London Broncos rout Doncaster to seal second-tier treble

London Broncos hammered Doncaster 78-6 to win the Championship Grand Final at Cherry Red Records Stadium on Sunday, 4 October 2026. The victory sealed a clean sweep of second-tier silverware for the London club. BBC Sport

The Championship is rugby league's second tier, below Super League. London's treble comprised the League Leaders' Shield, given to the team top of the regular-season table, the 1895 Cup, a knockout competition for clubs outside Super League, and the Grand Final itself, which decides the champions through the play-offs.

London earned top seeding with 23 wins and one defeat from 24 league games. They had already lifted the 1895 Cup in August with a 32-10 final win over Widnes Vikings. The Grand Final, played at their own home in Wimbledon, completed the set.

It was over by half-time. London led 38-0 at the break after scoring seven tries, the main scoring play in rugby league worth four points. Half-back James Meadows claimed two of those first-half scores as Doncaster, who had finished fourth in the regular season, struggled to hold the line.

The second half followed the same pattern. London finished with 14 tries in all. Meadows was joined on two tries apiece by Neil Tchamambe, Elliot Wallis and Brandon Webster-Mansfield. Doncaster managed a single response to avoid a shutout.

The 72-point margin set a new record for a Championship Grand Final. It doubled the previous 36-point mark, set by Featherstone in 2011 and matched by Wakefield in 2024. It was also London's fourth win over Doncaster in league and cup meetings that season.

For fans, this means bragging rights without the prize that usually follows. Winning the Championship does not guarantee promotion, with Super League places decided by club gradings that score on-field and off-field criteria. London applied for a Super League spot for 2026 but missed out, with York and Toulouse awarded the two available places.