View source for RFL Championship

{{short description|British rugby league}}
{{use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title          = Championship
| current_season = 2025 RFL Championship
| logo           = Betfred Championship logo.jpg
| logo_size      = 250px
| sport          = Rugby league
| country        = {{ENG}}<br/>{{WAL}}
| founded        = {{ubl|{{Start date and age|df=y|2003}} (as National League 1)|{{Start date and age|df=yes|2009}} as (Championship)}}
| teams          = 21
| promotion      = 
| relegation     = 
| related_comps  = 
| founder        = 
| levels         = 2
| domestic_cup   = [[Challenge Cup]]<br />[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]]
| confed_cup     = 
| champions      = {{leagueicon|toulouse|16}} [[Toulouse Olympique]]<br />(2nd title)
| most_champs    = {{leagueicon|leigh|16}} [[Leigh Leopards]]<br /> (5 titles)
| tv             = 
| website        = [https://www.rugby-league.com/competitions/pro-national/betfred-championship Championship]
}}

The '''Rugby Football League Championship''', (known as the '''[[Betfred]] Championship''' for sponsorship reasons) is the second highest division of [[rugby league]] in [[British rugby league system|Britain]] .<ref name="Operational Rules">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugby-league.com/operational-rules/|title=Operational Rules|publisher=RFL|access-date=10 March 2017}}</ref>

Introduced in 2003 as '''National League One''', it replaced the existing [[Rugby Football League Championship Second Division|Second Division]]. It was rebranded as the Championship in 2009.

The league consists of 14 teams, with the winner decided by a  [[Championship Grand Final|playoff]]. The current champions are [[Wakefield Trinity]], winners of the 2024 season after beating [[Toulouse Olympique]] in the [[Championship Grand Final]].

In 2026, the Championship will merge with [[RFL League One|League One]], thus seeing an expansion to 21 teams. This was catalysed by [[Super League]]'s expansion from 12 to 14 teams also in 2026 which would see two clubs promoted from the Championship without replacement and would have left the Championship with only 11 clubs.<ref>{{cite news |title=RFL: Championship and League One to merge into one league for 2026 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cx29z5yz7y6o |access-date=28 August 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=27 August 2025}}</ref>

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2025}}
===1902–1973: Establishment and regular competition===
[[Rugby Football League Championship Second Division|Second division rugby league competitions]] have been played at various times since 1902, and have been in place annually since 1973. When [[Super League]] began in 1996, the second division continued to operate a system of [[promotion and relegation]] with the new competition. In 1999, the second-tier competition below the [[Super League]] was renamed the [[Northern Ford Premiership]] (NFP) when Northern Ford Dealers acquired the naming rights.

===2002–2008: National Leagues===
In 2003, the NFP was re-organised into National Leagues One and Two. Teams that finished in the top ten league positions of the [[2002 Northern Ford Premiership]] joined National League One and the bottom eight joined National League Two. They were joined by [[London Skolars]] from the [[Rugby League Conference]], who entered National League Two, and [[York City Knights]], who replaced the defunct [[York Wasps]] (who had folded mid-season in 2002) and also joined National League Two in 2003, creating two ten-team leagues which operated a system of promotion and relegation between themselves while also maintaining the promotion and relegation between National League One and Super League.

At the same time, National League Three was created with teams from the [[Rugby League Conference]] and from the [[British Amateur Rugby League Association]] amateur leagues. It was intended that there would be promotion and relegation between National League Two and National League Three when League Three became more established, however this never eventuated.

===2009–2014: Championship===
In 2009 Super League was expanded to 14 teams, with two additional teams being promoted from National League One. In turn, two additional teams were promoted from National League Two to National League One at the end of the [[2008 National League 2|2008 season]], reducing the number of teams in National League Two to 10. National Leagues One and Two were then rebranded as the Championship and Championship 1 respectively, with the change being implemented in time for the 2009 season. Championship 1 was later rebranded to [[RFL League 1|League 1]]. During this period, a system of licensing was put in place which meant there was no automatic system of promotion and relegation between the Championship and Super League, although promotion and relegation continued between the Championship and League 1. [[Widnes Vikings]] were promoted to Super League from the Championship via the licensing system in 2011.

