Betfred Wheelchair Super League returns this weekend

The Betfred Wheelchair Super League season gets underway on Saturday (11 April) as eight teams begin their fight for a place in the 2026 Grand Final on Sunday 20 September. 

Halifax Panthers will open the weekend with a battle against newcomers Bradford Bulls, as they fight to defend the competition (KO 1:30pm).

The Panthers are the team to beat this season, having walked away with the treble in 2025 after picking up the League Leaders’ Shield and Super League Grand Final trophy, as well as winning the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup.

A key part of that squad was 2025 IRL Golden Boot Winner, Rob Hawkins, who made history last season when he won the award for a second, consecutive season:

“This year is obviously a big year for Rugby League with the World Cup at the end of the year, so myself and a lot of players in the Super League are going to be fighting for a spot to play in that, for whichever country they play for.

“But from a Super League perspective, I’m just looking forward to playing alongside the rest of the boys at Halifax and hopefully we can go for that treble again.

“When we look back on the season last year, it wasn’t necessarily an easy season, we definitely had a lot of difficulty with the matches, but that’s the type of games that we want.

“It always makes the win a lot more special when it comes from close games and hopefully we can get some more of that this season.”

Hot on the tails of the Panthers in 2025 were the London Roosters, who also finished their regular season unbeaten, missing out on the League Leaders’ Shield solely on points difference.

“They bring a different playing style to how we play so you have to look into it a bit differently,” said Hawkins.

“They’ve got a lot of international players within their team, so they’ve all had the same training that a lot of our players at Halifax have had in some form of way.

“It’s a really good dynamic that they’ve got over there between the way that they play and the players that they have so we’re hoping to have more of that this season.”

The Roosters will kick off their campaign on the road, facing Hull FC at the Allam Sports Centre (KO 2pm).

Also facing off are Edinburgh Giants who return for their second season as a Super League side. They welcome the Leeds Rhinos in their opening round as they look to improve on their 2025 form and fight for a place in the 2026 play-offs (KO 2:30pm). 

Sheffield Eagles also return for a second season and will travel to face Wigan Warriors in the opening round (KO 2:45pm).

The Warriors will be looking to bounce back this season after missing out on a place in the 2025 Grand Final following their play-off battle, whilst the Eagles continue their fight for their first play-off spot.

Betfred Wheelchair Super League 2026 Round 1 fixtures:

Saturday 11 April

Bradford Bulls v Halifax Panthers - KO 1:30pm, Sedbergh Centre

Hull FC v London Roosters - KO 2pm, Allam Sports Centre

Edinburgh Giants v Leeds Rhinos - KO 2:30pm, Pleasance Sports Complex

Wigan Warriors v Sheffield Eagles - KO 2:45pm, Robin Park Centre

A full list of fixtures for the Betfred Wheelchair Super League can be found here.