TEAM NEWS: Betfred Championship - 2026 Round 6

Round 6 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. In February, Halifax Panthers were forced into compulsory liquidation by the HMRC and their RFL Membership was revoked. They were readmitted prior to Round 6 and will be required to fulfil all fixtures both postponed and scheduled ahead. They have been issued a 12-point deduction on the table for the season as a result of the liquidation.

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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Dewsbury Rams v Barrow Raiders
Sun March 8 2026, 2:00pm at FLAIR Stadium, Dewsbury

1. Craig McShane 2. Tom Delaney 3. Caelum Jordan 4. George Senior 5. Liam Copland 6. Dan Coates 8. Luke Nelmes 9. Jack McShane 10. Toby Everett 11. Joe Summers 12. Luke Mearns 13. Dec Tomlinson 14. Jacob Parkinson 15. Jacob Bateman 16. Louis Collinson 17. Harvey Roberts 20. Valu Tanē Bentley 22. George Rayner 23. Brad Graham 28. Jamie Gill 29. Bailey O'Connor

1. Luke Creswell 3. Shane Toal 4. Curtis Teare 5. Luke Broadbent 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 17. Alex Bishop 20. Dan Knott 21. Trent Ruddy 25. Tee Ritson 31. Stevie Watson 32. Ellis Archer

Match Officials
Referees: Adam Williams;Sideline Officials: James Broomhead, Freddie Lincoln;

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 1902
Played 106, Barrow 56, Dewsbury 45, five draws
Last met: 2024 Second Division, Round 20 - Barrow 31-24 at FLAIR

Doncaster RLFC v Goole Vikings
Sun March 8 2026, 3:00pm at Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster

1. Tom Holmes 3. Brad Hey 5. Luke Briscoe 6. Cory Aston 7. Connor Robinson 8. Brad Knowles 9. Greg Burns 10. Suaia Matagi 12. Alex Sutcliffe 13. Loui McConnell 15. Jordan Baldwinson 17. Muizz Mustapha 18. Edene Gebbie 19. Connor Jones 21. Tyla Hepi 22. Luis Johnson 23. James Glover 24. Watson Boas 25. Gadwin Springer 26. Mitieli Vulikijapani 27. Titus Gwaze

1. Josh Guzdek 2. Tom Halliday 3. Cooper Howlett 4. Keenen Tomlinson 5. Callum Shaw 7. Jack Miller 8. Tyler Craig 9. Jeylan Hodgson 10. Jack Arnold 11. Brett Ferres 12. Nick Staveley 13. Harry Aldous 14. Oli Morgan 15. Jack Aldous 16. Harry Medlicott 18. Connor Barley 22. Callum Rutland 24. Alex Holdstock 25. Brad Bullock 30. Liam Watts 31. Will Jubb

Match Officials
Referees: Ryan Cox;Sideline Officials: Reece Schofield, Tyler Topping-Higson;

HEAD TO HEAD
First meeting

Halifax Panthers v London Broncos
Sun March 8 2026, 3:00pm at The Shay Stadium, Halifax

Team list not yet announced.

1. Morea Morea 5. Liam Tindall 6. Connor O'Beirne 9. Sam Davis 10. Emarly Bitugane 11. Luke Smith 12. Jack Croft 13. Siliva Havili 14. Finley Glare 15. Sadiq Adebiyi 16. Epel Kapinias 17. Marcus Stock 18. Jimmy Meadows 19. Ben Hursey 20. Brandon Webster-Mansfield 21. Will Lovell 22. Alex Walker 23. Gairo Voro 26. Neil Tchamambe 27. Ted Davidson 99. Tommy Porter

Match Officials
Referees: Scott Mikalauskas;Sideline Officials: Liam Breheny, Thomas Gibbs;

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 1985
Played 46, Halifax 23, London 21, two draws
Last met: 2025 Championship, Round 16 - London 20-14 at Kufflink

North Wales Crusaders v Batley Bulldogs
Sun March 8 2026, 3:00pm at Stadiwm Eirias, Colwyn Bay