The record crowd for a club game at this level of competition was set in 2017 at KCOM Craven Park for the opening fixture of the season between Hull Kingston Rovers and Bradford Bulls with Rovers winning 54–24 in front of a crowd of 8,817. The crowd record for regular season attendance was also broken in 2008 with an average of 2,205 spectators at each game.

===2015–2018: Super 8s===
{{Main|Rugby League Super 8s}}
In 2013, Super League clubs agreed to reduce the number of clubs in the competition to 12 and return to an amended system of promotion and relegation with a 12-club Championship competition. These changes came into effect for the [[2015 RFL Championship|2015 season]].<ref>[http://superleague.co.uk/article/28324/super-league-to-become-a Super League to become a 12-team competition from 2015]. Superleague.co.uk (11 July 2013). Retrieved on 20 August 2013.</ref>

Under the amended structure, the 12 Super League and 12 Championship clubs play a regular season of 23 rounds, including a [[Magic Weekend]] for both divisions. Following the conclusion of their regular league seasons, the 24 clubs then compete in a play-off series where they split into 3 divisions of 8 based upon league position:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/25780498|title=Super League: Competition restructures confirmed|work=BBC Sport|date=24 September 2018}}</ref>
*The bottom 4 Super League clubs and the top 4 Championship clubs compete in '''[[The Qualifiers]]'''. They play each other once (either home or away) to determine which four of the clubs will compete in Super League the following year.
*The remaining (bottom 8) Championship clubs compete for the '''[[Championship Shield]]''' and to avoid relegation to [[RFL League 1|League 1]]. Two clubs will be relegated each year.

===2019–2023: Return of playoffs===
On 14 September 2018, an EGM was called to discuss the future of the sport and a change in structure, as the clubs were in favour of scrapping the Super 8s in favour of a more conventional structure. Two proposals were put forward: one by Super League and one by the Championship and League 1;

Super League proposal: The Super League proposed staying with 12 teams who play each other home and away plus Magic Weekend and 6 loop fixtures (29 games). They also proposed a return to a top-5 playoff and the 12th placed team being relegated.

Championship & League 1 proposal: The alternative proposal was that Super League would expand to 14 clubs playing 29 games ending with a top-5 playoff. The team finishing 14th would be relegated and 13th would play 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the Championship in a relegation playoff.

After a vote, the Super League proposal was voted through was implemented for the 2019 season. The Championship clubs then voted for a top 5 playoff being used to decide which team will be promoted to Super League.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Willacy |first1=Gavin |title=Enjoy the tortuous Qualifiers one last time before Super League is revamped |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2018/sep/21/enjoy-tortuous-qualifiers-super-league-revamped-world-cup |access-date=28 August 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=21 September 2018}}</ref>

===2024–2025: IMG grading===
From 2024 there was no automatic promotion from the Championship to Super League. Membership of Super League was determined entirely by [[IMG Grading for the British Rugby Football League|IMG grading]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Sam |title='Doesn't sit right' - Rugby League chairman latest to hit out at IMG |url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/doesnt-sit-right-rugby-league-chairman-latest-to-hit-out-at-img-97085/ |access-date=28 August 2025 |work=Serious About Rugby League |date=16 September 2024}}</ref>  

The grading system made no effect on the make-up of Super League for 2025 as the Championship winners, [[Wakefield Trinity]], were placed 8th in the grading list - so would have been promoted under the previous system.<ref>{{cite news |title=Super League: Wakefield Trinity return for 2025 season under IMG's grading criteria with London Broncos in Championship |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12204/13238317/super-league-wakefield-trinity-return-for-2025-season-under-imgs-grading-criteria-with-london-broncos-in-championship |access-date=28 August 2025 |work=Sky Sports |date=23 October 2024}}</ref>

