TEAM NEWS: Betfred Championship - 2026 Round 3

Round 3 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.

NOTE: Halifax were placed into compulsory liquidation on Monday 9 February and had their RFL membership revoked two days later. Subsequently, their clash with Sheffield which was scheduled for this round of matches has been postponed.

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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Goole Vikings v Midlands Hurricanes
Sat February 14 2026, 3:00pm at Victoria Pleasure Grounds, Goole

5. Callum Shaw 2. Tom Halliday 3. Cooper Howlett 4. Keenen Tomlinson 18. Connor Barley 22. Callum Rutland 7. Jack Miller 8. Tyler Craig 34. Will Jubb 30. Liam Watts 11. Brett Ferres 13. Harry Aldous 9. Jeylan Hodgson 10. Jack Arnold 14. Oli Morgan 17. Jack Coventry 20. Shane Tuohey
18th player: 12. Nick Staveley

Also in 21-man squad: 16. Harry Medlicott, 19. Ben Hodder, Andre Savelio

1. Todd Horner 18. Owen Restall 21. Zach Jebson 3. Ryan Johnson 2. Matty Chrimes 19. Sully Medforth 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 16. Zeus Silk 28. Isaac Shaw
18th player: 11. Tom Wilkinson

Also in 21-man squad: 5. Luis Roberts 17. Kieran Moran 27. Louis Beattie

Match Officials
Referees: Matt Lynn;Sideline Officials: Alan Billington, Tyler Topping-Higson;

Head to head since 2025: Played 2, Goole 1, Midlands 1
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 13 - Goole 13-12 at Alexander Stadium

North Wales Crusaders v Swinton Lions
Sat February 14 2026, 3:00pm at Stadiwm Eirias, Colwyn Bay

1. Lloyd Roby 20. Thomas Bridge 3. Jayden Hatton 23. Greg Eden 5. Luke Forber 6. Declan Patton 7. Jordy Gibson 16. Mark Ioane 9. Josh Eaves 10. Chris Barratt 11. Brad England 12. Cole Oakley 13. Pat Moran 8. Ant Walker 14. Joe Baldwin 17. Ashton Robinson 18. Junior Westwood
18th player: 22. Jake Nottingham

Also in 21-man squad: 4. Jake Spedding, 25. Danny Addy, Patrick Ah Van

1. Louie Roberts 24. Ethan Fitzgerald 5. Harry Higham 4. Aaron Lynch 3. Ellis Anderson 7. Jack Stevens 6. Reece Briers 18. Bobby Shingler 21. Tom Ratchford 17. Trent Kelly-Duffy 11. Gav Rodden 12. Aaron Willis 13. Kenny Baker 9. George Roby 26. Charlie Mccurrie 28. Jimmy Shields 31. Finlay Irwin
18th player: 27. Lucas Coan

Also in 21-man squad: 15. Jamie Reddecliff 20. Adam Jones 23. Deane Meadows

Match Officials
Referees: Kevin Moore;Sideline Officials: Liam Breheny, Ollie Maddock;

Head to head since 2013: Played 12, Swinton 7, North Wales 4, one draw
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 18 - Swinton 24-12 at Stadiwm CSM

Salford RLFC v Hunslet RLFC
Sun February 15 2026, 3:00pm at CorpAcq Stadium, Barton-upon-Irwell

31. Noah Hodkinson 18. Rafael Van Osselaer 29. Deacon Connolly 20. Joe Hartley 30. Nathan Lowe 27. Matt Ross 7. Toby Hughes 37. Taylor Kerr 9. Brad Dwyer 26. Reece Stanton 32. George O'loughlin 12. Oliver Garmston 14. Finley Yates 16. Leunbou Bardyel-Wells 24. Cole Appleby 33. Ethan Newboult 36. Lukas Mason
18th player: 25. Damola Lowo

