2026 Opposition Insight | Whitehaven R.L.F.C
10/01/2026
By Spencer Arnold
Ahead of the start of the 2026 Betfred Championship season, which gets underway this coming Friday when Salford face Oldham, we will be taking a look at each of the 12 opponents that Sheffield Eagles will face over the course of the year. First up, we begin with Whitehaven.
Whitehaven R.L.F.C. finished 8th in the 2025 League 1 table, ending the season with 15 points from 18 games, after registering 7 wins, 1 draw, and 10 losses across last year.
2025 was a mixed campaign for the club after making a return to League One following relegation from the Championship the previous year, but they’ll go toe-to-toe once again with teams in the Championship in 2026 following the merger of the two leagues.
Whitehaven kick-start their season as they take on the Eagles over two consecutive weekends later this month, in both the league and Challenge Cup, with the latter being at the Steel City Stadium.
When we play them in 2026?
R1 | Sunday 18th January (A) | The Ortus Rec (3pm)
CCR2 | Saturday 24th January (H) | Steel City Stadium (2:30pm)
R17 | Sunday 21st June (H) | Steel City Stadium (3pm)
2026 Recruitment
Whitehaven have made several key signings in preparation for the upcoming season, focusing on adding experience and leadership to the squad.
Ciaran Walker joins after four seasons with Workington Town, bringing quality at half-back, while Cole Walker-Taylor and Dave Eccleston also arrive from Workington to strengthen the squad.
Joe Lowe has signed from Rochdale Hornets, and former captain Marc Shackley returns from retirement after recovering from a knee injury. Another addition is Lewis Brown, who has joined in the off-season from Seaton Rangers.
Ones to Watch
Ciaran Walker will be central to Whitehaven’s 2026 campaign. Over four years with Workington, he scored 12 tries and kicked 119 goals in 44 appearances.
Jack Kellett, who won the club’s Player’s Player of the Year award last season and was named in the League 1 team of the season, will be relied upon once again in 2026, whilst the return of the Marc Shackley will also provide a lot of experience for the Whitehaven side for the upcoming season.
2026 Squad
1. Jordan Burns, 2. Mitchell Todd, 3. Chris Taylor, 4. Ethan Bickerdike, 5. Jay Weatherill, 6. Ciaran Walker, 7. Jack Newbegin, 8. Jake Pearce, 9. Ellison Holgate, 10. Jordan Thomson, 11. Connor Holliday, 12. Rio McQuistan, 13. Jack Kellett, 14. Josh Blinkhorn, 15. Ellis Nixon, 16. Brad Brennan, 17. Aaron Turnbull, 18. Cole Walker-Taylor, 19. Dave Eccleston, 20. Marc Shackley, 21. Joe Lowe, 22. Brett Bailey, 23. Ben Pearce, 24. Lewis Brown, 31. Xenden Callander, 35. Jackson Smith.
