The RFL have confirmed that the Championship and League One will merge to form one division from next season.
The news follows confirmation of next year’s Super League expansion with at least two Championship clubs set to make the step up to the top flight at the end of the current campaign. Those clubs have been asked to apply for Super League status and it was announced earlier on that 12 teams including Hull FC and London Broncos have applied.
In response to that change, Championship and League One club owners have got together to discuss potential changes and those changes have now been confirmed with the two divisions below Super League becoming one single competition.
As such, this year’s planned Middle Eights competition has been scrapped, with the change rendering the current promotion and relegation battles at the top of League One and the bottom of the Championship meaningless.
The league format is yet to be decided, but as it stands there are currently 13 teams in the Championship and 10 in League One. With two Championship spots being elevated to Super League, the expectation could be for next year’s league to be made up of 21 teams, but that is still to be confirmed.
The fixture format is too, given a standard play every team home and away style would result in a 40-game season in that case. The full details of next season’s competition will be confirmed on Thursday October 16, including who will actually be competing in it.
This year’s Championship play-offs will still take place with £100,000 prize money on the line for the winner as well as 0.25 grading points. League One winners will receive £25,000.
RFL chair Nigel Wood confirms shake up
“Following the decision of the Betfred Super League clubs that the elite competition should expand to 14 clubs in 2026, subject to conditions, this is a logical and equally exciting next step,” RFL chairman Nigel Wood said.
“The Championship and League One clubs have been extensively consulted and were virtually unanimous that the two divisional structure for the part time game wasn’t working as well as it ought, particularly League One – and it is a great credit to the Championship clubs that they recognised that position.
“There are so many historic and ambitious clubs outside the Super League, and we believe this will not only enhance their attendances and finances, but also make them more attractive for investment.
“It will provide an attractive and compelling fixture list for all clubs outside the Betfred Super League – and mean they all kick off the 2026 season with the opportunity to win the Betfred Championship, which will remain a key step towards earning promotion to the Super League.”
Eric T Cat
August 27, 2025 at 8:18 pm
Another ill judged hastily conceived dog’s breakfast nobody asked for from the RFL.