==Clubs==

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 99%; text-align:center;"
|-
| style="background:grey; " colspan="6" |<span style="color:white;">'''Championship clubs'''</span>
|-
!style="background:white; width:8%"  | Colours
!style="background:white; width:22%" | Club
!style="background:white; width:8%"  | Established
!style="background:white; width:22%" | Location
!style="background:white; width:22%" | Stadium
!style="background:white; width:8%"  | Capacity*
|-
| {{leagueicon|Barrow|16}} 
|[[Barrow Raiders]]
| 1875
| [[Barrow-in-Furness]], [[Cumbria]]
| [[Craven Park (Barrow)|Craven Park]]
| 6,000
|-
| {{leagueicon|Batley|16}} 
| [[Batley Bulldogs]]
| 1880
| [[Batley]], [[West Yorkshire]]
| [[Mount Pleasant, Batley|Mount Pleasant]] 
| 7,500

|-
| {{leagueicon|dewsbury|16}} 
|[[Dewsbury Rams]]
| 1898
| [[Dewsbury]], [[West Yorkshire]]
| [[Crown Flatt]]
| 5,100
|-
| {{leagueicon|Doncaster|16}} 
|[[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]]
| 1951
| [[Doncaster]], [[South Yorkshire]]
| [[Eco-Power Stadium]]
| 15,231
|-
| {{leagueicon|Featherstone|16}} 
| [[Featherstone Rovers]]
| 1902
| [[Featherstone]], [[West Yorkshire]]
| [[Post Office Road]]
| 8,000
|-
| {{leagueicon|Goole|16}} 
|[[Goole Vikings]]
| 2018
| [[Goole]], [[East Yorkshire]]
| [[Victoria Pleasure Grounds]]
| 3,000
|-
| {{leagueicon|Halifax|16}} 
| [[Halifax Panthers]]
| 1873
| [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], [[West Yorkshire]]
| [[The Shay]]
| 14,000
|-
| {{leagueicon|Hunslet|16}}  
|[[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet]]
| 1973
| [[Leeds]], [[West Yorkshire]]
| [[South Leeds Stadium]]
| 4,000
|-
| {{leagueicon|keighley|16}} 
|[[Keighley Cougars]]
| 1876
| [[Keighley]], [[West Yorkshire]]
| [[Cougar Park]]
| 7,800
|-
|{{Leagueicon|London|16}}
|[[London Broncos]]
|1980
|[[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], [[London]]
|[[Plough Lane]]
|9,215
|-
| {{leagueicon|midlands|16}} 
|[[Midlands Hurricanes]]
| 1998
| [[Birmingham]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
| [[Alexander Stadium]]
| 18,000
|-
| {{leagueicon|gateshead|16}} 
|[[Newcastle Thunder]]
| 2000
| [[Swalwell]], [[Tyne and Wear]]
| [[Blaydon RFC|Crow Trees Ground]]
| 2000
|-
| {{leagueicon|north wales|16}} 
|[[North Wales Crusaders]]
| 2011
| [[Colwyn Bay]], [[Conwy County Borough|Conwy]]
| [[Eirias Stadium]]
| 5,500
|-
| {{leagueicon|Oldham|16}}
| [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]
| 1876
| [[Oldham]], [[Greater Manchester]]
| [[Boundary Park]]
| 13,513
|-
| {{leagueicon|rochdale|16}} 
|[[Rochdale Hornets]]
| 1871
| [[Rochdale]], [[Greater Manchester]]
| [[Spotland Stadium]]
| 10,249
|-
|{{leagueicon|Salford City|16}} 
| [[Salford Red Devils]]
| 1984
| [[Barton-upon-Irwell]], [[Greater Manchester]]
| [[Salford Community Stadium]]
| 11,404
|-
|{{leagueicon|Sheffield|16}} 
| [[Sheffield Eagles]]
| 1984
| [[Sheffield]], [[South Yorkshire]]
| [[Steel City Stadium]]
| 3,000
|-
| {{leagueicon|swinton|16}} 
|[[Swinton Lions]]
| 1866
| [[Sale, Greater Manchester]]
| [[Heywood Road]]
| 3,387
|-
| {{leagueicon|whitehaven|16}} 
|[[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]
| 1948
| [[Whitehaven]], [[Cumbria]]
| [[Recreation Ground (Whitehaven)|Recreation Ground]]
| 8,603
|-
| {{leagueicon|widnes|16}} 
| [[Widnes Vikings]]
| 1875
|  [[Widnes]], [[Cheshire]]
| [[Halton Stadium]]
| 13,500
|-
| {{leagueicon|workington|16}} 
|[[Workington Town]]
| 1945
| [[Workington]], [[Cumbria]]
| [[Derwent Park]]
| 10,000
|}

*''Seat capacity for other sports, concerts and events may differ.''

