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2026 Wigan Warriors season

Wigan Warriors 2026 season
Team information
CEOKris Radlinski
Head CoachMatt Peet
Captain
StadiumBrick Community Stadium
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The 2026 season will be the Wigan Warriors's 46th consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. They will compete in the 2026 Super League season and the 2026 Challenge Cup.

Preseason friendlies

Wigan's preseason game against Hull FC will be Liam Marshall's testimonial match.[1]

Date and time Versus H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance TV Report
10 January; 13:00 North Wales Crusaders A Eirias Stadium L 22–34 Chan, Wadsworth, Sambou, Hodkinson Lowe (2/3) 1,509 Not televised [2]
1 February; 15:00 Hull FC H Brick Community Stadium W 22–18 Marshall, Nsemba, Field, Farrimond Keighran (2/3), Farrimond (1/1) 4,511 Not televised [3]

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.[4] At a meeting of all twelve Super League teams at the Headingley Rugby Stadium on 28 July 2025 to vote on the expansion proposal, Wigan Warriors were the only club to abstain from voting.[5]

Wigan's 2026 Super League fixtures were announced on 27 November 2025,[6] with the opening round fixtures confirmed the day prior.[7] After speculation regarding its inclusion in the 2026 calendar, Wigan's Magic Weekend fixture was confirmed on 25 November; with the event taking place at the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium in Liverpool.[8]

Wigan's away fixture against Catalans Dragons was moved to Paris by the hosts in 2025 to celebrate 20 years of the club competing in Super League, in addition to also marking 30 years of French clubs competing in the British rugby league system.[9][10] The match will be played as a double-header with the Super XIII 2025–2026 Grand Final.[11]

Fixtures

Date and time Round Versus H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance TV[a] Pos. Report
15 February; 15:00 Round 1 Castleford Tigers A Wheldon Road W 26–18 Marshall, French, Eckersley (2), Wardle Keighran (3/5) 8,259 BBC Red Button 3rd [14]
21 February; 20:00 Round 2 Hull FC H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports+
26 February; 20:00 Round 3 Leigh Leopards H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports Exclusive
7 March; 17:00 (GMT) Round 4 Toulouse Olympique A Stade Ernest-Wallon – Sky Sports Exclusive
19 March; 20:00 Round 5 York Knights H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports+
28 March; 15:00 Round 6 Huddersfield Giants H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports+
3 April; 15:00 Round 7
(Good Friday) 		St Helens A Langtree Park – Sky Sports Main Event
19 April; 15:00 Round 8 Castleford Tigers H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports+
24 April; 20:00 Round 9 Warrington Wolves A Halliwell Jones Stadium – Sky Sports Exclusive
2 May; 15:00 Round 10 Bradford Bulls H Brick Community Stadium – BBC Red Button
15 May; 20:00 Round 11 Leeds Rhinos H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports Exclusive
21 May; 20:00 Round 12 Hull Kingston Rovers A Craven Park – Sky Sports Exclusive
6 June; 18:30 (BST) Round 13 Catalans Dragons N Stade Jean-Bouin – Sky Sports Exclusive
12 June; 20:00 Round 14 Wakefield Trinity A Belle Vue – Sky Sports Exclusive
20 June; 15:00 Round 15 York Knights A York Community Stadium – Sky Sports+
27 June; 15:00 Round 16 Hull FC A MKM Stadium – Sky Sports
5 July; TBC Round 17
(Magic Weekend) 		St Helens N Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium – Sky Sports
10 July; 20:00 Round 18 Warrington Wolves H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports
17 July; 20:00 Round 19 Huddersfield Giants A Kirklees Stadium – Sky Sports
24 July; 20:00 Round 20 St Helens H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports
31 July; 20:00 Round 21 Leigh Leopards A Leigh Sports Village – Sky Sports
8 August; 17:30 Round 22 Toulouse Olympique H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports
15 August; 15:00 Round 23 Bradford Bulls A Odsal Stadium – Sky Sports
21 August; 20:00 Round 24 Wakefield H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports
27 August; 20:00 Round 25 Hull Kingston Rovers H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports
5 September; 20:00 Round 26 Leeds Rhinos A Headingley Rugby Stadium – Sky Sports
11 September; 20:00 Round 27 Catalans Dragons H Brick Community Stadium – Sky Sports

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Catalans Dragons 1 1 0 0 26 10 +16 2 Advance to Semi-finals
2 Leigh Leopards 1 1 0 0 26 14 +12 2
3 Wigan Warriors 1 1 0 0 26 16 +10 2 Advance to Eliminators
4 Warrington Wolves 1 1 0 0 24 14 +10 2
5 Hull F.C. 1 1 0 0 27 20 +7 2
6 Toulouse Olympique 1 1 0 0 18 16 +2 2
7 York Knights 1 1 0 0 19 18 +1 2
8 Hull Kingston Rovers 1 0 0 1 18 19 −1 0
9 Wakefield Trinity 1 0 0 1 16 18 −2 0
10 Bradford Bulls 1 0 0 1 20 27 −7 0
11 Castleford Tigers 1 0 0 1 16 26 −10 0
12 St Helens 1 0 0 1 14 24 −10 0
13 Leeds Rhinos 1 0 0 1 14 26 −12 0
14 Huddersfield Giants 1 0 0 1 10 26 −16 0 Relegated to Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 15 February 2026. Source: [1]

