2026 Hull Kingston Rovers season

Hull Kingston Rovers 2026 season
2026 World Club Challenge champions
2026 Super League season Rank11th
World Club ChallengeChampions
2026 recordWins: 4; draws: 0; losses: 3
Points scoredFor: 76; against: 109
Team information
ChairmanNeil Hudgell
Head CoachWillie Peters
Captain
StadiumSewell Group Craven Park
Top scorers
TriesTom Davies (2)
GoalsRhyse Martin (7)
PointsRhyse Martin (14)
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2025 List of seasons 2027 →

The 2026 season is Hull Kingston Rovers' tenth consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. They are competing in the 2026 Super League season, the 2026 Challenge Cup and, as Super League champions, competed in the 2026 World Club Challenge.

Preseason friendlies

Date and time Versus H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
25 January; 15:00 Wakefield Trinity H Craven Park L 6–34 Leyland Charles (1/1) [1]

World Club Challenge

Main article: 2026 World Club Challenge

On 6 November, it was confirmed that as reigning champions of the 2025 Super League season, Hull Kingston Rovers were to face the Brisbane Broncos, the reigning champions of the 2025 NRL season, in the World Club Challenge at the MKM Stadium. The match, the first time since 1986 that Hull Kingston Rovers will play against an Australian team,[2] was additionally planned to be hosted at Elland Road or Wembley Stadium as Craven Park was deemed too small to host the match,[3] with plans to host the match in either Las Vegas or Qatar also rejected.[4]

Date and time Versus H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance TV Report
19 February, 19:30 Brisbane Broncos H MKM Stadium W 30–24 Amone, Minchella, Burgess, Gildart, Hiku Mourgue (2/2), Martin (3/3) 24,600 BBC Three
Sky Sports 		[5][6]

Super League

Main article: 2026 Super League season

From 2026, the Super League expanded to 14 teams, with Toulouse Olympique and York Knights being promoted from the RFL Championship via the IMG Grading system.[7] At a meeting of all twelve Super League teams at the Headingley Rugby Stadium on 28 July 2025 to vote on the expansion proposal, Hull Kingston Rovers were one of two teams to vote against expanding the league, with the club preferring for expansion to have instead taken place ahead of the 2027 season.[8]

On 14 May 2025, it was announced that Hull Kingston Rovers would be part of the 2026 Rugby League Las Vegas event, playing their Round 3 fixture against the Leeds Rhinos at the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.[9]

Fixtures

Hull Kingston Rovers' Super League 2026 fixtures were released on 27 November 2025:[10][11]

