France Elite 2: 2025-26

The regular season of the second division in France has concluded. The nine competing sides go into the six team knock out competition. Green shows the top six. 

The League: The top sides changed places at the top, Villegailhenc Aragon (VARL) this time the winners. Two sides that missed out on the finals last year, made it through in 2025-26. Of course, that means two that did last year failed this time around. 

Photo: VARL Facebook (some of their fans celebrating).

The Finals: The top two teams had a bye and then took on the winners of the first knock out round, Pamiers and Realmont. They progressed comfortably, VARL by 56-6 and Palau 40-12.

This was VARL's third consecutive grand final, having lost both. Palua was in its second consecutive final, defeating YARL last year by 20-17. It was third time lucky for VARL, winning 30-18 after leading 12-6 at the break.   

Women's UK Championship: 2026

The 2026 Women’s National Championship will feature 12 teams competing across 11 rounds. The clubs are in the north of England, except obviously for London and Cardiff. Cardiff in particular impresses me. There are no men's teams currently doing what they are in representing the south of Wales in the code. 

The top four teams will progress into the play-offs. That means entering the semi finals, the winners progressing to the division final. The winner will then progress to a promotion play off final. They will take on the lowest club from Super League to try and earn a place in the Betfred Women’s Super League. So there is a promotion to be aspiring to. 

Women's UK Super League: 2026

The 2026 competition will feature eight clubs playing in the first division. Each team will play each other once, making that seven games. Then the top and bottom four will divide off into two divisions of four each. The teams in each new division will play each other twice. 

The winner of the top division wins the league shield and goes straight into the grand final, Second and third will play off to see which one joins them.  

The lower four will also play each other twice, the bottom team then having to play the winner of the Championship (or second divsion) to see if they are relegated and replaced by a team below or if the status quo is maintained. 

The clubs to the right are the eight sides that will contest the 2026 Super League. Wigan will be the team to beat.