The 2026 1895 Cup competition gets underway this weekend, with three Preliminary Round One ties taking place.
This will be the seventh instalment of the 1895 Cup where, so far, there have been six different winners of six different finals since the competition was first integrated in 2019.
Will there be another new winner in 2026?
London Broncos will get their 1895 Cup campaign underway on home soil as they welcome Barrow Raiders to the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Sunday.
It was one a piece in the league last year with Barrow winning 24-6 on Cumbrian territory, before London triumphed 18-10 in the capital.
Both teams have been high flying in the Betfred Championship, sitting in 1st and 3rd place respectively after six rounds of action.
Swinton Lions will host inaugural 1895 Cup winners Sheffield Eagles in their Preliminary tie – also happening on Sunday.
The sides played each other three times in the league and Challenge Cup competitions last year, with the Lions beating the Eagles in their most recent encounter at the Steel City Stadium, 34-22.
Sheffield have made a dream start to their 2026 league campaign, winning four matches from four, and will now be jumping at the chance to become the only club to ever win the 1895 Cup twice.
On the other hand, Swinton are still searching for their first win this season and will be hoping the 1895 Cup can be a nice distraction from their current league position.
Finally, Workington Town and Newcastle Thunder will begin their journey for a shot at some silverware – two teams shaping up very differently to how they did in 2025.
Both will enter this match feeling confident, on the back of big wins in Round 6 of the Championship.
Following the Preliminary Round this weekend, the winners will progress to Round One, joining the other Betfred Championship clubs.
1895 Cup Preliminary Round ties:
Sunday 15 March
London Broncos v Barrow Raiders
Workington Town v Newcastle Thunder
Swinton Lions v Sheffield Eagles
Round One ties:
London Broncos/Barrow Raiders v Keighley Cougars
Doncaster RLFC v Salford RLFC
Dewsbury Rams v Widnes Vikings
Goole Vikings v Whitehaven RLFC
Oldham RLFC v Hunslet RLFC
Workington Town/Newcastle Thunder v Batley Bulldogs
North Wales Crusaders v Midlands Hurricanes
Rochdale Hornets v Swinton Lions/Sheffield Eagles
Key dates for the 1895 Cup:
Preliminary Round – 14/15 March
First Round - 18/19 April
Quarter Finals – 16/17 May
Semi Finals 13/14 June
Final – 31 August, venue TBC