Date and time Round Versus H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance TV Pos. Report
12 February; 20:00 Round 1 York Knights A York Community Stadium L 18–19 Whitbread (2), Sue Martin (3/3) 8,500 Sky Sports + Main 8th [12]
20 February; 20:00 Round 2 Warrington Wolves H Craven Park N/A P–P[a] N/A 12th
1 March; 00:00 (GMT) Round 3
(Rugby League Las Vegas) 		Leeds Rhinos N Allegiant Stadium L 6–58 Burgess Martin (1/1) 45,719 Sky Sports Main Event 14th [13]
8 March; 15:00 Round 4 Huddersfield Giants A Kirklees Stadium W 32–6 Davies (2), Lewis (2), Gildart, Burgess Lewis (1/2), Martin (3/4) 4,827 Sky Sports + 12th [14]
21 March; 17:30 (GMT) Round 5 Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus L 20–26 May, Burgess, Amone Lewis (3/3 + 1 pen.) Sky Sports + 11th [15]
27 March; 20:00 Round 6 St Helens H Craven Park – Sky Sports + Main
3 April; 12:30
(Good Friday) 		Round 7
(Rivals Round) 		Hull F.C. H Craven Park – Sky Sports Action
17 April; 18:00 (BST) Round 8 Toulouse Olympique A Stade Ernest Wallon – Sky Sports +
25 April; 15:00 Round 9 Bradford Bulls A Odsal Stadium – Sky Sports +
30 April; 20:00 Round 10 Castleford Tigers H Craven Park – Sky Sports
16 May; 17:30 Round 11 Leigh Leopards A Leigh Sports Village – Sky Sports
21 May; 20:00 Round 12 Wigan Warriors H Craven Park – Sky Sports
6 June; 17:30 Round 13 Wakefield Trinity A Belle Vue – Sky Sports
12 June; 20:00 Round 14 York Knights H Craven Park – Sky Sports
19 June; 20:00 Round 15 Leigh Leopards H Craven Park – Sky Sports
26 June; 20:00 Round 16 Leeds Rhinos A Headingley Rugby Stadium – Sky Sports
4 July; TBC Round 17
(Magic Weekend) 		Hull F.C. N Hill Dickinson Stadium – Sky Sports + Main
11 July; 17:30 Round 18 Wakefield Trinity H Craven Park – Sky Sports
18 July; 15:00 Round 19 Warrington Wolves A Halliwell Jones Stadium – Sky Sports
23 July; 20:00 Round 20 Hull F.C. A MKM Stadium – Sky Sports
31 July; 20:00 Round 21 Bradford Bulls H Craven Park – Sky Sports
7 August; 20:00 Round 22 Castleford Tigers A Wheldon Road – Sky Sports
14 August; 20:00 Round 23 Catalans Dragons H Craven Park – Sky Sports
20 August; 20:00 Round 24 Toulouse Olympique H Craven Park – Sky Sports
27 August; 20:00 Round 25 Wigan Warriors A Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports
4 September; 20:00 Round 26 Huddersfield Giants H Craven Park – Sky Sports
11 September; 20:00 Round 27 St Helens A BrewDog Stadium – Sky Sports

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Wigan Warriors 5 5 0 0 173 60 +113 10 Advance to Semi-finals
2 Warrington Wolves[b] 4 4 0 0 161 66 +95 8
3 St Helens 5 4 0 1 126 84 +42 8 Advance to Eliminators
4 Leeds Rhinos 5 3 0 2 156 74 +82 6
5 Bradford Bulls 5 3 0 2 114 83 +31 6
6 Wakefield Trinity 5 3 0 2 82 85 −3 6
7 Catalans Dragons 5 3 0 2 88 110 −22 6
8 Hull F.C. 5 2 0 3 83 101 −18 4
9 Toulouse Olympique 5 2 0 3 80 112 −32 4
10 York Knights 5 2 0 3 102 141 −39 4
11 Hull KR[b] 4 1 0 3 76 109 −33 2
12 Leigh Leopards 5 1 0 4 74 128 −54 2
13 Castleford Tigers 5 1 0 4 72 152 −80 2
14 Huddersfield Giants 5 0 0 5 54 136 −82 0 Relegated to Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: [1]
Notes:
  1. ^ Fixture postponed and due to be rearranged due to Hull Kingston Rovers' World Club Challenge commitments.
  2. ^ a b A Round 2 fixture between Hull Kingston Rovers and Warrington Wolves is to be rearranged later in the season due to the former's World Club Challenge commitments.[16]

Challenge Cup

Main article: 2026 Challenge Cup

Hull Kingston Rovers were first drawn on 12 January to play Lock Lane ARLFC in Round 3, following Lock Lane's 42-6 defeat of Brighouse Rangers in their delayed Round 1 fixture on 17 January; as a result of Featherstone Rovers being removed from the competition, Lock Lane gained an automatic bye to enter Round 3.[17] The fixture was originally set to be played away at Lock Lane's Hicksons Arena, with neighbouring Castleford Tigers offering their Wheldon Road stadium as an alternative venue, however both teams later agreed to swap the venue to Craven Park by the request of Lock Lane's players.[18]

Following their victory against Lock Lane, which saw records for Hull Kingston Rovers' highest-scoring victory and most goals scored in a fixture broken,[19] Hull Kingston Rovers beat the Huddersfield Giants away 52-12 in Round 4, entering them into the quarter-finals.[20] On 17 March, Hull Kingston Rovers were drawn at home to play the York Knights on the weekend of 11-12 April.[21]

Date and time Round Versus H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance TV Report
6 February; 20:00 Round 3 Lock Lane ARLFC H Craven Park W 104–0[a] Broadbent (3), Horne (3), Davies (2), Charles (2), Sue, Minchella, Booth, Lawton, Gildart, Mourgue, Whitehead, Brown Martin (16/18)[b] Not televised [19]
14 March; 15:00 Round 4 Huddersfield Giants A Kirklees Stadium W 52–12 Lewis (2), Whitehead, Hiku, May, Leyland, Luckley, Gildart, Broadbent Martin (8/9) 2,736[23] The Sportsman [20]
11 April; 13:30 Quarter-finals York Knights H Craven Park – BBC Two

Transfers

Gains

Player Club Contract Date
Tom Amone Canterbury Bulldogs[c] 3 years April 2025[24]
Jumah Sambou Oldham R.L.F.C. 3 years May 2025[25]
Declan Murphy Salford Red Devils 3 years August 2025[26]
Cobie Wainhouse Hull F.C. 2 years August 2025[27]
Jack Charles Hull F.C. 4 years October 2025[28]
Jordan Dezaria Catalans Dragons 3 years October 2025[29]
Tom Whitehead Warrington Wolves 3 years November 2025[30]
Karl Lawton North Queensland Cowboys 3 years December 2025[31]

Losses

Player Club Contract Date
Neil Tchamambe Wakefield Trinity 2 years March 2025[32]
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves N/A Retirement April 2025[33]
Kye Armstrong TBC September 2025[34]
Michael McIlorum N/A Retirement September 2025[35]
Ajahni Wallace Toulouse Olympique 1 year October 2025[36]
Danny Richardson York Knights 2 years October 2025[37]
Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e Catalans Dragons 1 year October 2025[38]
Lennie Ellis Sheffield Eagles 1 year October 2025[39]
Eribe Doro Bradford Bulls 2 years October 2025[40]
Leo Tennison York Knights 1 year November 2025[41]
Kelepi Tanginoa Warrington Wolves 2 years November 2025[42]

Loans out

Player Club Loan period Date
Leon Ruan Bradford Bulls End of season December 2025[43]
Jumah Sambou Widnes Vikings End of season January 2026[44]

Squad

2026 Hull Kingston Rovers squad
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)
  • = suspended
  • = injured
  • (gk) = Goal kicker

Updated: 8 December 2025
Source(s): Hull KR confirm 2026 Squad Numbers

Notes

  1. ^ This fixture marked Hull Kingston Rovers' highest-scoring fixture of all time, beating a 100–6 record set against Nottingham City RLFC in August 1990.[22][19]
  2. ^ Martin's goals during this fixture made him Hull Kingston Rovers' highest goal scorer in a single fixture, beating a record of 14 goals jointly held by Colin Armstrong, Alf Carmichael, Damien Couturier and Mike Fletcher.[22][19]
  3. ^ Amone also spent a large portion of the 2025 season on loan to Castleford Tigers.

