Roughyeds’ 2026 fixtures revealed

Oldham will open their 150th season with back-to-back away fixtures in the 2026 Betfred Championship, beginning with a trip to Salford on January 18.

Roughyeds’ league opener is set to be the first match-up of the two local sides since 2008, where Oldham were 18-14 winners in the Northern Rail Cup.

A fortnight later, Oldham will travel to London Broncos for what looks set to be an early top-of-the-table showdown.

Roughyeds supporters will have to wait until February 20 for the first home match, with another absorbing clash set to mark the start of Friday Night Rugby at Boundary Park with the visit of Widnes Vikings for a 7:45pm kick-off.

Oldham will play ten of their 12 home fixtures on Fridays, with only the Workington and Barrow home fixtures taking place on a Sunday, on April 26 and July 26 respectively.

2026 marks the first season of the revamped Championship, now featuring 21 teams. Rochdale, Midlands and Workington all return to Oldham’s fixture list for the first time since 2024.

The play-offs will now feature ten teams, up from six, and will unfold over four weeks, culminating in the Grand Final on Sunday, October 4.

Roughyeds will play three consecutive matches on the road in July, against Featherstone, Workington and Widnes as Boundary Park undergoes its yearly pitch renovations.

The final month of the season promises to be pivotal, beginning with an away trip to Doncaster on August 2. Oldham then host Sheffield, London, and Salford in three consecutive weeks, before a short journey to Rochdale brings the regular season to a close.

The RFL has also announced the return of the 1895 Cup, with the final to be staged at a new, and as yet undisclosed, venue.