TEAM NEWS: Betfred Championship - 2026 Round 1

Round 1 team news and match official appointments for the UK's second division competition as they come to hand.

The Championship is played with 20 clubs across 26 rounds with a top ten playoffs to be played later in the year. 

In 2026, the Championship was merged with the third division competition - League One - to form one single second tier. 2025 Championship teams York, Toulouse and Bradford were all promoted while 2025 Super League side Salford, who went into liquidation and are now reborn as a new entity, were demoted to Championship. All other clubs from both divisions last year will play in Championship this year, with the exception of Featherstone, who entered admnistration late in 2025 and were confirmed on 9 January 2026 not to be granted RFL membership for this season.

Referee appointments are announced Tuesday afternoon UK time, and each club names a squad of up to 21 players approximately 48 hours from kickoff in their match each week, from which the final 17 and concussion sub are selected an hour before the game.

Broadcast: Championship currently has no formal broadcast agreement. Any games to be broadcast will be advised week-to-week and will normally be via streaming platforms or club websites. For any updates, we recommend www.rugbyleagueontv.com.

All times are listed in GMT (UK local time) unless otherwise noted. Add 11 hours for AEDT.

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Round 1

Fri 16 - Sun 18 Jan

North Wales Crusaders BYE

Salford RLFC v Oldham RLFC
Fri January 16 2026, 8:00pm at CorpAcq Stadium, Barton-upon-Irwell

30. Will Brough 18. Rafael Van Osselaer-Hewitt 23. Noah Appleby 20. Joe Hartley 2. Sam Hill 29. Toby Hughes 27. Matt Ross 33. Oliver Polec 14. Finley Yates 15. Will Tilleke 11. Liam Cooper 12. Oliver Garmston 13. Charlie Glover 9. Brad Dwyer 31. Nathan Wilde 32. Ryan Brown 26. Reece Stanton
18th player: 16. Leunbou Bardyel-Wells

Players cut from 21-man squad: Owen Haldenby, Lewis Pilling, Josh Wagstaffe

2. Kieran Dixon 21. Tom Nisbet 3. Ben O'Keefe 4. Ben Davies 5. Jake Bibby 23. Josh Drinkwater 7. Riley Dean 15. Ted Chapelhow 9. Matty Wildie 10. Owen Farnworth 11. Matty Ashurst 12. Ryan Lannon 13. Adam Milner 8. Jack Ormondroyd 14. Cole Geyer 18. Jaron Purcell 19. Harvey Makin
18th player: 6. Morgan Smith

Players cut from 21-man squad: 24. Marcus Geener, 25. Sam Littler, 1. Jack Walker

Match Officials
Referees: Aaron Moore;Sideline Officials: Liam Breheny, Richard Thompson;

Head to head since 1964: Played 6, Oldham 4 wins, Salford 2.
Last met: 2003 Second Division, Round 13 - Salford 32-22 at Boundary Park.

Midlands Hurricanes v Newcastle Thunder
Sun January 18 2026, 2:00pm at Avery Fields, Birmingham

1. Todd Horner 2. Matty Chrimes 3. Ryan Johnson 4. Ross Oakes 5. Luis Roberts 6. Danny Craven 7. Lewis Else 8. Jon Luke Kirby 9. Aiden Roden 10. Tyler Dickinson 11. Tom Wilkinson 21. Zach Jebson 14. Brandon Moore 13. Mikey Wood 16. Zeus Silk 19. Sully Medforth 20. Toby Warren
18th player: 15. Elliot Morris

Players cut from 21-man squad: 12. Oliver Roberts, 22. Cian Tyrer, 28. Isaac Shaw

21. Will Dagger 2. Andy Djeukessi 3. Joe Law 25. Jack Smith 5. Brad Ward 6. Cody Hunter 7. Will Roberts 8. Bailey Antrobus 9. Taylor Pemberton 10. Ryan Jackson 11. Harvey Reynolds 12. Noah Whittingham 22. John Sagaga 14. Maxime Rostang 16. Leo Tennison 18. Ukuma Ta'ai 23. Aidan McGowan
18th player: 19. Jack Brown

