RFL confirms February start for Betfred Championship - League One to kick-off in March

The RFL today (Wednesday) confirmed its preferred structure for the lower divisions, along with a new format for the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.

The Championship and League One tables will be decided on win percentage, the system used in Super League this year.

The announcement follows an online meeting between clubs last Friday.

Clubs in the second and their tiers have not played since the 2020 season was abandoned in March due to coronavirus.

“While agreeing on the need to maintain flexibility given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, all recognised the importance of providing players and supporters with a clear plan,” a statement from the governing body said.

Clubs have already agreed any games played behind closed doors will be streamed live on the RFL’s Our League platforms on a pay per view basis, with home season ticket holders given free access for their club’s league matches.

The opening Championship round will be followed by the first two rounds of the Challenge Cup on the opening two weekends of March.

The 10 League One clubs will enter in round one, along with Championship sides Dewsbury Rams, Oldham, Whitehaven and Newcastle Thunder, based on the 2019 league table.

The seven winners will join the other nine English Championship clubs in the Second Round the following week.

Toulouse Olympique will not compete in next year’s Challenge Cup.

Four third round ties will be played two weeks later and the 12 Betfred Super League clubs join the competition at the last-16 stage, in April.

The four lower division clubs who reach the fourth round of the Challenge Cup will also qualify for the semi-finals of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.

Those ties are due to be played on the same weekend as the Challenge Cup semi-finals, in June, with both finals at Wembley on Saturday, July 17.

The RFL statement confirmed: “The late February start will allow a 26-round campaign in the Betfred Championship, meaning each of the 14 clubs will be scheduled to play the other 13 home and away - leading to a play-off for the top six teams and the Million Pound Game in October.”

Full details of the league campaign - including whether the Summer Bash will take place - are due to be revealed next month.

Betfred League One is due to kick-off on March 20-21 and will be an 18-round competition, with each of the 10 clubs playing the other nine home and away.

Details of the play-offs, and of promotion and relegation will also be confirmed in the new year.

The RFL added: “It has also been agreed the league table in each competition will be determined on a points percentage system, as with Betfred Super League in 2020, in recognition of the likelihood of Covid-19 remaining a factor.

“Full details of this will be finalised in the new year, along with the testing procedures for clubs."

February 27-28 - Betfred Championship round one.

March 6-7 - Challenge Cup round one.

March 13-14 - Challenge Cup round two.

March 20-21 - Betfred League One, round one.

March 27-28 - Challenge Cup, round three.

April 9-11 - Challenge Cup, round four (Betfred Super League clubs enter).

June 5-6 - Challenge Cup and AB Sundecks 1895 Cup semi-finals.

Saturday, July 17 - Challenge Cup final and AB Sundecks 1895 Cup final (at Wembley).