Rugby League

Financially-troubled rugby league club Featherstone Rovers will not compete in the second-tier Championship in 2026 after the Rugby Football League (RFL) denied them membership. The club went into administration in December and one takeover bid submitted did not meet the required criteria set by the RFL. The West Yorkshire club …

York Knights have signed former Sydney Roosters prop Xavier Va’a on a two-year deal. The 22-year-old scored a try 49 seconds into his sole National Rugby League appearance for Roosters against Cronulla Sharks in May 2024 but was released from his contract in December. “He comes highly recommended and his …

Saturday, 10 January – Rochdale Mayfield v Ince Rose Bridge (Challenge Cup first round) – iPlayer Saturday, 24 January – Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven (Challenge Cup second round) – iPlayer Saturday, 8 February – Date and fixture to be confirmed (Challenge Cup third round) – iPlayer Sunday, 15 February – …

Leeds Rhinos have triggered an option in full-back Alfie Edgell’s contract to keep him at the club until the end of 2027. The 21-year-old came through the Rhinos’ academy and made eight appearances last season. He will miss the start of the forthcoming campaign after picking up a thigh injury …

Peter Parker wants people to forget he is Spider-Man, but Dr Strange’s spell goes wrong. BBC News

Super League newcomers York Knights have signed half-back Will Roberts and utility back Nikau Williams. Roberts, 20, was released by St Helens at the end of last season after having had loan spells with Swinton, Rochdale and Widnes. New Zealander Williams, 26, spent the 2024 campaign with the Knights and …

York Knights have agreed a full-time contract for 2026 with prop Mitch Clark. The 32-year-old joined York in March from Sheffield Eagles, going on to make 15 appearances as they finished top of the Championship. Now Clark, who has played for New Zealand Maori, will be part of the Knights …

Castleford Tigers have signed Featherstone Rovers prop Jimmy Beckett ahead of the 2026 Super League season. The 26-year-old made 31 appearances for Featherstone last season, helping them to the Championship play-offs as well as the 1895 Cup final. Prior to his time with Fev, Beckett has also had spells with …

Salford RLFC have appointed Mike Grady as their head coach shortly before the start of the 2026 Championship season. Grady previously worked for the club as head coach of their women’s team in 2023 and has also held roles at Widnes Vikings and Rochdale Hornets. He arrives just 11 days …

Former captain Ryan Brierley is returning to Salford to become chief executive, the consortium that has won the bid to run the phoenix club has said. Brierley, one of the players who departed the club midway through the 2025 campaign, has ended his playing career at Oldham in order to …

With the curtain down on the 2025 Super League season, how closely were you paying attention to all the action and news this term? Hull KR won the treble, Jake Connor earned his stripes as the Steve Prescott Man of Steel, and Super League made its debut in Las Vegas. …

The Rugby Football League have given a new Salford team Championship membership for 2026, three weeks after the old club was wound up. BBC News

Bradford Bulls have signed Hull KR forward Leon Ruan on loan for the 2026 Super League season. Ruan will then make a permanent move to Odsal for the following campaign. The 22-year-old spent a year with the Robins after leaving Leeds Rhinos, but he did not make a league appearances …

Wigan Warriors have signed Barrow Raiders forward Finn McMillan on a two-year deal. The 20-year-old scored one try in nine Championship appearances for the Raiders last season. The Warriors hold the option for a third year on McMillan’s contract. “It’s a dream come true to be signing for Wigan, I’ve …

Huddersfield Giants have announced that Ralph Rimmer will be joining the club’s board as director for change. The former chief executive of the Rugby Football League has accepted an invitation from Giants chairman Ken Davy. Rimmer, 60, has carried out a three-month review of the club’s operations and will oversee …

Super League champions Hull KR have signed versatile Australian forward Karl Lawton on a three-year deal. The 30-year-old has made 115 appearances in the NRL for Gold Coast Titans, New Zealand Warriors, Manly Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys. He made 11 appearances for the Cowboys, who released him by …

England winger Eboni Partington has signed a new one-year contract to stay with York Valkyrie in 2026. Partington has been a consistent performer for York since moving from St Helens ahead of the 2024 season. She scored 24 tries in 20 games, including one in the Grand Final, as the …

Young Henry Turner seeks out Jack Sparrow to help him locate Poseidon’s trident. BBC News

Former chief executive Chris Irwin is also working with his own consortium to try and salvage the troubled club, with the RFL announcing a decision on which bid has been successful on 17 December. A mass player exodus, late wage payments and frequent appearances in the High Court over unpaid …

St Helens have signed former Salford Red Devils centre Nene Macdonald on a two-year contract. The 31-year-old Papua New Guinea international joined Salford from Leeds Rhinos from 2024 and was an influential figure in the side, helping them to a fourth-place finish and a Super League play-off spot that season. …