The CEO of one Championship club has explained what the competition will look like in 2026 after it’s expansion to 21 teams.
Little has been revealed so far in terms of what the Championship will look like following the Super League expansion, with the second tier now having just 11 teams, and League One only having 10.
Those competitions have now been amalgamated to form a 21-team second tier which understandably begged questions for how games would be played, as playing every team home and away would mean a 40-game season.
The idea of Western and Eastern Conferences was something considered but the actual result is a ‘seeding’ system with clubs playing the bulk of their games again teams in and around their seeding.
One man who has tried to explain it is Whitehaven CEO Lee Butterworth with he and the club’s media manager taking to social media to explain the thought process behind changes and also what can be expected for 2026.
How will the 2026 Championship fixtures be decided
In a near hour-long video, Butterworth admitted that the new format “might not be the perfect solution”, but that it was better than an 11-team Championship and 10-team League One.
The major reason for that is the lack of home games each side would get with clubs relying on gate receipts to keep themselves afloat. He had explained how Whitehaven went almost eight weeks without a home game leading to difficulties.
Admitting that there are a “lot of unknowns”, Butterworth explained: “You’re going to be in and around teams based on your level and where we finished last year which was eighth (in League One) means we will probably be seeded 19th in the 21 teams.
“There are going to be ten home games against teams around your level, so if you were in the middle of the table, it will be five teams above you and five teams below you, and that would be your standard home games.”
As well as the standard home and away against similar seeded sides, he noted: “Then there will be two extra home games with the RFL trying to find the most competitive and compelling games, so for us the chances are that it will be Workington and Barrow.
“If three Cumbrian teams play each other then it’s fantastic for all three clubs as there are bigger crowds and less travel.”
Serious About Rugby League has launched a brand new podcast which can be watched in full on our YouTube channel here.
“Handicap system like golf” means anyone can win the Championship
Reducing travel and most importantly costs was something that Butterworth explained had been high on the RFL’s agenda in terms of planning out the 2026 format and fixtures.
He said: “From talking with the RFL, I think everything this season is going to be about minimising costs for clubs because some of the travel costs, even in the amateurs, is a massive cost. They’re going to try and keep costs down based on the two wildcard or extra games.
“Those will be based on local rivals and derbies but then there’s thinking to be done because there is London.”
Admitting that the League Leaders Shield will be devalued because fixture lists are not even, Butterworth did argue that it’s “the perfect solution” as it separates the high and low spenders to try and create a “handicap” system.
He said: “To me, this is the perfect solution because it’s a handicap system like golf. We’re playing teams around us with a smaller budget like us so yes the bigger teams will play the better teams but they’ve all got big budgets.
“The teams that will probably miss out are the ones in the middle with the not so big budgets but still going up against the bigger teams.
“Whitehaven could win the league. There’s a chance and a possibility for anyone to win the league and that’s what is so exciting.
“The play-offs will sort the men out from the boys. One of the smaller clubs could win the league and then get beaten 80-0 so the play-off Grand Final will become more prestigious.”
As yet, no play-off plans have been confirmed so Butterworth didn’t reveal any but an RFL release is expected in the coming weeks to reveal everything we need to know about the 2026 Championship season.
Our CEO Lee Butterworth and media manager Jordan Weir will be going live tonight to talk about what we know so far about the 2026 structure and why fans should get excited 🤩
We’ll be doing it live on Facebook so fans can ask questions and give their thoughts.
We know there is… pic.twitter.com/734hgWgq1l
— Whitehaven Rugby League (@OfficialHavenRl) November 3, 2025
Rugby League News
Ex-Super League stalwart becomes free agent as statement made on future
