A Championship club have confirmed their squad numbers for 2026 ahead of the competition’s launch in mid-January.
Cumbrian outfit Whitehaven have announced their 2026 squad numbers with the club retaining plenty of their talent from 2025.
Last season saw Haven finish eighth in League One but they’re now part of the expanded 21-team Championship which starts in under two weeks.
Haven kick their season off by welcoming Sheffield Eagles in round one on Sunday, 18th January and we now know what their squad could look like for that game.
The core group of 2025 is retained with spine players Jordan Burns, Ellison Holgate and Jack Newbegin all staying at the club, though Ciaran Walker now completes the spine.
New additions Brett Bailey and Jackson Smith bring their experience of having been involved with Super League clubs with Bailey a former St Helens academy player, whilst Haven’s most recent signing Smith was previously part of the Hull FC youth set-up.
Bailey previously had a loan spell with Haven but now becomes a permanent addition with the prop previously making six appearances, whilst also having a spell on loan with Widnes Vikings.
Ben Pearce has also signed with the teenager another to have had experience in a Super League academy system, previously playing at Warrington Wolves.
Whitehaven 2026 squad numbers
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 Thompson, 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
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🄷🄴🅁🄴 🅃🄷🄴🅈 🄰🅁🄴!
We can now reveal our 2026 squad numbers after exclusively being revealed at Friday’s season launch event
Two weeks today sees our competitive action get underway as we welcome Sheffield Eagles to the Ortus Rec in Round 1 of the Championship… pic.twitter.com/Hxr4ugof1d
— Whitehaven Rugby League (@OfficialHavenRl) January 4, 2026
