2026 Betfred Championship fixtures confirmed

Barrow Raiders’ fixture list for the 2026 Betfred Championship season has been confirmed.

The Raiders will begin the new campaign with successive home games, starting against fellow Cumbrian side Workington Town on Sunday 18 January.

It will mark the first time the two have met in the league since 2022.

The opening month also sees Paul Crarey’s side host Salford Red Devils in Round 2, with those fixtures coming either side of the Raiders’ first foray into this season’s Betfred Challenge Cup.

The Raiders won’t have to wait long for a first meeting of the season with Whitehaven, a trip to the Ortus Rec pencilled in for Round 3 on Sunday 15 February.

The Raiders find themselves at home on Good Friday, with Widnes Vikings the visitors to the Northern Competitions Stadium.

In similar fashion to the start of the campaign, the Raiders will end with back-to-back home games, against Featherstone Rovers and Whitehaven on August 15 and 23 respectively.

Upon the release of the fixtures, Barrow Raiders chairman Steve Neale said: “We are proud of our achievements in maintaining Championship status since our promotion in 2021.

“We must now get behind the change in structure that has given us an exciting fixture list.

“Starting with a Cumbrian derby against our friends from Workington is sure to attract a bumper crowd, and hopefully we can start the season with a bang.

“A top-10 play-off position is our realistic aim as we look to consolidate our position as a leading Championship club.”