BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Exclusive: The RFL has replaced Featherstone Rovers in the Championship fixtures list with new games.
Featherstone were not granted entry into the Championship this year after the club went bust and the RFL decided against awarding the license to a new consortium bidding for the license. The decision was made only on the afternoon of January 9.
With the Championship kicking off this Friday, January 16, rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads understands the RFL has decided to create replacement fixtures for each club that was supposed to play Featherstone in 2026 to complete the fixture list fully.
This has been designed to ensure each club does not miss out on the expected gate revenue from each game.
It is believed each club that was expected to play Featherstone will now have a new home and away opponent in the 2026 season, but on new dates, and not on the scheduled dates they were supposed to face Rovers this year.
According to sources, the games will not be loop fixtures as each club will play an alternative opponent home and away, and not an opponent they were already scheduled to play.
The RFL’s move comes after Batley Bulldogs chairman Kevin Nichols slammed the governing body’s handling of the Rovers issue, describing it as “utterly appalling”. Batley was supposed to take on Featherstone in its season opener this weekend.
It is believed the RFL will announce the new fixtures later this week.
The Championship clubs were sent the proposed fixture list yesterday.