The Betfred Championship returns following a week off for the Betfred Challenge Cup!
Saturday is where we get started with two fixtures taking place at the opposite ends of the country.
Goole Vikings, who will be on a high after reaching the Betfred Challenge Cup Fourth Round for the first time in their history, will welcome Midlands Hurricanes to Victoria Pleasure Ground.
Their most recent encounter was a thrilling nail-biter back in June last year, with a late Reece Dean drop goal snatching victory for the Vikings.
Then, at the same time on Saturday, North Wales Crusaders are in action at Colwyn Bay and play hosts to Swinton Lions.
The Lions have won all five of their previous away meetings with the Crusaders.
There are six ties on Sunday afternoon. Who will get their first win of the new season when Salford meet Hunslet?
Meanwhile, a thrilling contest is predicted to unravel when Batley Bulldogs face Doncaster at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium.
The Dons currently have the upper hand, having beaten their opponents comfortably with 42-16 and 12-50 score-lines last season.
Will there be a turn in the tide on Sunday?
Two of the unbeaten sides clash in Round 3 with Newcastle Thunder welcoming Dewsbury Rams to the North East.
The Rams inflicted heavy defeats on Thunder in 2025, but with a revamped team for 2026, the hosts should be up for a real battle.
Keighley Cougars will entertain Rochdale Hornets, who are also unbeaten; before it’s double the action in Cumbria this weekend, with a Cumbrian Derby taking place between Whitehaven and Barrow Raiders.
These rivals will go head-to-head for the first time since 2024. It’s Barrow who currently top the table, but can they make it three from three?
A stone’s throw away sees Workington Town take on Widnes Vikings, and it’s a Vikings side that will take plenty of confidence from their hit-out against the Betfred Super League’s Leeds Rhinos last Saturday.
They may have fallen short, but Widnes gave a great account of themselves against a top six team, bowing out of the Challenge Cup’s Third Round valiantly.
Will they be able to produce those kinds of performances in the Championship?
Betfred Championship Round 3 fixtures:
Saturday 14 February
Goole Vikings v Midlands Hurricanes
North Wales Crusaders v Swinton Lions
Sunday 15 February
Salford RLFC v Hunslet RLFC
Batley Bulldogs v Doncaster RLFC
Newcastle Thunder v Dewsbury Rams
Rochdale Hornets v Keighley Cougars
Whitehaven RLFC v Barrow Raiders
Workington Town v Widnes Vikings
Don’t forget you can make your Betfred Championship predictions on the Rugby League website here or in the Our League app. Download Our League on iOS or on Android and start playing the Championship Predictor Game today!
The Betfred Championship’s full fixture list can be found here.