1. Lloyd Roby 3. Jayden Hatton 4. Jake Spedding 5. Luke Forber 6. Declan Patton 7. Jordy Gibson 9. Josh Eaves 10. Chris Barratt 12. Cole Oakley 13. Pat Moran 14. Joe Baldwin 15. Mark Ioane 17. Ashton Robinson 18. Junior Westwood 20. Thomas Bridge 22. Jake Nottingham 23. Greg Eden 25. Brad England 19. Danny Addy 26. Patrick Ah Van 99. Huw Worthington

1. Robbie Butterworth 2. Joe Burton 3. Oli Greensmith 4. Wesley Bruines 6. Ben Reynolds 7. Josh Woods 9. Alistair Leak 11. Dane Manning 13. Robson Stevens 14. Ben White 15. Nyle Flynn 16. Michael Ward 17. Liam Kirk 18. Evan Hodgson 19. Jonah Parsons 20. Jack Hudson 22. Jay Scriven 23. Felix Ellis 25. Derrell Olpherts 26. Akim Matvejev 27. Ronan Dixon

Match Officials
Referees: Matt Lynn;Sideline Officials: Alan Billington, Josh Pemberton;

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 2014
Played 2, Batley 2, North Wales 0
Last met: 2014 Second Division, Round 16 - Batley 55-12 at Mount Pleasant

Rochdale Hornets v Sheffield Eagles
Sun March 8 2026, 3:00pm at Crown Oil Arena, Rochdale

1. Max Flanagan 2. Dan Nixon 3. Tom Ashton 4. Junior Sa'u 6. Jamie Dallimore 8. Jaden Dayes 9. Ross Whitmore 10. Lewis Hatton 12. Ethan Wood 13. Jordan Syme 17. Dylan Kelly-Duffy 18. Danny Lynch 19. Luke Waterworth 20. Joe Hickey 21. TJ Boyd 22. Jack Holmes 24. Ben Metcalfe 25. Jack Hansen 28. Kieran Taylor 35. Isaac Reid 99. Charlie Mckier

1. Matty Marsh 2. Joe Brown 3. Josh Hodson 5. Billy Walkley 6. Kai Morgan 7. Jordan Lilley 9. Corey Johnson 10. Martyn Reilly 11. Connor Bower 12. Joel Farrell 13. Jack Bussey 14. Reiss Butterworth 15. George Griffin 16. Blake Broadbent 17. Harry Bowes 18. Lennie Ellis 19. Will Oakes 20. Lewis Peachey 21. Ryan Millar 22. Masi Matongo 23. Alex Foster

Match Officials
Referees: Kevin Moore;Sideline Officials: Jamie Callaghan, Ollie Maddock;

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 1984
Played 29, Sheffield 19, Rochdale 10
Last met: 2019 Second Division, Round 18 - Sheffield 46-24 at Olympic Legacy Park

Swinton Lions v Newcastle Thunder
Sun March 8 2026, 3:00pm at Morson Stadium, Sale

1. Louie Roberts 2. Connor Parkinson 4. Aaron Lynch 5. Harry Higham 8. Samy Kibula 9. George Roby 10. Ben Killan 11. Gav Rodden 12. Aaron Willis 15. Jamie Reddecliff 17. Trent Kelly-Duffy 18. Bobby Shingler 20. Adam Jones 21. Tom Ratchford 26. Charlie Mccurrie 27. Lucas Coan 31. Finlay Irwin 33. Alfie Sinclair 97. Deacon Connolly 98. Jack Purtill 99. Luca Walsh

2. Andy Djeukessi 3. Joe Law 5. Brad Ward 6. Cody Hunter 7. Will Roberts 9. Taylor Pemberton 11. Harvey Reynolds 12. Noah Whittingham 13. Sam Cook 15. Brenden Santi 16. Leo Tennison 18. Ukuma Ta'ai 19. Jack Brown 22. John Sagaga 24. Matty Foster 25. Jack Smith 27. Jordan Lipp 28. Tyler Walton 29. Sean Croston 30. Tom Inman

Match Officials
Referees: Aaryn Belafonte;Sideline Officials: Liam O'Brien, Simeon Quarmby;

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 2001
Played 31, Swinton 23, Newcastle 8
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 15 - Swinton 52-10 at Heywood Rd

Whitehaven RLFC v Midlands Hurricanes
Sun March 8 2026, 3:00pm at The Ortus REC, Whitehaven

