Reserves and Academy 2025

[josie andrews]

THE RFL HAVE CONFIRMED FIXTURES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED FOR THE 2025 RESERVES AND ACADEMY COMPETITIONS.

St Helens and Wigan Warriors dominated the two competitions in 2024, with Saints winning the Reserves Grand Final 24-18, and Wigan beating Saints 15-12 in the Academy to claim their first title since 2019.

The old Lancastrian rivals are certain to be strong again this season, in competitions which will again be played on alternate weekends.

Both will consist of 12 clubs – the 11 English Super League clubs, plus Bradford Bulls from the Betfred Championship.

Each competition will have 12 regular season rounds, with Reserves kicking off on the weekend of March 7-9, and Academy two weeks later, from March 19-22.

The competitions will again be played under the restriction on tackle height which was introduced in 2024 as one of the 44 recommendations accepted by the RFL Board – with a legal tackle height limit of arm pit level (i.e. below the shoulder). 

The opening round fixtures are listed below:

Reserves

Huddersfield Giants (A), Saturday 8 March
St Helens (H), Saturday 15 March
Salford Red Devils (H), Sunday 30 March
Hull KR (A), Saturday 12 April
Bradford Bulls (H), Saturday 26 April
St Helens (A), Saturday 10 May
Leeds Rhinos (H), Saturday 24 May
Castleford Tigers (A), Saturday 14 June
Leigh Leopards (A), TBC
Hull FC (H), Saturday 19 July
Wakefield Trinity (A), Friday 1 August
Warrington Wolves (H), Saturday 16 August

Academy

Leeds Rhinos (A), Friday 21 March
Hull KR (H), Saturday 5 April
St Helens (A), Friday 18 April
Hull FC (A), Friday 2 May
Leigh Leopards (H), Saturday 17 May
Salford Red Devils (A), Saturday 31 May
Castleford Tigers (H), Saturday 28 June
Huddersfield Giants (H), Friday 11 July
St Helens (A), Saturday 26 July
Warrington Wolves (A), Saturday 9 August
Wakefield Trinity (H), Sunday 24 August
Bradford Bulls (A), Sunday 31 August

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/01/ ... demy-2025/