New Salford team granted Championship status

The Rugby Football League have given a new Salford team Championship membership for 2026, three weeks after the old club was wound up.

A consortium led by former Red Devils player Mason Caton-Brown has been chosen from three "high-quality" proposals to take on the club.

The RFL said the submission from Salford RLFC Ltd "demonstrated a clear commitment to sustainable governance, financial responsibility and long-term stability".

Caton-Brown told BBC Radio Manchester earlier this month that he had a head coach and players lined up to join the new club but they now face a race against time to get prepared for a scheduled season-opener against Oldham on 16 January.