Challenge Cup

Main article: 2026 Challenge Cup
Date and time Round Versus H/A Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance TV Report
8 February; 15:00 Round 3 Rochdale Hornets A Spotland Stadium W 83–0 Eckersley (4), French (2), Field (3), Farrimond, Partington, Wardle (3), Mago Keighran (12/15)
Drop-goals: French 		4,248 Not televised [15]
13 March; 20:00 Round 4 Bradford Bulls H Brick Community Stadium –

Transfers

Gains

Player Club Contract Date
England Dayon Sambou St Helens 4 years October 2025[16]
England Jonny Vaughan
England Oliver Wilson Huddersfield Giants 3 years November 2025[17]
England Finn McMillan Barrow Raiders 2 years + 1 Year December 2025[18]
England Oliver Partington Catalans Dragons 5 years January 2025[19]

Losses

Player Club Contract Date
England Christian Wade Newcastle Red Bulls October 2025[20][21]
Ireland Liam Byrne Warrington Wolves 2 Years + 1 Year October 2025[22][23]
England Trent Kelly-Duffy Swinton Lions October 2025[24]
England Harvie Hill Hull F.C. 4 Years October 2025[25]
England Tyler Dupree Toulouse Olympique 1 Year Loan November 2025[26]
England Jacob Douglas St Helens 3 Years November 2025[27]
England Harvey Makin Oldham Roughyeds 1 Year Loan November 2025[28]
England Kruise Leeming Catalans Dragons 1 Year Loan January 2025[19]

Squad

2026 Wigan Warriors Squad
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

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

Updated: 5 January 2026
Source(s): 2026 Squad Numbers

Notes

  1. ^ Ahead of 2024, Sky Sports announced they would be broadcasting all Super League matches over the next three seasons.[12] Exact TV channels can be sourced by using WayBack Machine on RugbyLeagueOnTV.
    NB Not all games were broadcast on Sky Sports TV (advertised as "Sky Sports Exclusives"), with the remainder being broadcast using Sky Sports+, their on demand services accessible online or via red button. These games were also made available on Super League+, and a select few on the BBC.[13] Further, games on Main Event were also broadcast on Action.

References

  1. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (7 November 2025). "Wigan Warriors pre-season friendly confirmed in Liam Marshall's testimonial match". Wigan Today. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  2. ^ https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2026/01/10/warriors-beaten-by-crusaders-in-pre-season-opener/
  3. ^ https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2026/02/01/warriors-beat-hull-fc-in-liam-marshall-testimonial/
  4. ^ Freeman, Jay (17 October 2025). "York and Toulouse to play in expanded Super League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  5. ^ Bower, Aaron (28 July 2025). "The three clubs who did not vote for Super League expansion revealed". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Super League 2026 fixtures: Full regular season fixture list, plus play-off and Grand Final dates". Sky Sports. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  7. ^ Olawumi, Ben (26 November 2025). "First BBC broadcast pick of new Super League season revealed in Round 1 schedule". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Hill Dickinson Stadium to host 2026 Magic Weekend". BBC Sport. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Catalans to face Wigan in Paris during 2026 season". BBC Sport. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Super League: Catalans Dragons to face Wigan Warriors in Paris in 2026 to mark 20th anniversary". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Wigan's historic Paris trip to become historic double-header with second game on bill". Love Rugby League. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Sky Sports to show every Super League match live as part of historic new three-year TV rights deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Super League: BBC to show live games for first time after signing three-year broadcast deal". BBC Sport. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Wigan start with hard-fought win at Castleford". BBC Sport. 15 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  15. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/clywy03ydj8o
  16. ^ "Wigan Warriors sign St Helens pair Jonny Vaughan and Dayon Sambou". BBC Sport. 21 September 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Wigan sign Wilson from Huddersfield for 2026". BBC Sport. 10 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Wigan bring in Barrow forward McMillan". BBC Sport. 18 December 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Partington returns to Wigan on five-year deal". BBC Sport. 18 January 2026.
  20. ^ "Newcastle Red Bulls: Christian Wade to leave Wigan for rugby union". BBC Sport. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Christian Wade returns to rugby union with Newcastle Red Bulls after leaving rugby league side Wigan Warriors | Rugby Union News". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Warrington: Wigan forward Liam Byrne to join Wolves for 2026 season". BBC Sport. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Byrne to depart Warriors at season's end with Super League switch confirmed". Wigan Today. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  24. ^ Olawumi, Ben (16 September 2025). "Wigan Warriors forward among young Super League trio to join League 1 heavyweights". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Harvie Hill: Hull FC sign Wigan Warriors prop on four-year deal". BBC Sport. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  26. ^ "Tyler Dupree: Wigan Warriors prop to spend 2026 on loan at Toulouse". BBC Sport. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  27. ^ "St Helens sign winger Douglas on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Wigan Warriors prop makes return to Championship for 2026 season". Love Rugby League. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
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