==Structure==
===Regular season===
There are 14 clubs in the Championship. During the course of the season (usually from February to September) each club plays the other twice, once at their home stadium and once at their opponents. Altogether clubs play 26 games.

Teams receive two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss.

Teams are ranked by competition points, points difference (points scored less points conceded), points scored. The team finishing top after 26 games is awarded the [[RFL Championship League Leaders|League Leaders Shield]] while the two bottom teams are relegated to the [[RFL League 1|League One]]

===Play-offs===
The play-offs have had various formats. Currently once every club has played 26 games, the top six teams qualify for the playoffs.

Round one sees 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th. The winners then progress to the semi finals where the teams finishing 1st and 2nd enter. The two winners of the semi-finals meet in the [[Championship Grand Final|Grand Final]].

==Results==
{{for|winners of the old Second Division|Rugby Football League Championship Second Division}}
{{Main|Championship Grand Final}}
{{See also|RFL Championship Leaders' Shield}}

The champions of the Championship are determined by a playoff series at the end of the regular season. The team at the top of the league table at the end of regular season is awarded the [[RFL Championship Leaders' Shield|League Leaders’ Shield]]. This has been the case for all but the four seasons of the Super 8s era where the league leaders were declared Champions and promotion was determined by [[The Qualifiers]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=1%|Year
!width=10%|Champions
!width=5%|Score
!width=10%|Runners up
!width=10%|Relegated 
|-
| [[2003 Rugby League National Leagues|2003]]
| {{leagueicon|Salford City|16}} [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]
|31–14
| {{leagueicon|leigh|16}} [[Leigh Leopards|Leigh]]
| {{leagueicon|Dewsbury|16}} [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]]
|-
| [[2004 Rugby League National Leagues|2004]]
| {{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]
|{{nowrap|32–16}}
| {{nowrap|{{leagueicon|whitehaven|16}} [[Whitehaven RLFC|Whitehaven]]}}
| {{leagueicon|Keighley|16}} [[Keighley Cougars|Keighley]]
|-
| [[2005 Rugby League National Leagues|2005]]
| {{leagueicon|castleford|16}} [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]]
|36–8
| {{nowrap|{{leagueicon|whitehaven|16}} [[Whitehaven RLFC|Whitehaven]]}}
| {{leagueicon|Barrow|16}} [[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]]<br />{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Featherstone|16}} [[Featherstone Rovers|Featherstone]]}}
|-
| [[Rugby League National Leagues in 2006|2006]]
| {{leagueicon|Hull KR|16}} [[Hull Kingston Rovers]]
|29–16
| {{leagueicon|Widnes|16}} [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]]
| {{leagueicon|Oldham|16}} [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]<br /> {{leagueicon|york rlfc|16}}  [[York City Knights|York]]
|-
|  [[Rugby League National Leagues in 2007|2007]]
| {{leagueicon|castleford|16}} [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]]
|42–10
| {{leagueicon|widnes|16}} [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]]
| {{leagueicon|Rochdale|16}} [[Rochdale Hornets|Rochdale]]<br />{{leagueicon|Doncaster|16}} [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]]
|-
|  [[Rugby League National Leagues in 2008|2008]]
| {{leagueicon|Salford City|16}} [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]
|36–18
| {{leagueicon|Crusaders|16}} [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders]]
| {{leagueicon|dewsbury|16}} [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]]
|-
| [[2009 Co-operative Championship|2009]]
| {{leagueicon|Barrow|16}} [[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]]
|26–18
|{{leagueicon|halifax|16}} [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
| {{leagueicon|Doncaster|16}} [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]]<br />{{leagueicon|Gateshead|16}} [[Newcastle Thunder|Gateshead]]
|-
| [[2010 RFL Championship|2010]]
| {{leagueicon|halifax|16}} [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
|23–22
| {{leagueicon|featherstone|16}} [[Featherstone Rovers|Featherstone]]
| {{leagueicon|keighley|16}} [[Keighley Cougars|Keighley]]<br />{{leagueicon|whitehaven|16}} [[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]
|-
| [[2011 RFL Championship|2011]]
| {{leagueicon|featherstone|16}} [[Featherstone Rovers|Featherstone]]
