Championship to run with top eight play-offs

The newly-expanded 14-team Championship will run with a top eight play-off system, akin to Super League, while two clubs will be relegated to Championship 1 at the end of the season.

Four teams – Doncaster, Barrow, Workington and Whitehaven – were promoted to the Championship following the addition of three new teams – Hemel, Gloucestershire and Oxford – to Championship 1.

In the top division, the top eight will progress to the play-offs, which will follow the same format as Super League, with the winners of the Grand Final claiming a £50,000 prize.

The bottom two teams in the Championship will be relegated, with the team finishing first in Championship 1 gaining automatic promotion.

The next five teams in the table – 2nd to 6th – will then battle it out in a play-off series, with the Grand Final winner earning the second promotion spot.

All clubs were notified of the structure of the 2013 season back in September.

Championship play-off format

Week 1
Qualifying: 1st v 4th
Qualfying: 2nd v 3rd

Elimination: 5th v 8th
Elimination: 6th v 7th

Week 2
Preliminary: Loser qualifying (highest ranked) v Winner Elimination (lowest ranked)
Preliminary: Loser qualifying (lowest ranked) v Winner Elimination (highest ranked)

Week 3
Semi: Winner qualifying (highest ranked) v Winner preliminary (lowest ranked)
Semi: Winner qualifying (lowest ranked) v Winner preliminary (highest ranked)

Week 4
Grand Final: Winner Semi v Winner Semi

Championship 1 play-off format

Week 1
Match A: 3rd v 4th
Match B: 5th v 6th
2nd receives bye

Week 2
Match C: 2nd v Winner of Match A
Match D: Loser of Match A v Winner of Match B

Week 3
Match E: Loser Match C v Winner Match D

Week 4
Grand Final: Winner Match C v Winner Match E