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The groups are confirmed for the inaugural 2026 NCRL Championship and Shield Cross Conference Play Offs - the first time these two national titles have ever been contested. And the action starts from Saturday.
With clubs drawn from Cumbria, the North West and Yorkshire, many of these teams haven’t met - and don’t often get the opportunity - which gives the whole competition a fresh edge.
Thirty four clubs will collide across the two competitions, bringing together unfamiliar opponents, contrasting regional styles and fixtures that simply don’t happen during the regular season.
League records offer a guide, but comparisons across conferences are never exact - and that uncertainty is part of the appeal.
Championship Competition
This is the first year the NCRL Championship has been played for, adding an extra layer of intrigue to a format already designed to test teams in new ways.
Sixteen clubs, four groups, three games each. The top two progress.
Group A
Orrell St James, Hensingham, Moldgreen, Fryston Warriors
Group A looks extremely competitive.
Orrell St James lost only twice while finishing top of the North West, but Hensingham present an equally serious challenge after winning 13 matches in Cumbria.
Moldgreen recorded 11 victories in Yorkshire A, while Fryston Warriors lost only five times and finished with a points difference of +219.
Orrell and Hensingham may begin as slight favourites, but all four clubs will believe they can qualify.
Group B
Dalton, Mirfield Spartans, Newsome Panthers, Blackbrook
Group B has a strong claim to being the Championship’s toughest section.
Dalton produced an outstanding Cumbrian campaign, winning 17 of their 18 matches and scoring 785 points.
Newsome Panthers also arrive in excellent form after collecting 14 victories in Yorkshire B, while Mirfield Spartans lost only three league games.
Blackbrook may begin as outsiders, but nine North West victories demonstrate that they are capable of upsetting the leading contenders.
Dalton’s record makes them the team to beat, although there appears to be very little separating Newsome and Mirfield.
Group C
Keighley Albion, Skirlaugh, Saddleworth Rangers, Distington
Two powerful Yorkshire clubs headline Group C.
Keighley Albion topped Yorkshire A with 14 victories and an impressive points difference of +410. Skirlaugh recorded 15 wins and suffered only three defeats in Yorkshire B.
Distington should not be overlooked after winning 11 matches in Cumbria, while Saddleworth Rangers finished third in the North West.
Keighley and Skirlaugh may carry the favourites’ tag, but Distington and Saddleworth are capable of making qualification difficult to predict.
Group D
Featherstone Lions, Ince Rose Bridge, Barrow Island, Thornhill Trojans
Featherstone Lions possess one of the strongest records in the competition, having won 15 matches and lost only twice on their way to the Yorkshire B title.
However, Ince Rose Bridge won 11 times in the North West, while Barrow Island recorded 12 Cumbrian victories and a +232 points difference.
Thornhill Trojans also finished with a positive points difference in Yorkshire A and could have a major influence on the group.
Featherstone are the early favourites, but Ince and Barrow Island appear well equipped to challenge them.
Shield Competition
This is also the first year the NCRL Shield has been played for, giving 18 more clubs a chance to compete for national silverware.
Groups B, D, E and F contain three teams, with each club playing once at home and once away. Groups A, C and G are two-team groups, with the clubs playing each other home and away.
The seven group winners and the best-performing runner-up will advance to the quarter-finals and so on.
Group A
Crosfields, Ellenborough
Crosfields and Ellenborough will meet home and away for a place in the knockout stage.
Crosfields finished highest in their regional table, but Ellenborough’s eight victories and positive points difference suggest this could be a closely contested series.
Group B
Ashton Bears, King Cross Park, Hull Dockers
Ashton Bears and King Cross Park appear closely matched after recording six and seven league victories respectively.
Hull Dockers begin as outsiders following a challenging season, but the short group format means one strong performance could transform their prospects.
Group C
Maryport, Clock Face Miners
Maryport and Clock Face Miners will meet home and away for a place in the knockout stage.
Maryport will begin as likely favourites after finishing fifth in Cumbria with nine wins, while Clock Face Miners collected six victories in the North West competition.
Maryport hold the advantage on paper, but there will be little room for error across the two meetings.
Group D
Milford, Leigh East, Beverley
Group D may be the most difficult Shield section to predict.
Milford finished with a positive points difference, Beverley recorded eight victories from 17 matches and Leigh East demonstrated an ability to stay competitive in close games.
Each club has a realistic case for finishing top.
Group E
Bradford Dudley Hill, Kippax Welfare, Seaton Rangers
Bradford Dudley Hill arrive with the strongest league record after winning eight matches and finishing with a positive points difference in Yorkshire A.
Kippax Welfare and Seaton Rangers both recorded five victories and will see the Shield as an opportunity to finish their seasons positively.
Bradford appear to hold the early advantage, although one away result could change the group completely.
Group F
Myton Warriors, Bentley, Woolston Rovers
Myton Warriors finished highest of the three clubs, but Bentley’s points difference of –7 shows how competitive they were throughout the Yorkshire B season.
Woolston Rovers enter as outsiders, although four North West victories demonstrate that they remain capable of causing problems.
Myton may have a slight edge, but this group could be settled by very small margins.
Group G
Millom, Drighlington
Millom and Drighlington will meet home and away for a place in the knockout stage.
Millom won eight matches and finished with an excellent points difference of +138, giving them one of the strongest statistical records in the Shield.
Drighlington recorded five wins and a draw in Yorkshire A and will have the opportunity to respond quickly after the opening meeting.
The Road to Odsal
The group stages take place across 5, 12 and 19 September, followed by the quarter-finals on 26 September.
The Championship semi-finals will be held at Victoria Park, Warrington, on 10 October, while Pilkington Recs hosts the Shield semi-finals on the same day.
Both competitions conclude at Odsal Stadium on Saturday 17 October. The Shield Final kicks off at 12pm, followed by the Championship Final at 3pm.
Some groups appear to have clear favourites, while others look almost impossible to call. Once the action begins, previous league positions will count for little.
Every club starts with a fresh opportunity, and a route to Odsal.
Click here to view the upcoming Play-Off fixtures.