|40–4
| {{leagueicon|sheffield|16}} [[Sheffield Eagles|Sheffield]]
| {{leagueicon|barrow|16}} [[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]]<br />{{leagueicon|toulouse|16}} [[Toulouse Olympique|Toulouse]]
|-
| [[2012 RFL Championship|2012]]
| {{leagueicon|sheffield|16}} [[Sheffield Eagles|Sheffield]]
|20–16
| {{leagueicon|featherstone|16}} [[Featherstone Rovers|Featherstone]]
| ''None'' 
|-
| [[2013 RFL Championship|2013]]
| {{leagueicon|sheffield|16}} [[Sheffield Eagles|Sheffield]]
|19–12
| {{leagueicon|batley|16}} [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
|{{leagueicon|york rlfc|16}} [[York City Knights|York]]<br />{{leagueicon|Hunslet|16}} [[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet]]
|-
| [[2014 RFL Championship|2014]]
| {{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]
|36–12
| {{leagueicon|featherstone|16}} [[Featherstone Rovers|Featherstone]]
| {{leagueicon|barrow|16}} [[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]]<br />{{leagueicon|swinton|16}}&nbsp;[[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]<br />{{leagueicon|rochdale|16}}&nbsp;[[Rochdale Hornets|Rochdale]],<br />{{leagueicon|north wales crusaders|16}}&nbsp;[[North Wales Crusaders|North Wales]]<br />{{leagueicon|keighley|16}} [[Keighley Cougars|Keighley]]
|-
| [[2015 RFL Championship|2015]]
| {{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]
|rowspan=4|N/A
| {{leagueicon|bradford|16}} [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]]
| {{leagueicon|Doncaster|16}} [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]]<br />{{leagueicon|Hunslet|16}} [[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet]]
|-
| [[2016 RFL Championship|2016]]
| {{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]
| {{leagueicon|London|16}} [[London Broncos|London]]
| {{leagueicon|workington|16}} [[Workington Town|Workington]]<br />{{leagueicon|whitehaven|16}} [[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]
|-
| [[2017 RFL Championship|2017]]
| {{leagueicon|Hull KR|16}} [[Hull Kingston Rovers]]
| {{leagueicon|London|16}} [[London Broncos|London]]
| {{leagueicon|Oldham|16}} [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]<br />{{leagueicon|bradford|16}} [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]]
|-
| [[2018 RFL Championship|2018]]
| {{leagueicon|toronto|16}} [[Toronto Wolfpack|Toronto]]
| {{leagueicon|london|16}} [[London Broncos|London]]
| ''None''
|-
| [[2019 RFL Championship|2019]]
| {{leagueicon|toronto|16}} [[Toronto Wolfpack|Toronto]]
|24–6
| {{leagueicon|featherstone|16}} [[Featherstone Rovers|Featherstone]]
| {{leagueicon|barrow|16}} [[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]]<br />{{leagueicon|Rochdale|16}} [[Rochdale Hornets|Rochdale]]
|-
| [[2020 RFL Championship|2020]]
|colspan=4{{N/A|Season cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]}}. {{leagueicon|leigh|16}} [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]] elevated to Super League
|-
| [[2021 RFL Championship|2021]]
| {{leagueicon|toulouse|16}} [[Toulouse Olympique|Toulouse]]
|34–12
| {{leagueicon|featherstone|16}} [[Featherstone Rovers|Featherstone]]
| {{leagueicon|Oldham|16}} [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]<br />{{leagueicon|swinton|16}} [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
|-
| [[2022 RFL Championship|2022]]
|  {{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]
|44–12
|  {{leagueicon|Batley|16}} [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
| {{leagueicon|dewsbury|16}} [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]] <br /> {{leagueicon|workington|16}} [[Workington Town|Workington]]
|-
| [[2023 RFL Championship|2023]]
|  {{leagueicon|London|16}} [[London Broncos|London]]
| 18–14
|  {{leagueicon|toulouse|16}} [[Toulouse Olympique|Toulouse]]
| {{leagueicon|keighley|16}} [[Keighley Cougars|Keighley]]<br/>{{leagueicon|gateshead|16}} [[Newcastle Thunder|Newcastle]]
|-
| [[2024 RFL Championship|2024]]
| {{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [[Wakefield Trinity|Wakefield]]<br/> 
| 36–0
| {{leagueicon|toulouse|16}} [[Toulouse Olympique|Toulouse]]<br/> 
| {{leagueicon|swinton|16}} [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]<br/>{{leagueicon|whitehaven|16}} [[Whitehaven RLFC|Whitehaven]]<br/>{{leagueicon|dewsbury|16}} [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]]
|-
| [[2025 RFL Championship|2025]]
|  {{leagueicon|toulouse|16}} [[Toulouse Olympique|Toulouse]]
| 10–8
| {{leagueicon|York rlfc|16}} [[York Knights|York]]
| ''None'' 
|}

