2023 Featherstone Rovers season

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In the 2023 rugby league season, Featherstone Rovers competed in the RFL Championship and the Challenge Cup. In the Championship, Featherstone won the League Leaders' Shield having lost only two regular season games, but suffered a 36–22 upset in the play-off semi-final against London Broncos.

Championship Rank1st
Play-off resultLost in semi-finals
Challenge Cup3rd round
ChairmanMark Campbell
Quick facts Championship Rank, Play-off result ...
2023 Featherstone Rovers season
Championship Rank1st
Play-off resultLost in semi-finals
Challenge Cup3rd round
Team information
ChairmanMark Campbell
Head Coach
StadiumPost Office Road
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Season review

In October 2022, Sean Long was appointed to succeed Brian McDermott as head coach.[1] Featherstone began their Championship campaign on 6 February with a 50–0 win over newly promoted Keighley Cougars.[2] Featherstone moved to the top of the league on 19 February following a 76–4 win over Whitehaven.[3] On 12 March, Featherstone were knocked out in the third round of the Challenge Cup when Halifax Panthers came from behind to win 22–18.[4] The following week Featherstone resumed their unbeaten run in the Championship with a 34–6 win over Swinton Lions in Round 6.[5]

On 16 May, it was announced that James Ford had been appointed as the first Director of Rugby at Featherstone.[6] On 27 May, Featherstone faced one of Ford's former clubs, York Knights, at the Summer Bash where four tries by Gareth Gale sealed a 46–4 victory.[7] The run of league wins was extended to 13 games with a 64–6 win over Barrow Raiders in which Featherstone had ten different try scorers.[8][9] On 10 June, Featherstone suffered their first league loss of the season when Toulouse Olympique defeated them 36–18 in Round 14.[10] Following the defeat, Featherstone announced several changes to their backroom structure which included the departure of assistant coach Leon Pryce.[11] A second league defeat for Featherstone came in Round 21 against Halifax.[12] The match, which was scheduled for 7 August, was moved to a day earlier as Halifax were playing in the final of the 1895 Cup the following weekend.[13] On 7 August, Sean Long was sacked from his role as head coach and succeeded by James Ford.[14]

Featherstone secured top place in the table at the start of September with a 16–8 win over Bradford Bulls at Odsal.[15] On 23 September, Featherstone defeated Widnes Vikings 62–10 in the final round of the regular season. After the game they were presented with the League Leaders' Shield having ended 12 points ahead of second-placed Toulouse.[16] As league leaders, Featherstone had a bye in the first round of the play-offs before facing London Broncos in the semi-finals. London had finished fifth in the table, 18 points below the Featherstone, but were in good form having won 42–0 against Sheffield Eagles in the eliminators and they ended Featherstone's season by defeating them 46-22[17][18] before overcoming Toulouse in the Grand Final.[19]

Results

Pre-season friendlies

W Win D Draw L Loss

More information Date, Versus ...
DateVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
Pre-season results
31 December Castleford Tigers H Post Office Road W 26–10 Gale (2), Day, Kopczak, Lacans Hankinson (3) [20][21]
20 January Hull Kingston Rovers H Post Office Road W 28–0 Briscoe (2), Kopczak, Gale, Hankinson Hankinson (2), Hall (2) [22][23]
29 January Wakefield Trinity A Belle Vue L 12–24 Evans, Taylor Hankinson (2) [24][25]
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RFL Championship

Main article: 2023 RFL Championship

League table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Featherstone Rovers 27 25 0 2 1079 295 +784 50 League Leaders Shield and qualify for semi-finals
2 Toulouse Olympique 27 19 0 8 834 385 +449 38 Semi-finals
3 Bradford Bulls 27 16 1 10 677 572 +105 33 Eliminators
4 Sheffield Eagles 27 16 0 11 780 560 +220 32
5 London Broncos 27 16 0 11 600 552 +48 32
6 York Knights 27 15 0 12 557 557 0 30
7 Batley Bulldogs 27 15 0 12 506 519 −13 30
8 Halifax Panthers 27 14 1 12 690 572 +118 29
9 Widnes Vikings 27 13 0 14 619 654 −35 26
10 Swinton Lions 27 9 0 18 426 739 −313 18
11 Barrow Raiders 27 8 1 18 471 672 −201 17
12 Whitehaven 27 8 0 19 481 809 −328 16
13 Keighley Cougars 27 8 0 19 506 837 −331 16 Relegation to League One
14 Newcastle Thunder 27 5 1 21 415 918 −503 11
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Source: RFL
Rules for classification: 1) Competition points; 2) Points difference; 3) Points percentage (points scored/points conceded x 100)

