TEAM NEWS: Betfred Championship - 2026 Round 2

Round 2 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. Where squad numbers exist between 90 and 99, squad numbers have not yet been assigned for relevant players.

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

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.

Note: head-to-head stats shown in this article are derived from Rugby League Project records and may be incomplete.

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Barrow Raiders v Salford RLFC
Sat January 31 2026, 6:00pm at Northern Competitions Stadium, Barrow

1. Luke Creswell 20. Dan Knott 4. Curtis Teare 5. Luke Broadbent 25. Tee Ritson 6. Brad Walker 32. Ellis Archer 8. Tom Walker 9. Josh Wood 10. Joe Bullock 11. Ellis Robson 12. Matt Costello 13. Ryan King 14. Aiden Doolan 15. Charlie Emslie 16. Greg Richards 30. Jarrad Stack
18th player: Stevie Watson

Also named in 21-man squad: 19. Seth Woodend, 21. Trent Ruddy, Max Anderson-Moore

18. Rafael Van Osselaer 2. Sam Hill 29. Deacon Connolly 37. Kieran Taylor 20. Joe Hartley 32. Toby Hughes 27. Matt Ross 36. Sam Bowring 9. Brad Dwyer 10. Owen Haldenby 23. Noah Appleby 12. Oliver Garmston 14. Finley Yates 33. Ethan Newboult 26. Reece Stanton 16. Leunbou Bardyel-Wells 24. Cole Appleby
18th player: 25. Damola Lowo

Also named in 21-man squad: 11. Liam Cooper, 15. Will Tilleke, Lewis Pilling

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

Head to head since 1900: Played 154, Salford 83, Barrow 63, eight draws
Last met: 2003 National League Cup, Quarter Final - Salford 40-20 at Craven Park

Dewsbury Rams v Keighley Cougars
Sun February 1 2026, 2:00pm at FLAIR Stadium, Dewsbury

1. Craig McShane 3. Caelum Jordan 29. Bailey O'Connor 4. George Senior 2. Tom Delaney 6. Dan Coates 7. Jacob Hookem 8. Luke Nelmes 9. Jack McShane 15. Jacob Bateman 11. Joe Summers 23. Brad Graham 16. Louis Collinson 14. Jacob Parkinson 13. Dec Tomlinson 20. Valu Tanē Bentley 17. Harvey Roberts
18th player: 12. Luke Mearns

Also named in 21-man squad: 19. Louie Walker, 22. George Rayner, 5. Liam Copland

1. Connor Saynor 2. Brad Holroyd 5. Dylan Proud 4. Max Clarke 19. David Foggin-Johnston 6. Izaac Farrell 7. Matty Beharrell 8. Dan Parker 14. George Flanagan 10. Jack Teanby 21. Alfie Dean 12. Lachlan Lanskey 11. Lucas Green 17. Jordan Schofield 13. Aaron Brown 9. Oliver Burton 20. Leo Skerrett Evans
18th player: 26. Nathan Rushworth

Also named in 21-man squad: 18. Oli Whitford, 23. Brandon Pickersgill, 99. Eion Bowie

Match Officials
Referees: Aaryn Belafonte;Sideline Officials: Luke Bland, Matty Clayton;

Head to head since 1902: Played 210, Dewsbury 111, Keighley 91, eight draws
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 14 - Keighley 22-16 at Cougar Park

Midlands Hurricanes v Doncaster RLFC
Sun February 1 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 14. Brandon Moore 10. Tyler Dickinson 20. Toby Warren 12. Oliver Roberts 13. Mikey Wood 9. Aiden Roden 15. Elliot Morris 17. Kieran Moran 28. Isaac Shaw
18th player: 19. Sully Medforth

Also named in 21-man squad: 11. Tom Wilkinson, 16. Zeus Silk, 18. Owen Restall

1. Tom Holmes 18. Edene Gebbie 3. Brad Hey 4. Reece Lyne 23. James Glover 24. Watson Boas 6. Cory Aston 8. Brad Knowles 9. Greg Burns 25. Gadwin Springer 12. Alex Sutcliffe 22. Luis Johnson 17. Muizz Mustapha 16. Pauli Pauli 19. Connor Jones 21. Tyla Hepi 27. Titus Gwaze
18th player: 7. Connor Robinson

Also named in 21-man squad: 5. Luke Briscoe, 15. Jordan Baldwinson, 20. Isaac Misky

Match Officials
Referees: Kevin Moore;Sideline Officials: Oliver Salmon, Joe Stearne;

Head to head: Played 14, Doncaster 13, Midlands 1
Last met: 2024 1895 Cup, Round 1 - Doncaster 40-4 at Alexander Stadium

