Betfred Championship
CLUBS:
Barrow Raiders
Batley Bulldogs
Dewsbury Rams
Doncaster RLFC
Goole Vikings
Halifax Panthers
Hunslet RLFC
Keighley Cougars
London Broncos
Midlands Hurricanes
Newcastle Thunder
North Wales Crusaders
Oldham RLFC
Rochdale Hornets
Salford RLFC
Sheffield Eagles
Swinton Lions
Whitehaven RLFC
Widnes Vikings
Workington Town
WHAT IS THE BETFRED CHAMPIONSHIP?
The Betfred Championship is the second highest division of rugby league in Britain.
The league consists of 19 teams, and the winner is determined through a Play-Off system.
HOW DOES THE BETFRED CHAMPIONSHIP WORK?
The 2026 league runs from January to October.
Some of the regular round fixtures have been determined by league positions from the 2025 season, whilst some opponents whave been based on geographical location to ensure clubs get to play against their local rivals.
A new four week 10-team play-off format is used at the end of the year to determine the teams for the Grand Final, which will be on the weekend of October 3-4.
PLAY-OFF FORMAT:
A10-team Play Off structure format has been confirmed for the Betfred Championship:
Week 1
Teams 1st & 2nd bye – through to Week 2
Qualifying Semi Final 1 – 3rd v 5th
Qualifying Semi Final 2 – 4th v 6th
Eliminator 1 – 7th v 10th
Eliminator 2 – 8th v 9th
Week 2
Qualifying Final 1 – 1 v Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners
Qualifying Final 2 – 2 v Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners
Elimination Final 1 - Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Lowest Ranked Eliminator Winners
Elimination Final 2 - Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Highest Ranked Eliminator Winners
Week 3
Winners of Qualifying Final 1 & 2 – through to home semi finals
Sudden Death Play Off 1 – Highest Ranked Loser of Qualifying Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Elimination Finals
Sudden Death Play Off 2 – Lowest Ranked Loser of Qualifying Finals v Highest Ranked Winner of Elimination Finals
Week 4
Preliminary Final 1 – Highest Ranked Qualifying Final Winners v Lowest Ranked Sudden Death Play Off Winners
Preliminary Final 2 – Lowest Ranked Qualifying Final Winners v Highest Ranked Sudden Death Play Off Winners
Week 5
Grand Final – Highest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals
WHO ARE THE CURRENT BETFRED CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS?
The current champions are Toulouse Olympique who won the 2025 Betfred Championship Grand Final.
York Knights hold the 2025 League Leaders' Shield.
