2026 Betfred Championship Playoff Structure Details

30/08/2026

Ahead of the start of the upcoming Betfred Championship Playoffs, here is a reminder of how the new 10-team Play Off structure format will work.

Using an extended and amended version of the McIntyre system, it will see four weekends of Play Off action, culminating in the Championship Grand Final, which will be played on the weekend of 3rd/4th October.

Please find below the information on how the playoff system will work.

Week 1 - 5/6 September

London Broncos (1st) / Newcastle Thunder (2nd ) – through to Week 2

Qualifying Semi Final: Oldham RLFC (3rd) vs Widnes Vikings (5th)

Qualifying Semi Final 2: Doncaster RLFC (4th) vs Barrow Raiders (6th)

Eliminator 1: Sheffield Eagles (7th) vs Batley Bulldogs (10th)

Eliminator 2: Midlands Hurricanes (8th) vs Whitehaven RLFC (9th)

Week 2 - 12/13 September

Qualifying Final 1: London Broncos (1st) v Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners

Qualifying Final 2: Newcastle Thunder (2nd) 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 - 19/20 September

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 - 26/27 September

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 - 3/4 October

Grand Final: Highest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals