As some teams gear up for the Play-Offs, others play their last game of 2025. Final league standings will be determined this weekend, and the League Leaders’ Shield winners will be crowned…
The final round of the regular Betfred Championship is just around the corner, and here’s what you can expect this weekend!
The League Leaders’ Shield winners will be crowned, and the final league standings will also be determined ahead of the Play-Off campaign…
On Saturday, Toulouse travel to face Hunslet, a side they beat 50-6 back in March this year.
The French side may be clear favourites heading into this one, but nevertheless it’s a must-win game for the visitors, who have Bradford breathing down their necks in the fight for second spot.
A win for Sylvain Houles’ men guarantees them second place and a home Semi-Final.
But as already mentioned, right behind them are Brian Noble’s Bradford Bulls, who will come out all guns blazing when they play hosts to Featherstone on Sunday.
The Bulls will be relying on Toulouse to slip-up in their final fixture as this would be the only way to overtake them.
They would also have to beat the Rovers, who are in just as much fine form as themselves.
And Paul Cooke’s side need the win for their own reasons, with fifth spot theirs to lose.
Halifax Panthers are currently chasing them down for that position and are just one point behind their Play-Off rivals in the table.
But Fev will no doubt want to maintain the position they have occupied for weeks and gather some vital momentum heading into the Eliminators.
With what’s at stake, there’s set to be a blockbuster West Yorkshire Derby on the cards!
Whoever finishes third between Toulouse and Bradford, alongside with Oldham, will have a home Eliminator in the Play-Offs and face the team in sixth next week.
Fourth-place Oldham will play the team in fifth.
Also on Sunday, Halifax are away at Doncaster. They are the only team who can catch Fev in fifth, but to do so they must win, and hope that the Rovers lose.
The Panthers failed to win against the Dons last time out and fell to a 6-30 defeat at The Shay in Round 10.
This was during their mid-season blip, however, and Kyle Eastmond’s players have improved massively since then.
Then, it’s looking like party time at the LNER Community Stadium when York Knights face Batley Bulldogs.
The Knights are on the brink of being crowned 2025 League Leaders’ Shield winners, who would be more than worthy.
They aim to do this in style in front of their home crowd as they look to achieve mind-blowing seventeenth straight league win.
Will the celebrations be in full swing for Mark Applegarth’s men?
York and either Toulouse or Bradford will play their final regular game this weekend, before having a week out while the Eliminators take place.
They will then host the winners of the Semi-Finals.
Elsewhere, Sheffield will end their 2025 season at home to Barrow, and Widnes will face London. All four sides will be hoping to end their season on a positive note, despite missing out on the Play-Offs.
Betfred Championship Round 26 fixtures:
Hunslet v Toulouse Olympique
Bradford Bulls v Featherstone Rovers
Doncaster v Halifax Panthers
York Knights v Batley Bulldogs
Sheffield Eagles v Barrow Raiders
Widnes Vikings v London Broncos
2025 Betfred Championship Play-Offs explained:
Week 1 - Eliminators
Eliminator 1 - 3rd vs 6th
Eliminator 2 - 4th vs 5th
Week 2 – Semi-Finals
Semi-Final 1 - 1st vs lowest ranked winner from Eliminators
Semi-Final 2 - 2nd vs highest ranked winner from Eliminators
Betfred Championship Grand Final
Semi-Final 1 winner v Semi-Final 2 winner
Make sure you're playing the Betfred Championship Predictor Game in 2025 – join in the fun on the Rugby League website here or in the Our League app now!
Download the Our League app on iOS or on Android.
The final round fixture list for the Betfred Championship can be found here.
