The Betfred Championship is back – and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever! 2024 will see a star-studded second tier - and as a league that has only been growing stronger over recent years – could we see one of the most exciting and competitive seasons yet?
And the opening round will kick off with a bang as there’s two blockbuster clashes taking place on Friday night – Championship heavyweights Sheffield Eagles and Toulouse Olympique go head-to-head at Olympic Legacy Park, before there's a battle at Belle Vue (DIY Kitchens Stadium) between local rivals Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls, in another area of Yorkshire.
Sheffield Eagles v Toulouse Olympique - Friday 15 March (K.O. 19:30)
It was one a piece last year between Sheffield and Toulouse, as they both inflicted heavy defeats on one another on their home patches – and the two sides will be hoping to reiterate their top six success in 2023.
Sheffield have already proved they are a force to be reckoned with in 2024, having enjoyed successful spells in both cup competitions – Mark Aston’s men have reached the semi-finals of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup and recently earned a place in the Sixth Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup where they will face Super League opposition. Their reliable halves Cory Aston and Anthony Thackeray will be ones to watch on Friday night, as well as their flying winger Ben Jones-Bishop.
And it’s a return to action for French side Toulouse Olympique, who will be raring to go in their first competitive match of 2024, which is set to be a thrilling contest. They have kept under the radar working hard during their pre-season training in France - as they aim to be strong competitors once again.
Head coach Sylvain Houles has named his three new recruits in side - Paul Ulberg, Ryan Rivett and James Roumanos, as they shake up their spine for 2024. Keep an eye out for Toulouse’s Mathieu Jussaume too – he's a try-scorer in Toulouse's last three meetings with the Eagles, as well as Guy Armitage who contributed 21 tries to the side last year!
Wakefield Trinity v Bradford Bulls - Friday 15 March (K.O. 20.00)
Over in West Yorkshire, there will be no love lost between fierce rivals Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls – they last met in the Challenge Cup in 2020, but it will be the sides’ first league meeting since the scintillating Million Pound Game in 2015.
Wakefield, who will play in the Championship for the first time since 1998, will be aiming for a strong start and to be a top side in the second tier - as they enter a new era. Since their takeover, Trinity have made eleven new signings ahead of the 2024 campaign including the likes of Super League stalwart Jermaine McGillvary, New Zealand's Isaiah Vagana, as well as the Championship’s top try-scorer and former Halifax winger Lachlan Walmsley - who racked up an impressive 36 tries last year.
Likewise, Bradford will look to compete at the high end of the table and will undoubtedly be out to seek revenge for the heartbreak Trinity caused all those years ago. They stick with majority of the same squad but have a dangerous half-back pairing in Jordan Lilley and Lee Gaskell – and are boosted by the signing of former Featherstone powerhouse John Davies, who could be a key man for the Bulls this year.
Both teams are under the guidance of new head coaches in Daryl Powell and Eamon O’Carroll respectively and have already secured their semi-final spots in the 1895 Cup - where they are set to face each other once again in early May.
Hoping to continue this momentum into the opening game, this Round 1 fixture promises to be an unmissable clash – and has been recently confirmed as a sold out event.
Batley Bulldogs v Featherstone Rovers - Sunday 17 March (K.O. 15:00)
There are three attractive-looking derby fixtures on Sunday to kick-start the campaign, as Batley Bulldogs entertain Featherstone Rovers on home soil. The sides have met once already this year in the 1895 Cup, in which Batley won in 15-14 in dramatic fashion – so expect another close contest.
Where the league is concerned, there is little to separate the two teams in their meetings of recent years. The Rovers finished top of the Championship in 2023 but were unable to capitalise in the Play-Offs, whereas the Bulldogs agonisingly missed out on a Play-Off place through points difference.
Both sides will look to right any wrongs of last year and will hope to register their first two points of the campaign this weekend.
This year, Batley will be without playmaker James Meadows who took up the opportunity to play Super League in the capital with London Broncos, as well as Aidan McGowan, an integral full-back for the Bulldogs last year who is currently spending a season-long loan with Bradford. Featherstone have also lost a substantial amount of players in the off season, but this hasn’t stopped them thus far – for they recently beat Wakefield Trinity in the Fifth Round of the Challenge Cup, in what was a spirited and collective team effort.
