MATCH PREVIEW: BETFRED CHAMPIONSHIP – DONCASTER RLFC (H)

BETFRED CHAMPIONSHIP (ROUND TWO)
Midlands Hurricanes v Doncaster RLFC
Sunday 1 February 2026 – 2pm KO
£15 Adults (£17 on the day) | £12 Young Adult/Concession (£14 on the day) | £7 Student (£9 on the day) | £1 U16s (£2 on the day)
Tickets: BUY HERE

Mark Dunning’s men bounced back from a 10-28 defeat to Newcastle in the first round of the Championship with a record 110-0, 20 try-scoring effort against Welsh Conference Champions Aberavon Fighting Irish in the Second Round of the Challenge Cup. With a Third Round away clash at Cougar Park confirmed for 3pm on Sunday 8 February, the Canes turn their attention to the side that held on to knock Newcastle Thunder out of the cup last weekend: Doncaster.

Doncaster – like the Canes – spent most of their recent history in Betfred League One before the merger of the two leagues at the end of the 2025 season. After winning League One in 2012 they were relegated at the end of the 2015 season, and the Dons remained there until 2023 when they won the Betfred League One playoffs . That season would also see the Canes famously beat Doncaster 10-41 at the Eco-Power Stadium in what was Mark Dunning’s first win as Canes Head Coach, with second-rower Tom Wilkinson kicking a monster drop-goal on the first-half hooter.

Since re-joining the Betfred Championship in 2024, the Dons have established themselves as strong potential play-off contenders in recent years. An 8th place finished at the end of the 2024 season saw them only three points short of 6th place, and the South Yorkshire outfit managed to match that effort last season but were a few wins away from securing a play-off spot as Oldham, Halifax and Featherstone ran away with the final play-off places in the final weeks of the campaign. The Dons also launched an ambitious bid to be chosen as one of two teams to compete in the Betfred Super League, however York Knights and Toulouse Olympique ultimately got the nod.

Whilst an 8th place finish would secure the Dons a play-off spot in 2026, Coach Richard Horne has recruited well with the aim of being one of the top teams in the Betfred Championship. Among their notable signings is former Sheffield Eagles favourite Cory Aston, with Titus Gwaze also joining from Sheffield. The Dons have also recruited Connor James, James Glover and Gadwin Springer from Featherstone Rovers, as well as Muizz Mustapha from Castleford Tigers and Tom Holmes from Bradford Bulls. They have already made a strong start with a 19-12 home win over Halifax Panthers and a close-fought 24-22 win over Newcastle in the Second Round of the Challenge Cup, and will be looking to leave Avery Fields with the two points and their 100% record intact.

Mark Dunning has once again named a strong squad to take on Doncaster tomorrow. Mark has only made three changes from last week as Danny Craven, Tom Wilkinson and Mikey Wood – who were all omitted from the 21-man squad to face Aberavon Fighting Irish – return to the squad in place of Zach Jebson, the injured Cian Tyrer and Louis Beattie. With the season still only just getting underway and the Canes having played only two competitive fixtures, it will be interesting to see what combinations Mark, Leigh and Cully aim to put together as they face a strong and ambitious Doncaster outfit.

Your www.enjoytravel.com 21-man squad: