The RFL has today confirmed the format for the 1895 Cup and details of the first round draw for 2026.
Former Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers and England star Luke Gale will join broadcaster James Deighton for the 1895 Cup Preliminary and Round One draw on Sunday (15 February), live on BBC Radio Leeds from 5.40pm.
The competition, which ex-Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Gale won with Wakefield Trinity two years ago, returns for 2026 with a new format featuring 19 Betfred Championship clubs.
Sunday’s draw will see six balls pulled first to produce three Preliminary Round ties before the remaining ten, and the addition of the three teams still in the Betfred Challenge Cup and home balls from the Preliminary Round ties are drawn to determine eight Round One fixtures.
Preliminary Round fixtures will be played on the weekend of March 14/15, with Round One scheduled to take place on April 17/18.
The Final of the 1895 Cup will be played on Monday, 31 August, with the venue to be confirmed in due course.