Also in 20-man squad: 21. Jack Gatcliffe, Lewis Pilling

1. Billy Jowitt 2. Coby Nichol 3. Myles Dalton-Harrop 18. Jimmy Watson 5. Mo Agoro 6. Lee Gaskell 7. Dan Abram 8. Harvey Hallas 9. Bailey Aldridge 26. Ethan O'Hanlon 11. Harrison Gilmore 15. Emmerson Whittel 13. Eddie Battye 10. Keelan Foster 14. Cameron Berry 19. Mason Corbett 25. Zak Lloyd
18th player: 16. Elijah Simpson

Also in 21-man squad: 20. Liam Carr 21. Mackenzie Turner 24. Jimmy Morgan

Match Officials
Referees: Denton Arnold;Sideline Officials: Jamie Callaghan, Josh Pemberton;

Head to head since 1899: Played 95, Salford 54, Hunslet 33, eight draws
Last met: 2016 Challenge Cup, Fifth Round - Salford 50-14 at South Leeds Stadium

Batley Bulldogs v Doncaster RLFC
Sun February 15 2026, 3:00pm at Fox's Biscuits Stadium, Batley

6. Ben Reynolds 2. Joe Burton 33. Will Oakes 4. Oli Greensmith 25. Derrell Olpherts 14. Ben White 7. Josh Woods 17. Liam Kirk 9. Alistair Leak 13. Robson Stevens 11. Dane Manning 12. Lucas Walshaw 18. Evan Hodgson 10. Luke Cooper 15. Nyle Flynn 19. Jonah Parsons 24. Akim Matvejev
18th player: 21. Luca Atkinson

Also in 21-man squad: 1. Robbie Butterworth 16. Michael Ward 20. Jack Hudson

1. Tom Holmes 5. Luke Briscoe 3. Brad Hey 23. James Glover 18. Edene Gebbie 24. Watson Boas 7. Connor Robinson 8. Brad Knowles 9. Greg Burns 16. Pauli Pauli 12. Alex Sutcliffe 22. Luis Johnson 17. Muizz Mustapha 10. Suaia Matagi 19. Connor Jones 21. Tyla Hepi 25. Gadwin Springer
18th player: 20. Isaac Misky

Also in 21-man squad: 2. Bureta Faraimo 6. Cory Aston 13. Loui McConnell

Match Officials
Referees: Tara Jones;Sideline Officials: Peter Brooke, Oliver Salmon;

Head to head since 1951: Played 129, Batley 71, Doncaster 53, five draws
Last met: 2025 Second Division, Round 19 - Doncaster 42-16 at Eco-Power Stadium

Newcastle Thunder v Dewsbury Rams
Sun February 15 2026, 3:00pm at Crow Trees Ground, Swalwell

14. Maxime Rostang 2. Andy Djeukessi 1. Myles Harrison 25. Jack Smith 5. Brad Ward 27. Jordan Lipp 6. Cody Hunter 10. Ryan Jackson 9. Taylor Pemberton 15. Brenden Santi 24. Matty Foster 12. Noah Whittingham 11. Harvey Reynolds 29. Sean Croston 16. Leo Tennison 19. Jack Brown 28. Tyler Walton
18th player: 7. Will Roberts

Also in 20-man squad: 3. Joe Law 18. Ukuma Ta'ai

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 28. Jamie Gill 11. Joe Summers 23. Brad Graham 16. Louis Collinson 13. Dec Tomlinson 14. Jacob Parkinson 17. Harvey Roberts 20. Valu Tanē Bentley
18th player: 12. Luke Mearns

Also in 21-man squad: 3. Caelum Jordan 19. Louie Walker 22. George Rayner

Match Officials
Referees: Luke Bland;Sideline Officials: Thomas Gibbs, Brandon Worsley;

Head to head since 2001: Played 19, Dewsbury 13, Newcastle 5, one draw
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 18 - Dewsbury 64-10 at Crow Trees Ground

Rochdale Hornets v Keighley Cougars
Sun February 15 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 25. Jack Hansen 8. Jaden Dayes 9. Ross Whitmore 17. Dylan Kelly-Duffy 12. Ethan Wood 28. Kieran Taylor 13. Jordan Syme 10. Lewis Hatton 19. Luke Waterworth 29. Jonny Vaughan 35. Isaac Reid
18th player: 20. Joe Hickey