===Winners===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!
!Club
!Wins
!runners up
!Winning years
|-
|1||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} [[Leigh Leopards]]||5||1 ||  2004, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022
|-
|2||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Toulouse|16}} [[Toulouse Olympique]]||rowspan=6|2||2||2021, 2025
|-
|3||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Sheffield|16}} [[Sheffield Eagles]]||1|| 2012, 2013
|-
|rowspan=4|4||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Salford City Reds|16}} [[Salford Red Devils]]||rowspan=4|0|| 2003, 2008
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Castleford|16}} [[Castleford Tigers]]|| 2005, 2007
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Hull KR|16}} [[Hull Kingston Rovers]]|| 2006, 2017
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Toronto|16}} [[Toronto Wolfpack]]|| 2018, 2019
|-
|5||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Featherstone|16}} [[Featherstone Rovers]]||rowspan=5|1||5|| 2011
|-
|6||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|london|16}} [[London Broncos]]||3|| 2023

|-
|7||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Halifax|16}} [[Halifax Panthers]]||1||2010
|-
|rowspan=2|8||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Barrow|16}} [[Barrow Raiders]]||rowspan=2|0|| 2009
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [[Wakefield Trinity]]|| 2024
|-
|rowspan=3|9||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|whitehaven|16}} [[Whitehaven RLFC|Whitehaven]]||rowspan=6|0||rowspan=3|2 ||rowspan=6| –
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|widnes|16}} [[Widnes Vikings]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Batley|16}} [[Batley Bulldogs]]
|-
|rowspan=3|10||style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon| Crusaders|16}} [[Crusaders Rugby League|Crusaders]]|| rowspan=3| 1
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|Bradford|16}} [[Bradford Bulls]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{leagueicon|York rlfc |16}} [[York Knights]]
|}

==Sponsor==
The Championship has been sponsored four times since its inception in 2003. Betfred are the current title sponsor.

The title sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. There have been seven different title sponsors since the league's formation:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:center"
!Period
!Sponsor
!Name
|-
| 2003–2008
| [[Nuffield Health|Nuffield]]
| LHF Healthplan National League 1
|-
| 2009–2012
| [[The Co-operative Group|Co-operative Group]]
| Co-operative Championship
|-
| 2013–2017
| [[Kingstone Press Cider]]
| Kingstone Press Championship
|-
| 2018–present
| [[Betfred]]
|Betfred Championship
|}

The official [[rugby ball]] supplier is [[Steeden]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54111/steeden-become-official-match-ball-partner|title = Steeden become Official Match Ball Partner}}</ref>