Players cut from 21-man squad: 1. Myles Harrison, 13. Sam Cook, 15. Brenden Santi

Match Officials
Referees: Adam Williams;Sideline Officials: Liam O'Brien, Kristian Silcock;

Head to head: First meeting

Barrow Raiders v Workington Town
Sun January 18 2026, 3:00pm at Northern Competitions Stadium, Barrow

1. Luke Creswell 2. Andrew Bulman 4. Curtis Teare 5. Luke Broadbent 25. Tee Ritson 6. Brad Walker 7. Ryan Johnston 8. Tom Walker 9. Josh Wood 10. Joe Bullock 11. Ellis Robson 12. Matt Costello 13. Ryan King 15. Charlie Emslie 16. Greg Richards 30. Jarrad Stack 32. Ellis Archer
18th player: Stevie Watson

Players cut from 21-man squad: 19. Seth Woodend, 20. Dan Knott, Max Anderson-Moore

5. Alex Donaghy 1. Zarrin Galea 3. Rio Corkill 19. Spencer Fulton 2. Oscar Doran 6. Jake Carter 4. Braden Leigh 15. Callum Farrer 14. Callum Phillips 8. Ross Ainley 21. Evan Lawther 26. Tuarae Rawhiti 10. Steve Scholey 12. Jake Bradley 17. Lucas Castle 18. Jude Lupton 24. Grant Reid
18th player: Jack Ainley

Players cut from 21-man squad: 7. Dom Wear, 11. Mason Lewthwaite, 20. Tyce Walmsley

Match Officials
Referees: Matt Lynn;Sideline Officials: Craig Regan, Aaryn Belafonte;

Head to head since 1973: Played 29, Workington 15, Barrow 13, one draw
Last met: 2022 Second Division, Round 15 - Barrow 58-0 at Derwent Park 

Doncaster RLFC v Halifax Panthers
Sun January 18 2026, 3:00pm at Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster

1. Tom Holmes 5. Luke Briscoe 4. Reece Lyne 23. James Glover 18. Edene Gebbie 24. Watson Boas 6. Cory Aston 8. Brad Knowles 9. Greg Burns 25. Gadwin Springer 14. Jacob Jones 11. Sam Smeaton 17. Muizz Mustapha 10. Suaia Matagi 16. Pauli Pauli 19. Connor Jones 22. Luis Johnson
18th player: 3. Brad Hey

Players cut from 21-man squad: 7. Connor Robinson, 12. Alex Sutcliffe, 15. Jordan Baldwinson

1. David Nofoaluma 2. Ben Tibbs 3. Tanguy Zenon 4. Alfie Johnson 5. Charlie Graham 6. Jesse Soric 7. Jack Hansen 8. Will Calcott 14. Tom Inman 23. Leon Cowen 11. Ben Crooks 19. Zack McComb 13. Jacob Fairbank 9. Adam O'Brien 10. Daniel Okoro 18. Bayley Liu 21. Ben Forster
18th player: 20. Vila Halafihi

Players cut from 21-man squad: 12. Owen McCarron, 17. Myles Lawford, 22. Darius Carter

Match Officials
Referees: Scott Mikalauskas;Sideline Officials: Oliver Salmon, Joe Stearne;

Head to head since 1973: Played 41, Halifax 31, Doncaster 9, one draw
Last met: 2025 Second Division Round 26 - Halifax 24-16 at Eco-Power Stadium

Hunslet RLFC v Dewsbury Rams
Sun January 18 2026, 3:00pm at South Leeds Stadium, Hunslet