Also in 21-man squad: 22. Jack Holmes 24. Ben Metcalfe 34. Isaac Coleman

1. Connor Saynor 18. Oli Whitford 5. Dylan Proud 4. Max Clarke 2. Brad Holroyd 6. Izaac Farrell 7. Matty Beharrell 17. Jordan Schofield 14. George Flanagan 11. Lucas Green 27. George Hill 21. Alfie Dean 13. Aaron Brown 9. Oliver Burton 12. Lachlan Lanskey 26. Nathan Rushworth 28. Alfie Salmon
18th player: 8. Dan Parker

Also in 21-man squad: 20. Leo Skerrett Evans 23. Brandon Pickersgill 24. Ben Dean

Match Officials
Referees: Scott Mikalauskas;Sideline Officials: Reece Schofield, Kristian Silcock;

Head to head since 1902: Played 131, Keighley 70, Rochdale 56, five draws
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 12 - Keighley 26-25 at Cougar Park

Whitehaven RLFC v Barrow Raiders
Sun February 15 2026, 3:00pm at The Ortus REC, Whitehaven

18. Cole Walker-Taylor 5. Jay Weatherill 2. Mitchell Todd 4. Ethan Bickerdike 19. Dave Eccleston 7. Jack Newbegin 6. Ciaran Walker 8. Ben Pearce 9. Ellison Holgate 10. Jordan Thomson 11. Connor Holliday 12. Rio McQuistan 13. Jack Kellett 15. Ellis Nixon 16. Brad Brennan 20. Marc Shackley 24. Lewis Brown
18th player: 32. Liam Williamson

Also in 21-man squad: 14. Josh Blinkhorn 21. Joe Lowe 31. Xenden Callander

1. Luke Creswell 2. Andrew Bulman 3. 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 14. Aiden Doolan 15. Charlie Emslie 16. Greg Richards 30. Jarrad Stack
18th player: 31. Stevie Watson

Also in 21-man squad: 17. Alex Bishop 19. Seth Woodend 32. Ellis Archer

Match Officials
Referees: Adam Williams;Sideline Officials: Lucas Seal, Matty Bolton;

Head to head since 1948: Played 133, Barrow 67, Whitehaven 63, three draws
Last met: 2025 Second Division, Round 24 - Barrow 34-14 at Northern Competitions Stadium

Workington Town v Widnes Vikings
Sun February 15 2026, 3:00pm at Derwent Park, Workington

1. Zarrin Galea 19. Spencer Fulton 3. Rio Corkill 21. Evan Lawther 2. Oscar Doran 5. Alex Donaghy 7. Dom Wear 8. Ross Ainley 14. Callum Phillips 22. Delaine Gittens-Bedward 11. Mason Lewthwaite 26. Tuarae Rawhiti 10. Steve Scholey 15. Callum Farrer 17. Lucas Castle 18. Jude Lupton 25. Bear Williams
18th player: 12. Jake Bradley

Also in 21-man squad: 6. Jake Carter 16. Guy Graham23. Tobias Gibson

23. Nathan Connell 2. Mike Butt 1. Matty Fleming 3. Jack Owens 5. Ryan Ince 22. Jordan Abdull 7. Tom Gilmore 8. Dan Murray 9. Jordan Johnstone 21. Jay Chapelhow 12. Max Roberts 19. Adam Lawton 15. Lewis Hall 14. Matty Fozard 18. Morgan McWhirter 20. Jack Bibby 28. Jack Houghton
18th player: 13. Nick Gregson

Also in 21-man squad: 4. Joe Edge 6. Joe Lyons 29. Jumah Sambou

Match Officials
Referees: Carl Hughes;Sideline Officials: Sam Jenkinson, Craig Regan;

Head to head since 1945: Played 99, Widnes 49, Workington 46, four draws
Last met: 2022 Second Division, Round 17 - Widnes 38-0 at Derwent Park