==Media==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em; float:center"
!Period
!Broadcaster
|-
| 2008–2011
| [[Sky Sports]]<br />[[Premier Sports]]
|-
| 2012–2013
| [[Premier Sports]]
|-
| 2014
| [[Sky Sports]]<br />(Grand Final Only)
|-
| 2015–2021
| [[Sky Sports]]
|-
|2022
|[[Premier Sports]]
|-
|2023
|[[Viaplay Sports]]
|-
| 2024–present
| none
|}

===TV===
[[Sky Sports]] and [[Premier Sports]] shared the TV rights to the Championship between 2008 and 2012. After Sky only showed the Championship and [[RFL League 1|Championship 1]] Grand Finals while games were broadcast on [[Premier Sports]] until 2013. There was no TV coverage on the Championship in 2014. In 2015 Sky Sports won the rights to show the Championship including [[The Summer Bash]], [[Championship Shield]] and [[The Qualifiers]] in a seven-year deal.

A two-year broadcast deal with [[Premier Sports]] for 2022 and 2023 was signed at the end of 2021. Premier show a live match every Monday as well as all seven matches from the Summer Bash. The deal also includes the broadcasting rights to play-off matches and the Million Pound Game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Craven |first1=Dave |title=Championship seals broadcast deal with Premier Sports for live Monday night games |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/championship-seals-broadcast-deal-with-premier-sports-for-live-monday-night-games-3409336 |access-date=29 October 2021 |work=www.yorkshirepost.co.uk |date=6 October 2021}}</ref>

Premier Sports became part of [[Viaplay]] late in 2022 and was marketed as Viaplay Sports for the 2023 season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bassam |first1=Tom |title=Viaplay acquires Premier Sports in UK£30m deal to expand UK offering |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/viaplay-premier-sports-uk-launch-2022-uefa-laliga-tv-rights-subscribers |website=SportsPro |access-date=11 March 2023 |date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

===Radio===
Regional radio stations have coverage of the Championship clubs but mostly only cover Super League clubs in the same area and give updates of Championship scores and results.

==Academies==

===Reserve League===
In 2014 and 2015 Super League clubs were unhappy with the Dual registration system and wanted to form an Under 23 reserve leagues between the Under 19s and 1st team. Wigan, Warrington and St Helens were the first teams to propose the return of the reserve league where players could move from the under 19s and play with professional players before playing in the 1st team. A reserve league was set up in 2016 with a mixture of Super League, Championship and League 1 teams.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

===Dual registration===
Clubs in both the Super League and the Championships benefit from the new dual registration system which was introduced for the 2013 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/feb/09/super-league-championship-dual-registration|title=Debate continues over Super League and Championship dual registration|first=Andy|last=Wilson|date=9 February 2013|website=The Guardian}}</ref> The new system is intended to complement the existing player loan system.

Dual registration refers to an arrangement between clubs whereby a player continues to be registered to his current Super League club and is also registered to play for a club in the Championship. 

The dual registration scheme was abandoned in 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Matthew |title=Dual registration scrapped with major change made to rugby league loan system |url=https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/news/dual-registration-scrapped-loan-system-1252458 |access-date=28 August 2025 |work=All Out Rugby League |date=8 July 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Match officials==
{{Main|RFL Match officials}}
All rugby league matches are governed by the laws set out by the RFL; these laws are enforced by match officials. Former Super League and International Referee [[Phil Bentham]] is the current head of the Match Officials Department.

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
* [[British rugby league system]]
* [[Super League]]
* [[Rugby League Conference]]
* [[Northern Ford Premiership]]
* [[Championship Cup]]
* [[List of professional sports teams in the United Kingdom]]

==Notes==

{{Notelist}}

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|RFL Championship}}
* [https://www.rugby-league.com/competitions/pro-national/betfred-championship Rugby Football League Championship]

{{RFL Championship}}
{{RFL Championship Venues}}
{{British Rugby League links}}

[[Category:Championship (rugby league)| ]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1996]]
[[Category:European rugby league competitions]]
[[Category:Rugby league competitions in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rugby Football League Championship| ]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in France]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in Canada]]
[[Category:Multi-national sports leagues]]