References

  1. ^ Smailes, James (25 January 2026). "Youthful Hull KR beaten by Wakefield Trinity as new signings get first run out". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  2. ^ "World Club Challenge: Hull KR to host Brisbane Broncos as rugby league's battle for global supremacy returns in 2026". Sky Sports. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  3. ^ Chapman Coombe, Louis (22 October 2025). "Shock venue touted to host World Club Challenge as bizarre reason given for UK switch". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  4. ^ Shaw, Matthew (31 October 2025). "Hull KR and Brisbane Broncos receive mega offer to move World Club Challenge to Qatar". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  5. ^ McAllister, Josh (19 February 2026). "Hull KR secure legendary status with epic World Club Challenge triumph over Brisbane Broncos". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  6. ^ Brennan, Stewart (19 February 2026). "Hull KR beat Brisbane to win World Club Challenge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  7. ^ Freeman, Jay (17 October 2025). "York and Toulouse to play in expanded Super League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  8. ^ Bower, Aaron (28 July 2025). "The three clubs who did not vote for Super League expansion revealed". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos to meet in Las Vegas". BBC Sport. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  10. ^ "2026 Betfred Super League Fixtures revealed". Hull Kingston Rovers. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  11. ^ "First Team Fixtures". Hull Kingston Rovers. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  12. ^ Smailes, James (12 February 2026). "Hull KR shocked by York Knights as Rovers lick wounds before Brisbane challenge". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  13. ^ McAllister, Josh (1 March 2026). "Hull KR beaten in Vegas but chaotic US adventure proves unforgettable". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  14. ^ McAllister, Josh (8 March 2026). "Hull KR deliver perfect response to Las Vegas nightmare with Huddersfield Giants win". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  15. ^ McAllister, Josh (21 March 2026). "Hull KR suffer heartbreak after costly late error against Catalans Dragons". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Full 2026 fixtures released". Warrington Wolves. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026. Our Round 2 away fixture against Hull KR will be played later on in the season as the Robins' compete in the World Club Challenge that weekend.
  17. ^ Olawumi, Ben (18 January 2026). "Challenge Cup Second Round confirmed as Hull KR's Third Round opponents locked in". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  18. ^ Shaw, Matthew (22 January 2026). "Castleford Tigers respond as community club opt against using stadium for Challenge Cup clash". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  19. ^ a b c d McAllister, Josh (6 February 2026). "Hull KR set new club record as Challenge Cup title defence starts in emphatic fashion". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  20. ^ a b McAllister, Josh (14 March 2026). "Hull KR too strong for depleted Huddersfield Giants as Robins march into Challenge Cup quarter-finals". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  21. ^ Walker, Callum (17 March 2026). "Challenge Cup Quarter-Final draw as Wakefield Trinity host Wigan Warriors". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  22. ^ a b "Club honours & records". Hull Kingston Rovers. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  23. ^ Bower, Aaron (17 March 2026). "Huddersfield Giants cup crowd confirmed as worrying precedent set". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  24. ^ "Hull KR sign Amone for 2026 after Castleford spell". BBC Sport. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Hull KR sign Oldham centre Sambou for next season". BBC Sport. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  26. ^ Olawumi, Ben (1 August 2025). "Hull KR swoop to sign Salford Red Devils starlet as long-term contract length revealed". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  27. ^ Tomlinson, Daniel (4 August 2025). "Hull KR sign young Hull FC prop with immediate effect". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  28. ^ "Charles crosses city to join Hull KR". BBC Sport. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Hull KR sign France international Dezaria". BBC Sport. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  30. ^ Olawumi, Ben (17 November 2025). "Hull KR swoop to sign Warrington Wolves starlet ahead of 2026 as long-term deal announced". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  31. ^ "Hull KR sign forward Lawton on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  32. ^ Soanes, Matt (12 March 2025). "Winger Neil Tchamambe signs new deal with Wakefield Trinity". Rayo. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  33. ^ "Jared Waerea-Hargreaves: Hull KR prop to retire at end of Super League season". Sky Sports. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  34. ^ Chapman Coombe, Louis (20 September 2025). "Hull KR confirm 10 exits as Michael McIlorum future clarified". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  35. ^ "Hull KR's McIlorum to retire at the end of 2025". BBC Sport. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  36. ^ Olawumi, Ben (20 October 2025). "International forward lands permanent deal with Super League newcomers following Hull KR exit". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  37. ^ Olawumi, Ben (21 October 2025). "Danny Richardson's first words as permanent York move confirmed following Hull KR departure". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  38. ^ Walker, Callum (24 October 2025). "Hull KR fullback Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e signs for Catalans Dragons". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  39. ^ Olawumi, Ben (27 October 2025). "Released Hull KR playmaker lands Championship deal for 2026 following Craven Park exit". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  40. ^ "Bradford Bulls re-sign prop Doro". BBC Sport. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  41. ^ Bower, Aaron (13 November 2025). "Hull KR forward set for switch to York Knights after Craven Park exit". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  42. ^ "Warrington sign Hull KR forward Tanginoa". BBC Sport. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  43. ^ "Bradford sign Hull KR forward Ruan for 2026". BBC Sport. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  44. ^ McAllister, Josh (26 January 2026). "Hull KR recruit to spend full season away as new deal confirmed". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
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