Championship play-offs system announced hours before first game

JUST hours before the new combined lower-division in British rugby league kicked off for 2026, the Rugby Football League announced the play-off system for the competition.

Ten teams will feature in the finals of the 20-club Championship, the system described in a statement as “an extended and amended version of the McIntyre system”.

Teams one and two will have the bye on the opening weekend of the five-week-long finals.

No venue or exact day for the grand final was announced – it’s just on the second weekend of October.

Week one

Teams 1 & 2 bye – through to Week 2

Qualifying semi-final 1 – 3 v 5

Qualifying semi-final 2 – 4 v 6

Eliminator 1 – 7 v 10

Eliminator 2 – 8 v 9

Week two

Qualifying final 1 – 1 v Highest ranked Qualifying semi-final winners

Qualifying final 2 – 2 v Lowest ranked Qualifying semi-final winners

Elimination final 1 – Highest Ranked Qualifying semi-final losers v Lowest ranked eliminator winners

Elimination final 2 – Lowest ranked qualifying semi-final Losers v Highest ranked eliminator winners

Week three

Winners of Qualifying final 1 & 2 – through to home semi-finals

Sudden death play-off 1 – Highest ranked loser of Qualifying linals v Lowest ranked winner of elimination finals

Sudden death play-off 2 – Lowest ranked loser of Qualifying finals v Highest ranked winner of Elimination finals

Week four

Preliminary final 1 – Highest ranked Qualifying final winners v Lowest ranked sudden death play-off winners

Preliminary final 2 – Lowest ranked qualifying final winners v Highest ranked sudden death play-off winners

Week five

Grand final – Highest ranked winner of preliminary finals v Lowest ranked winner of preliminary finals