the town of Featherstone moving forward.”
It added: “The 2026 Betfred Championship Season opens on Friday, January 16. All Featherstone Rovers fixtures will now be settled using the win percentage system as used during the Covid pandemic. The RFL is acutely aware of the financial impact to member clubs of losing a home fixture. Accordingly, it will ensure that some level of compensation is made available to all clubs suffering the loss of a home fixture.”