1. Billy Jowitt 2. Coby Nichol 3. Myles Dalton-Harrop 4. Matty Dawson-Jones 5. Mo Agoro 6. Lee Gaskell 22. Jack Ward 8. Harvey Hallas 9. Bailey Aldridge 10. Keelan Foster 11. Harrison Gilmore 12. Darcy Simpson 13. Eddie Battye 15. Emmerson Whittel 17. Kevin Larroyer 24. James Morgan 26. Ethan O'Hanlon
18th player: 20. Liam Carr

Players cut from 21-man squad: 18. Jimmy Watson, 21. Mackenzie Turner, 16. Elijah Simpson

1. Craig McShane 2. Tom Delaney 29. Bailey O'Connor 4. George Senior 5. Liam Copland 6. Dan Coates 7. Jacob Hookem 8. Luke Nelmes 9. Jack McShane 15. Jacob Bateman 11. Joe Summers 27. Brad Graham 16. Louis Collinson 14. Jacob Parkinson 20. Valu Tanē Bentley 18. Jack Briggs 13. Dec Tomlinson
18th player: 17. Harvey Roberts

Players cut from 21-man squad: 12. Luke Mearns, 19. Louie Walker, 22. George Rayner

Match Officials
Referees: Luke Bland;Sideline Officials: Jonathan Roberts, Andy Sweet;

Head to head since 1962: Played 44, Dewsbury 26, Hunslet 16, two draws
Last met: 2015 Second Division, Round 12 - Dewsbury 40-4 at Tetley's Stadium

Keighley Cougars v Goole Vikings
Sun January 18 2026, 3:00pm at Cougar Park, Keighley

1. Connor Saynor 19. David Foggin-Johnston 4. Max Clarke 5. Dylan Proud 2. Brad Holroyd 6. Izaac Farrell 7. Matty Beharrell 16. Leo Aliyu 14. George Flanagan 10. Jack Teanby 21. Alfie Dean 12. Lachlan Lanskey 11. Lucas Green 8. Dan Parker 9. Oliver Burton 13. Aaron Brown 17. Jordan Schofield
18th player: 18. Oli Whitford

Players cut from 21-man squad: 20. Leo Skerrett Evans, 23. Brandon Pickersgill, 26. Nathan Rushworth

5. Callum Shaw 2. Tom Halliday 3. Cooper Howlett 4. Keenen Tomlinson 18. Connor Barley 6. Mackenzie Harman 7. Jack Miller 8. Jack Arnold 22. Callum Rutland 30. Liam Watts 11. Brett Ferres 12. Nick Staveley 13. Harry Aldous 10. Tyler Craig 15. Jack Aldous 16. Harry Medlicott 14. Oli Morgan
18th player: 19. Ben Hodder

Players cut from 21-man squad: 20. Shane Tuohey, 23. Ben Dent, 25. Brad Bullock

Match Officials
Referees: Denton Arnold;Sideline Officials: Sam Jenkinson, Matty Bolton;

Head to head: First meeting

London Broncos v Widnes Vikings
Sun January 18 2026, 3:00pm at The Cherry Red Records Stadium, Wimbledon

1. Morea Morea 2. Elliot Wallis 3. Robert Mathias 4. Alex Max 5. Neil Tchamambe 6. Connor O'Beirne 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Siliva Havili 10. Epel Kapinias 11. Luke Smith 12. Jack Croft 13. Sadiq Adebiyi 14. Emarly Bitugane 18. Jimmy Meadows 23. Gairo Voro 24. Lewis Bienek
18th player: 19. Ben Hursey-Hord

Players cut from 21-man squad: 17. Marcus Stock, 21. Will Lovell, 27. Ted Davidson

1. Matty Fleming 2. Mike Butt 3. Jack Owens 4. Joe Edge 5. Ryan Ince 6. Joe Lyons 22. Jordan Abdull 8. Dan Murray 9. Jordan Johnstone 21. Jay Chapelhow 11. Sam Wilde 12. Max Roberts 13. Nick Gregson 10. Liam Bent 14. Matty Fozard 18. Morgan McWhirter 20. Jack Bibby
18th player: 23. Nathan Connell