Rochdale Hornets v Workington Town
Sun February 1 2026, 3:00pm at Crown Oil Arena, Rochdale

1. Max Flanagan 2. Dan Nixon 3. Tom Ashton 4. Junior Sa'u 22. TJ Boyd 6. Jamie Dallimore 20. Joe Hickey 35. Isaac Reid 9. Ross Whitmore 17. Dylan Kelly-Duffy 12. Ethan Wood 24. Ben Metcalfe 13. Jordan Syme 10. Lewis Hatton 16. Jordan Andrade 18. Danny Lynch 19. Luke Waterworth
18th player: Dan Lloyd

Also named in 21-man squad: 5. Ben Will, 14. Morgan Punchard, 22. Jack Holmes

1. Zarrin Galea 2. Oscar Doran 3. Rio Corkill 4. Braden Leigh 5. Alex Donaghy 6. Jake Carter 7. Dom Wear 8. Ross Ainley 14. Callum Phillips 15. Callum Farrer 11. Mason Lewthwaite 26. Tuarae Rawhiti 12. Jake Bradley 22. Delaine Gittens-Bedward 25. Bear Williams 24. Grant Reid 17. Lucas Castle
18th player: 27. Reuben Butterworth

Also named in 21-man squad: 16. Guy Graham, 18. Jude Lupton, 19. Spencer Fulton

Match Officials
Referees: Carl Hughes;Sideline Officials: Sam Jenkinson, Freddie Lincoln;

Head to head since 1946: Played 119, Workington 72, Rochdale 44, three draws
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 21 - Workington 36-4 at Fibrus Community Stadium

Swinton Lions v Goole Vikings
Sun February 1 2026, 3:00pm at Morson Stadium, Sale

2. Connor Parkinson 24. Ethan Fitzgerald 20. Adam Jones 4. Aaron Lynch 3. Ellis Anderson 7. Jack Stevens 6. Reece Briers 18. Bobby Shingler 21. Tom Ratchford 15. Jamie Reddecliff 12. Aaron Willis 11. Gav Rodden 13. Kenny Baker 14. Jonny Openshaw 17. Trent Kelly-Duffy 23. Deane Meadows 28. Jimmy Shields
18th player: 27. Lucas Coan

Also named in 21-man squad: 1. Louie Roberts, 9. George Roby, 26. Charlie McCurrie

20. Shane Tuohey 5. Callum Shaw 3. Cooper Howlett 4. Keenen Tomlinson 18. Connor Barley 6. Mackenzie Harman 7. Jack Miller 8. Jack Arnold 9. Jeylan Hodgson 30. Liam Watts 11. Brett Ferres 12. Nick Staveley 13. Harry Aldous 31. Will Jubb 15. Tyler Craig 16. Jack Aldous 19. Ben Hodder
18th player: 14. Oli Morgan

Also named in 21-man squad: 17. Jack Coventry, 22. Callum Rutland, 23. Ben Dent

Match Officials
Referees: Scott Mikalauskas;Sideline Officials: Jamie Callaghan, Ollie Maddock;

Head to head since 2025: Played 2, Swinton 1, Goole 1
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 19 - Goole 28-4 at Victoria Pleasure Grounds

Whitehaven RLFC v Newcastle Thunder
Sun February 1 2026, 3:00pm at The Ortus REC, Whitehaven

18. Cole Walker-Taylor 19. Dave Eccleston 23. Ben Pearce 4. Ethan Bickerdike 2. Mitchell Todd 21. Joe Lowe 6. Ciaran Walker 8. Ben Pearce 9. Ellison Holgate 22. Brett Bailey 15. Ellis Nixon 11. Connor Holliday 13. Jack Kellett 20. Marc Shackley 16. Brad Brennan 10. Jordan Thomson 32. Liam Williamson
18th player: 24. Lewis Brown

Also named in 21-man squad: 1. Jordan Burns, 12. Rio McQuistan, 14. Josh Blinkhorn

27. Jordan Lipp 2. Andy Djeukessi 23. Aidan McGowan 25. Jack Smith 5. Brad Ward 6. Cody Hunter 7. Will Roberts 15. Brenden Santi 9. Taylor Pemberton 10. Ryan Jackson 24. Matty Foster 12. Noah Whittingham 11. Harvey Reynolds 14. Maxime Rostang 16. Leo Tennison 18. Ukuma Ta'ai 28. Tyler Walton
18th player: 19. Jack Brown

Also named in 19-man squad: 1. Myles Harrison

Match Officials
Referees: Denton Arnold;Sideline Officials: Matty Bolton, Andy Sweet;

