Championship rugby league season plans changed after latest Super League decision

The decision not to have a designated international break appears set to push back the start of the 2025 Championship rugby league season. Plans for the second tier are still under discussion but recent developments appear likely to result in the season starting two weeks later than initially anticipated.

Sources have told Rugby League Live that the season is likely to start on the weekend of February 15/16th, the same weekend as Super League's big kick-off. This is two weeks earlier than initial proposals, which would have seen the season start on the weekend of February 1st/2nd.

However, an owner's meeting last week saw Super League clubs decide against a designated weekend for an international break. Instead, a round of fixtures will take place over two different weekends, ensuring every club is guaranteed a week off regardless of Challenge Cup performance, while all players are ensured a rest week as they will have no international commitments.

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But that development means the Championship clubs can also play that weekend, giving them more flexibility when it comes to a season start date and a later start now appears likely.

It's particularly convenient for York Knights, who appeared to find themselves in a sticky scheduling situation given they were due to play Hull KR in Amsterdam on the same weekend they were due to enter the Challenge Cup at the second round stage, the weekend of January 25/26h. However, the changing circumstances will allow them to play their cup game the weekend after, which is the weekend before third round games will be played.

The new proposal, which hasn't been signed off but is expected to be this week, would see their season begin with Challenge Cup action at the end of January before playing in the third round on the weekend of February 8th/9th. The league campaign would then start a week later.

Chamionship's proposed season start schedule

January 25/26th - Challenge Cup second round
February 1st/2nd - Free weekend
February 8th/9th - Challenge Cup third round
February 15th/16th - Championship season starts

It's a development which may also interest Super League clubs as it provides a weekend to potentially play a pre-season friendly.

The Championship season will only feature 13 teams next year, one fewer than this year. Three teams were relegated, while only two, Oldham and Hunslet, were promoted as part of plans to balance out the number of teams in the second and third tiers of the league structure. League 1 only had nine teams last year but it will have eleven next year, with Goole Vikings arriving as a new addition from the community game.

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