Brian Noble’s second stint as head coach of Bradford Bulls will start with a house recreation in opposition to London Broncos in Spherical One of many 2025 Betfred Championship, whereas Oldham and Hunslet every have engaging residence openers following their promotion from Betfred League One.
Oldham will host Mark Applegarth’s York Knights at Boundary Park in Spherical One on Sunday February 16, whereas Hunslet kick off at Barrow Raiders earlier than they welcome the Bulls to the South Leeds Stadium in Spherical Two on February 23.
The Championship has been diminished to 13 groups in 2025 as a part of the method of manufacturing three 12-team divisions from 2026, which suggests every staff will play 24 fixtures unfold over 26 rounds from February to September.
The season kicks off with a stand-alone match in France on Saturday February 15 as Toulouse Olympique host Widnes Vikings, whereas Featherstone Rovers will probably be London’s first guests to the Cherry Pink Data Stadium in Wimbledon in Spherical Two.
The champions will once more be decided by a high six Play-Off collection, culminating within the Betfred Championship Grand Last on the weekend of October 5 – on the residence floor of the higher-ranked membership.
Goole Vikings, the newcomers to the skilled pyramid in 2025, launch their debut Betfred League One marketing campaign with three consecutive residence fixtures in opposition to Midlands Hurricanes, Dewsbury Rams and North Wales Crusaders, earlier than work commences on a £7m redevelopment of the Victoria Pleasure Floor, their residence stadium.
There’s a contemporary look to League One subsequent yr as Goole are considered one of 4 new golf equipment within the competitors, with Dewsbury, Swinton Lions and Whitehaven dropping from the Championship to provide an 11-team league.
Swinton will host Whitehaven in Spherical One on February 23 whereas two extra groups who will hope to be within the promotion reckoning after going shut in 2024, Rochdale Hornets and Keighley Cougars, meet on the Crown Oil Stadium.
Dewsbury start their marketing campaign at residence to North Wales Crusaders and Cornwall will open their fourth League One season by making the 900-mile spherical journey to face Workington City.
Workington may even have residence benefit for the return of the West Cumbrian derby in opposition to Whitehaven on Good Friday (April 18), when the Betfred Championship programme contains Halifax Panthers internet hosting Bradford, the South Yorkshire derby between Sheffield Eagles and Doncaster, and Widnes versus Oldham.
Promotion and relegation between the Championship and League One will probably be decided by a “Tremendous Eight” competitors together with the underside 4 groups from the Championship, and the highest 4 from League One.
Every of the eight groups concerned will play the 4 groups from the opposite competitors – two at residence, two away – over 4 weekends from September 21 to October 12, with the highest two within the closing desk securing locations within the 2026 Betfred Championship, and the underside 4 confirmed to play in Betfred League One.
The groups ending third and fourth within the Tremendous Eight desk will play off for the twelfth and final place within the 2026 Betfred Championship on the residence floor of the third positioned staff on the weekend of October 19.
Particulars of the construction of the 1895 Cup will probably be confirmed quickly.
Betfred Championship Spherical One:
Saturday February 15: Toulouse Olympique v Widnes Vikings.
Sunday February 16: Barrow Raiders v Hunslet, Bradford Bulls v London Broncos, Featherstone Rovers v Doncaster, Oldham v York Knights, Sheffield Eagles v Halifax Panthers.
Betfred League One Spherical One:
Sunday February 23: Cornwall v Workington City, Dewsbury Rams v North Wales Crusaders, Goole Vikings v Midlands Hurricanes, Rochdale Hornets v Keighley Cougars, Swinton Lions v Whitehaven.
Different key dates
January 25-26 – Betfred Problem Cup Second Spherical (Championship and League One golf equipment enter)
February 8-9 – Betfred Problem Cup Third Spherical (Tremendous League golf equipment enter)
March 15-16 – Betfred Problem Cup Fourth Spherical (no Championship or League One fixtures)
September 20-21 – Betfred Championship Elimination Play-Offs; first spherical of Tremendous Eights
September 27-28 – Betfred Championship Semi Finals; second spherical of Tremendous Eights
October 4-5 – Betfred Championship Grand Last; third spherical of Tremendous Eights
October 11-12 – Fourth spherical of Tremendous Eights
October 18-19 – Tremendous Eights third v 4th Play-Off