Head to head since 2001: Played 34, Whitehaven 28, Newcastle 5, one draw
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 20 - Whitehaven 28-10 at Crow Trees (Blaydon)

Widnes Vikings v North Wales Crusaders
Sun February 1 2026, 3:00pm at DCBL Stadium, Widnes

23. Nathan Connell 29. Jumah Sambou 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 16. Danny Langtree 13. Nick Gregson 14. Matty Fozard 18. Morgan McWhirter 19. Adam Lawton 20. Jack Bibby
18th player: 15. Lewis Hall

Also named in 21-man squad: 1. Matty Fleming, 7. Tom Gilmore, 12. Max Roberts

1. Lloyd Roby 2. Oliver Brookes 3. Jayden Hatton 4. Jake Spedding 5. Luke Forber 6. Declan Patton 7. Jordy Gibson 16. Mark Ioane 9. Josh Eaves 10. Chris Barratt 11. Brad England 15. Brad Foster 25. Danny Addy 8. Ant Walker 13. Pat Moran 14. Joe Baldwin 23. Greg Eden
18th player: 18. Junior Westwood

Also named in 21-man squad: 12. Cole Oakley 17. Ashton Robinson, Thomas Bridge

Match Officials
Referees: Ryan Cox;Sideline Officials: Peter Brooke, Paul Marklove;

Head to head since 2024: Played 2, Widnes 2, North Wales 0
Last met: 2025 Challenge Cup, Third Round - Widnes 26-20 at Stadiwm CSM

Halifax Panthers v Batley Bulldogs
Sun February 1 2026, 3:00pm at The Shay Stadium, Halifax

3. Tanguy Zenon 2. Ben Tibbs 4. Alfie Johnson 5. Charlie Graham 22. Darius Carter 6. Jesse Soric 17. Myles Lawford 8. Will Calcott 9. Adam O'Brien 12. Owen McCarron 11. Ben Crooks 24. Brad Day 14. Tom Inman 20. Vila Halafihi 21. Ben Forster 23. Leon Cowen 13. Jacob Fairbank
18th player: 7. Jack Hansen

Also named in 21-man squad: 1. David Nofoaluma, 10. Daniel Okoro, 19. Zack McComb

6. Ben Reynolds 2. Joe Burton 23. Felix Ellis 20. Jack Hudson 99. Will Oakes 14. Ben White 7. Josh Woods 17. Liam Kirk 9. Alistair Leak 13. Robson Stevens 15. Nyle Flynn 12. Lucas Walshaw 21. Luca Atkinson 1. Robbie Butterworth 10. Luke Cooper 19. Jonah Parsons 25. Akim Matvejev
18th player: 22. Jay Scriven

Also named in 21-man squad: 5. Kieran Brining, 11. Dane Manning, 24. Paul Foulstone

Match Officials
Referees: Tara Jones;Sideline Officials: Gareth Jones, Josh Pemberton;

Head to head since 1895: Played 202, Halifax 127, Batley 59, sixteen draws
Last met: 2025 Second Division, Round 18 - Halifax 18-16 at Fox's Biscuit Stadium

London Broncos v Oldham RLFC
Sun February 1 2026, 3:00pm at The Cherry Red Records Stadium, Wimbledon

1. Morea Morea 2. Elliot Wallis 3. Robert Mathias 4. Alex Max 5. Liam Tindall 7. Dean Hawkins 23. Gairo Voro 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 18. Jimmy Meadows 16. Epel Kapinias 11. Luke Smith 12. Jack Croft 15. Sadiq Adebiyi 6. Connor O'Beirne 10. Emarly Bitugane 14. Finley Glare 24. Lewis Bienek
18th player: 17. Marcus Stock

Also named in 21-man squad: 13. Siliva Havili, 19. Ben Hursey, 26. Neil Tchamambe

2. Kieran Dixon 21. Tom Nisbet 3. Ben O'Keefe 4. Ben Davies 5. Jake Bibby 7. Riley Dean 23. Josh Drinkwater 8. Jack Ormondroyd 13. Adam Milner 10. Owen Farnworth 11. Matty Ashurst 12. Ryan Lannon 18. Jaron Purcell 14. Cole Geyer 15. Ted Chapelhow 16. Ewan Moore 19. Harvey Makin
18th player: 17. Emmanuel Waine

Also named in 21-man squad: 6. Morgan Smith, 9. Matty Wildie, 24. Marcus Geener

Match Officials
Referees: Matt Lynn;Sideline Officials: Alex Cameron, Lucas Seal;

Head to head since 1983: Played 32, London 17, Oldham 14, one draw
Last met: 2025 Second Division, Round 23 - Oldham 20-18 at Cherry Red Records Stadium