The 2026 Welsh Rugby League men’s domestic season gets underway on Saturday 30 May, as clubs across South Wales begin their chase for silverware and representative honours.
Defending champions Aberavon Fighting Irish will be targeting a third consecutive Rugby League Conference title when they travel to Rhondda Outlaws in the opening round, while South Wales Jets host Bridgend Blue Bulls in the other fixture of the opening weekend.
The four clubs will each face one another three times across the regular season, with every side playing four home and four away matches as the race for the play-offs unfolds.
This year’s competition also continues the momentum behind Wales Rugby League’s long-term vision, outlined in Transforming Lives Through Rugby League – Our 2025-2030 Strategy, which aims to grow participation, strengthen clubs and create clearer player pathways at every level of the game.
While the Welsh men’s league remains a community set-up, the competition provides an important development platform for players aspiring to higher honours. Strong performances can lead to selection for representative sides, including Wales Dragonhearts and Wales ‘A’, both sitting directly below the senior Wales men’s team.
One player to emerge through that pathway is winger Jay Baker, who scored six tries for Wales ‘A’ last season after impressing domestically for Aberavon Fighting Irish.
The regular season will again feature the “Summer Smash” event at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday 11 July, following the success of last year’s inaugural showcase. The fixtures will mirror the opening weekend, bringing all four clubs together for a day celebrating Welsh domestic rugby league.
And for the first time, every club will remain involved throughout the full season structure. All four sides will progress to the semi-finals, with first facing fourth and second taking on third.
Finals Day will then take place at The Gnoll on Saturday 15 August, beginning with the return of the Welsh Shield final for the first time since 2014, before the Rugby League Conference Grand Final crowns the 2025 champions.
South Wales Jets will also take on Wales U19 on Saturday, 6 June in a warm-up match for our international side’s European Championship campaign, so the second round of the Rugby League Conference is split between two weekends as a result.
2026 Rugby League Conference Fixtures
| HOME | AWAY | ||
| 30/05/2026 | Rhondda Outlaws | Aberavon Fighting Irish | Taff’s Well RFC |
| 30/05/2026 | South Wales Jets | Bridgend Blue Bulls | Penallta RFC, Ystrad Mynach |
| 06/06/2026 | Bridgend Blue Bulls | Rhondda Outlaws | Cae Goff Recreation Ground, Cefn Cribbwr |
| 06/06/2026 | South Wales Jets | Wales U19 | Penallta RFC, Ystrad Mynach (warm-up match – not part of the competition) |
| 13/06/2026 | Aberavon Fighting Irish | South Wales Jets | Harlequins Field, Port Talbot |
| 20/06/2026 | Aberavon Fighting Irish | Bridgend Blue Bulls | Harlequins Field, Port Talbot |
| 20/06/2026 | Rhondda Outlaws | South Wales Jets | Taff’s Well RFC |
| 27/06/2026 | Rhondda Outlaws | Bridgend Blue Bulls | Taff’s Well RFC |
| 27/06/2026 | South Wales Jets | Aberavon Fighting Irish | Penallta RFC, Ystrad Mynach |
| 04/07/2026 | South Wales Jets | Rhondda Outlaws | Penallta RFC, Ystrad Mynach |
| 08/07/2026 | Bridgend Blue Bulls | Aberavon Fighting Irish | Cae Goff Recreation Ground, Cefn Cribbwr |
| 11/07/2026 | Aberavon Fighting Irish | Rhondda Outlaws | SUMMER |
| 11/07/2026 | Bridgend Blue Bulls | South Wales Jets | SMASH |
| 18/07/2026 | Bridgend Blue Bulls | Rhondda Outlaws | Cae Goff Recreation Ground, Cefn Cribbwr |
| 18/07/2026 | South Wales Jets | Aberavon Fighting Irish | Penallta RFC, Ystrad Mynach |
| 25/07/2026 | Aberavon Fighting Irish | Bridgend Blue Bulls | Harlequins Field, Port Talbot |
| 25/07/2026 | Rhondda Outlaws | South Wales Jets | Taff’s Well RFC |
| 01/08/2026 | Aberavon Fighting Irish | Rhondda Outlaws | Harlequins Field, Port Talbot |
| 01/08/2026 | Bridgend Blue Bulls | South Wales Jets | Cae Goff Recreation Ground, Cefn Cribbwr |
