BY TOM HALLIWELL
THE format has been released for the new Betfred Wheelchair Super League season and everyone I’ve spoken to is looking forward to a longer, better structured season.
Last year seemed fractured with the Challenge Cup completing in its entirety before the league season started later in the year, but this has a much better, integrated feel leading into the World Cup at the end of the year.
With eight teams now in the competition, everyone will face each other home and away, meaning a 14-week league format with more games of, hopefully, higher quality followed by play offs and the Grand Final on September 19.
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At Leeds, we intend to up our training to two full sessions a week to be best prepared and have signed speedster Tom Oates from Batley to give us greater depth and competition for places.
The schedule allows the newer sides to really find their feet and understand what the comp is about after the jump from the Championship.
Sheffield and Edinburgh last year were just finding their feet as the season ended.
Congratulations to Bradford who, like their running side, join the top flight after Warrington withdrew their application midway through the summer.
That led to a fresh tender process, with five applications received before the October deadline, and the Bulls given the nod in recognition of their longevity in wheelchair rugby league.
There was some consternation at Castleford, who did the treble last year, that they had missed out, which I can understand.
Hopefully this gives the Tigers more time to get established off the field, including finding a venue with the right Super League dimensions.
It will be interesting to see what happens now with their star player Luis Domingos, who has just made the England squad, if he is to remain firmly in the selectors eye for the World Cup.
Championship makeover
THE RFL have also confirmed a new Championship structure too, with the introduction of a matching national eight-team format which will include North Wales Crusaders, Hereford and Gravesend – which is a fantastic underpinning.
League One will be split into northern and southern conferences and, as a result of the continued growth of the game, there will be additional development and junior leagues also organised on a regional basis.
Having Edinburgh in Super League has had definite spin offs for the Scottish national team and I expect North Wales to do similar for the national side there.
2026 looks like being a really exciting year for wheelchair RL, everything seems like it’s raising up a notch.
Crusaders’ off-season preparations received a boost with a visit from Claudia Winkelman as part of her role as National Lottery Ambassador-in-Chief.
Their funding has enabled the team to purchase match-ready wheelchairs and build a dedicated storage facility for equipment.
She was joined by Huw, a National Lottery player and rugby enthusiast raised in South Wales who tried his hand at the game, Claudia’s reactions of genuine amazement and shrieking support going viral which helps gain a new and different audience.
On it she said: “Visiting the North Wales Crusaders was truly brilliant and we’re so lucky they let us spend the day with them.
“The passion and determination of everyone involved shows how sport can transform lives and bring communities together.”
It was so cool seeing a different celebrity give their endorsement and, as we always say with wheelchair rugby league, as soon as you see it, you fall in love with it, and she definitely appeared to.
World Cup excitement building
THE draw’s been made for the World Cup pools with England in with Celtic Cup winners Ireland and Wales which should add some spice.
Scotland are probably going to have to get past hosts Australia in their group if they are to make the semis which could be a tough task, but every game will be a genuine test as we saw in the recent wheelchair Ashes encounters.
What’s great is that every nation will play out for their finishing position and world ranking points which makes the long trip worthwhile.
It’s tough turnarounds between games but a massive opportunity to showcase the sport in a single venue in Wollongong, and with the best league in the world, the NRL, fully behind it.
I expect it to move from sleeping giant there to having a similar impact that winning the WC in 2022 did here which has fuelled expansion, participation and the trajectory we’ve been on.
Betfred Wheelchair Super League 2026: Bradford Bulls, Edinburgh Giants, Halifax Panthers, Hull FC, Leeds Rhinos, London Roosters, Sheffield Eagles, Wigan Warriors.
Wheelchair Championship 2026: Batley Bulldogs, Castleford Tigers, Gravesend Dynamite, Hereford Harriers, North Wales Crusaders, Rochdale Hornets, Wakefield Trinity, York Knights.