2. Mitchell Todd 4. Ethan Bickerdike 5. Jay Weatherill 6. Ciaran Walker 7. Jack Newbegin 9. Ellison Holgate 10. Jordan Thomson 11. Connor Holliday 12. Rio McQuistan 13. Jack Kellett 15. Ellis Nixon 16. Brad Brennan 18. Cole Taylor-walker 19. Dave Eccleston 21. Joe Lowe 23. Ben Pearce 24. Lewis Brown 28. Seth Woodend 32. Liam Williamson 35. Jackson Smith

1. Todd Horner 2. Matty Chrimes 5. Luis Roberts 7. Lewis Else 8. Jon Luke Kirby 9. Aiden Roden 10. Tyler Dickinson 11. Tom Wilkinson 13. Mikey Wood 14. Brandon Moore 16. Zeus Silk 17. Kieran Moran 18. Owen Restall 19. Sully Medforth 20. Toby Warren 23. Aidan McGowan 24. Sam Bowring 26. Ethan Newboult 27. Louis Beattie 28. Isaac Shaw 29. Morgan Punchard

Match Officials
Referees: Luke Bland;Sideline Officials: Matty Clayton, Lucas Seal;

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 2017
Played 8, Whitehaven 6, Midlands 2
Last met: 2025 Third Division, Round 19 - Whitehaven 26-16 at Ortus REC

Widnes Vikings v Hunslet RLFC
Sun March 8 2026, 3:00pm at DCBL Stadium, Widnes

1. Matty Fleming 2. Mike Butt 3. Jack Owens 5. Ryan Ince 6. Joe Lyons 7. Tom Gilmore 8. Dan Murray 9. Jordan Johnstone 12. Max Roberts 13. Nick Gregson 14. Matty Fozard 15. Lewis Hall 16. Danny Langtree 18. Morgan McWhirter 19. Adam Lawton 20. Jack Bibby 21. Jay Chapelhow 22. Jordan Abdull 23. Nathan Connell 38. Jack Houghton 29. Jumah Sambou

1. Billy Jowitt 3. Myles Dalton-Harrop 6. Lee Gaskell 7. Dan Abram 8. Harvey Hallas 11. Harrison Gilmore 12. Darcy Simpson 13. Eddie Battye 14. Cameron Berry 15. Emmerson Whittel 16. Elijah Simpson 18. Jimmy Watson 19. Mason Corbett 20. Liam Carr 21. Mackenzie Turner 27. Charlie Graham 95. Bureta Faraimo 96. Ben Littlewood 97. Presley Cassell 98. Matty Laidlaw 99. Tom Nicholson-Watton

Match Officials
Referees: Tara Jones;Sideline Officials: Peter Brooke, Paul Marklove;

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 1896
Played 76, Widnes 42, Hunslet 31, three draws
Last met: 2025 Second Division, Round 24 - Widnes 40-12 at DCBL

Workington Town v Salford RLFC
Sun March 8 2026, 3:00pm at Derwent Park, Workington

1. Zarrin Galea 3. Rio Corkill 5. Alex Donaghy 6. Jake Carter 8. Ross Ainley 10. Steve Scholey 11. Mason Lewthwaite 12. Jake Bradley 14. Callum Phillips 15. Callum Farrer 16. Guy Graham 17. Lucas Castle 18. Jude Lupton 19. Spencer Fulton 21. Evan Lawther 22. Delaine Gittens-Bedward 23. Tobias Gibson 24. Grant Reid 25. Bear Williams 26. Tuarae Rawhiti 29. Jack Dickinson

2. Sam Hill 9. Brad Dwyer 12. Oliver Garmston 14. Finley Yates 18. Rafael Van Osselaer 20. Joe Hartley 26. Reece Stanton 27. Matt Ross 29. Toby Hughes 38. Owen Haldenby 21. Jack Gatcliffe 41. Cole Appleby 42. Shaun Costello 43. Damola Lowo 93. Dayon Sambou 94. Lukas Mason 95. George O'loughlin 96. Agnatius Paasi 97. Harvey Braddish 98. Jonny Vaughan 99. Jenson Windley

Match Officials
Referees: Milo McKelvey;Sideline Officials: Craig Regan, Jordan Hughes;

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 1945
Played 87, Workington 48, Salford 37, two draws
Last met: 1994/95 English Championship, Round 30 - Salford 46-16 at The Willows