Again, there has been another coaching shuffle since 2023 – James Ford is now at the helm for Featherstone and Mark Moxon takes the reigns at Batley, following Craig Lingard’s exit to take up a coaching opportunity with Super League’s Castleford Tigers. But who will come out on top on Sunday? It's a hard one to call!
Dewsbury Rams v Halifax Panthers - Sunday 17 March (K.O. 15:00)
Dale Ferguson’s Dewsbury Rams have a tough test in their opening match, as they welcome a reunion with returning Liam Finn and his Halifax Panthers at the FLAIR Stadium. The Rams secured automatic promotion back to the Betfred Championship in mid-2023 following a successful season in League One, winning 15 out of 18 matches – under the guidance of Liam Finn and a remarkable turnaround.
With mission accomplished, Finn made the decision to switch to coaching his hometown club Halifax, a club who have recruited strongly for 2024 – including two high-profile recruits in Gareth Widdop and Greg Eden. Widdop, a former NRL Champion and England star, will bring a wealth of experience to his boyhood club and will be afforded the freedom to play off-the-cuff rugby league – something which should certainly light up the Championship this season. Likewise, Eden has the ability to cause trouble for his opponents, with his fiery pace and ability to score points on the edge, which the Rams will need to watch out for if he is selected to play this weekend.
The Rams have kept most of their existing squad from last year - a good mix of experience and youth, and have retained the services of veteran leader Paul Sykes, who enters his 26th season of playing professional rugby league.
It is indeed the Panthers who hold a better winning record between the two sides – they are undefeated in their last eight visits to Dewsbury – the Rams’ last home victory being in 2014. Halifax will look to continue this strong winning run, but will they take the two points on Sunday?
Doncaster RLFC v York Knights - Sunday 17 March (K.O. 15:00)
It’s predicted to be another great opening spectacle when newly-promoted Doncaster play hosts to last year’s Play-Off contenders York Knights in Round 1. The Dons won League One’s Grand Final when they beat North Wales Crusaders 18-6 - earning their place in the second tier for 2024.
The teams have recruited well ahead of the new season, with a number of notable names in both squads.
Doncaster have signed the likes of Alex Sutcliffe, Craig Hall, Reece Lyne, and powerhouse Pauli Pauli - who will all undoubtedly strengthen their existing squad and bring some much-needed experience to the team as they look to compete in the Championship.
Similarly, York have landed general Richie Myler – a former Super League sensation, and someone who is no stranger when it comes to competing in finals. His leadership and ability to organise a team, as well as create chances for players on the outside, means he could prove to be a valuable asset for York. As could Will Dagger - a man who was pivotal in Wakefield Trinity's side last season, before he made the switch to York for 2024. Tom Lineham will also link up with the Knights, as they club recently secured his services on a one-year-deal.
The two sides haven’t met since 2018, in which the Knights triumphed 31-16. But with freshly faced outfits, who will come out on top in 2024?
Widnes Vikings v Barrow Raiders - Sunday 17 March (15:00)
Meanwhile, Allan Coleman’s Widnes Vikings will host Cumbrian side Barrow Raiders at the DCBL Stadium for their Championship opener. The sides have had close affairs in recent years but will both be determined to build on last season’s league finishes – the Vikings finished 9th – four points away from a Play-Off place, and Barrow 11th – just one point above the drop.
Last time out, the Vikings capitalised a home soil with a 23-14 victory over the Raiders, but come the reverse leg in Round 15, Barrow would enact revenge with a 26-18 win.
As both sides aim to be better in 2024, we should expect a tight encounter over in Widnes this weekend. This match is also significant for another reason as both Widnes, Barrow and the RFL match officials will wear odds socks for World Down Syndrome Day - read more about this here.
Whitehaven RLFC v Swinton Lions – Sunday 17 March (K.O. 15:00)
The final fixture of Round 1 then sees Whitehaven, another representative of Cumbria, face Swinton Lions on their home turf.
Haven triumphed at home last year against the visiting Lions before Swinton went on to clinch a win in the later fixture, the result ending 21-20. Both sides flirted with relegation last season, finishing 10th and 11th respectively – Whitehaven surviving on points difference alone.
Alan Kilshaw takes charge as the boss over at Swinton, following Allan Coleman's exit to Widnes, but will the Lions improve on last year’s campaign - or can home advantage work in Whitehaven's favour once again in this opening round?
A Betfred League One Round 1 Preview can be found here.
The Betfred Championship and Betfred League One competitions make their long-awaited returns this weekend - the full fixture lists can be found here.