Players cut from 21-man squad: 25. Kieran Taylor, 27. Deacon Connolly, 28. Jack Houghton

Match Officials
Referees: Tara Jones;Sideline Officials: Peter Brooke, Gareth Jones;

Head to head since 2017: Played 10, London 6, Widnes 4
Last met: 2025 Second Division, Round 26 - London 20-10 at DCBL Stadium

Whitehaven RLFC v Sheffield Eagles
Sun January 18 2026, 3:00pm at The Ortus REC, Whitehaven

18. Cole Walker-Taylor 19. Dave Eccleston 1. Jordan Burns 4. Ethan Bickerdike 2. Mitchell Todd 6. Ciaran Walker 7. Jack Newbegin 20. Marc Shackley 9. Ellison Holgate 10. Jordan Thomson 11. Connor Holliday 12. Rio McQuistan 13. Jack Kellett 16. Brad Brennan 17. Aaron Turnbull 22. Brett Bailey 23. Ben Pearce
18th player: 24. Lewis Brown

Players cut from 21-man squad: 5. Jay Weatherill, 14. Josh Blinkhorn, 15. Ellis Nixon

1. Matty Marsh 2. Joe Brown 3. Josh Hodson 4. Kieran Gill 5. Billy Walkley 6. Kai Morgan 7. Jordan Lilley 22. Masi Matongo 17. Harry Bowes 10. Martyn Reilly 11. Connor Bower 12. Joel Farrell 13. Jack Bussey 8. Conor Fitzsimmons 9. Corey Johnson 15. George Griffin 20. Lewis Peachey
18th player: 23. Alex Foster

Players cut from 21-man squad: 14. Reiss Butterworth, 16. Blake Broadbent, 21. Ryan Millar

Match Officials
Referees: Kevin Moore;Sideline Officials: Carl Hughes, Milo McKelvey;

Head to head since 1984: Played 32, Sheffield 17, Workington 14, one draw
Last met: 2024 Second Division, Round 17 - Sheffield 78-24 at Steel City Stadium

Swinton Lions v Rochdale Hornets
Sun January 18 2026, 3:00pm at Morson Stadium, Sale

1. Louie Roberts 2. Connor Parkinson 20. Adam Jones 4. Aaron Lynch 5. Harry Higham 7. Jack Stevens 21. Tom Ratchford 18. Bobby Shingler 14. Jonny Openshaw 15. Jamie Reddecliff 11. Gav Rodden 12. Aaron Willis 17. Trent Kelly-Duffy 9. George Roby 16. Finley Beardsworth 22. Jordan Brown 23. Deane Meadows
18th player: 3. Ellis Anderson

Players cut from 21-man squad: 13. Kenny Baker, 24. Ethan Fitzgerald, 27. Lucas Coan

1. Max Flanagan 2. Dan Nixon 3. Tom Ashton 4. Junior Sa'u 22. TJ Boyd 14. Morgan Punchard 6. Jamie Dallimore 8. Jaden Dayes 9. Ross Whitmore 17. Dylan Kelly-Duffy 11. Matty Unsworth 12. Ethan Wood 13. Jordan Syme 10. Lewis Hatton 16. Jordan Andrade 19. Luke Waterworth 24. Ben Metcalfe
18th player: 21. Jack Holmes

Players cut from 21-man squad: 18. Danny Lynch, 20. Joe Hickey, 33. Dan Lloyd

Match Officials
Referees: Ryan Cox;Sideline Officials: Jamie Callaghan, Ollie Maddock;

Head to head since 1978: Played 48, Swinton 27, Rochdale 20, one draw
Last met: 2019 Second Division, Round 19 - Swinton 36-28 at Crown Oil Arena