Preview | Whitehaven away on Sunday in season opener
13/01/2026
It is the opening round of the Betfred Championship this coming Sunday as the Eagles make the trip north to take on Whitehaven R.L.F.C (3pm KO).
Craig Lingard’s side return to competitive action following the cancellation of last weekend’s friendly away at Batley Bulldogs due to adverse weather conditions. Despite the disruption, Lingard will be hoping his team can hit the ground running and begin the new campaign with a positive result as they travel to Cumbria.
Whitehaven were in action themselves last weekend, narrowly losing 13–6 to Workington Town in a pre-season friendly. The hosts will be equally eager to secure their first win of the season at the first opportunity when the Eagles arrive at the Ortus Recreation Ground.
Below is a full matchday guide with everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s fixture.
TICKETS
Match tickets are available to purchase online via the link below.
Prices are as follows:
Adults: £17 (£20 on the day)
Concessions: £13 (£15 on the day)
Under 16s: Free
PARKING
Limited parking is available at the Ortus Rec itself. The Miners Car Park is available for £2, however Whitehaven request that these spaces are prioritised for elderly and disabled supporters.
Additional parking options include:
Preston Street Car Park (CA28 9DL): Located just around the corner. Pay via the Tap2Park app using code 8579. £2.80 for up to five hours.
Strand Street Car Park (CA28 7LF): Situated slightly further away in the town centre. £3 for up to five hours.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Across the 38 meetings between the two sides, Sheffield have recorded 20 victories. The Eagles have also outscored Whitehaven overall, with 1,073 points scored compared to the Cumbrian side’s 866.
Sunday’s fixture will be the first meeting between the clubs in two years. The most recent encounter saw the Eagles run out 78–24 winners in July 2024.
KEEP UPDATED WITH THE GAME
If you are unable to attend the match, you can keep up to date via:
Live match updates on X
Match report
Post-match interviews
Match highlights on SETV