Championship results

W Win D Draw L Loss

More information Date, Round ...
DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
Championship results
6 February 1 Keighley Cougars A Cougar Park W 50–0 Dean (2), Gale (2), Aekins, Day, Hardcastle, Lockwood, Yei Hankinson (7) 2,443 RLP
12 February 2 Halifax Panthers H Post Office Road W 46–22 Aekins (2), Dean, Gale, Hankinson, Jones, Springer, Wildie Hankinson (7) 3,974 RLP
19 February 3 Whitehaven H Post Office Road W 76–4 Gale (2), Leilua, Aekins, Briscoe, Bussey, Davies, Dean, Jones, Kopczak, Lacans, Yei Hall (10) 2,248 RLP
26 February 4 Newcastle Thunder H Post Office Road W 56–6 Bussey (2), Hardcastle (2), Leilua, Briscoe, Day, Jones, Yei Dean (8) 2,489 RLP
6 March 5 Bradford Bulls H Post Office Road W 26–12 Briscoe, Davies, Dean, Ford, Gale Dean (3) 4,809 RLP
19 March 6 Swinton Lions A Heywood Road W 34–6 Evans (2), Aekins, Gale, Hardcastle, Jones, Lacans Dean (3) 1,090 RLP
26 March 7 York Knights H Post Office Road W 46–4 Gale (3), Cozza, Evans, Jones, Leilua, Taylor Hall (7) 2,892 RLP
7 April 8 Batley Bulldogs A Mount Pleasant W 26–18 Hardcastle (2), Briscoe, Jones, Leilua Hall (3) 2,287 RLP
16 April 9 London Broncos A Plough Lane W 40–10 Jones (3), Aekins (2), Day (2) Dean (6) 977 RLP
7 May 10 Sheffield Eagles H Post Office Road W 28–20 Briscoe (2), Aekins, Bussey, Hardcastle Dean (3), Bussey 3,187 RLP
14 May 11 Widnes Vikings A Halton Stadium W 30–0 Gale (3), Bussey, Hall, Jones Hall (3) 2,832 RLP
27 May 12 York Knights N York Community Stadium W 46–4 Gale (4), Cozza, Evans, Jones, Leilua, Taylor Hall (7) 3,793 RLP
4 June 13 Barrow Raiders H Post Office Road W 64–6 Jones (2), Aekins, Briscoe, Bussey, Gale, Hall, Hankinson, Hau, Lacans, Yei Hall (10) 2,756 RLP
10 June 14 Toulouse Olympique H Post Office Road L 18–36 Briscoe, Davies, Hall, Hankinson Hall (1) 3,489 RLP
18 June 15 London Broncos H Post Office Road W 50–6 Aekins (2), Day, Gale, Jones, Kheirallah, Lacans, Leilua, Wildie Kheirallah (7) 2,255 RLP
25 June 16 York Knights A York Community Stadium W 24–8 Leilua (2), Jones, Kheirallah Kheirallah (4) 2,554 RLP,[26]
2 July 17 Whitehaven A Recreation Ground W 60–0 Leilua (2), Jones, Kheirallah (4), Aekins (2), Briscoe, Hau, Jones, Leilua, Springer Kheirallah (8) 841 RLP,[27]
9 July 18 Swinton Lions H Post Office Road W 52–6 Hall (2), Hau (2), Briscoe, Jones, Kheirallah, Lacans, Springer Kheirallah (8) 2,845 RLP, BBC
16 July 19 Barrow Raiders A Craven Park W 20–10 Briscoe, Gale, Hall, Hau Kheirallah (2) 2,361 RLP, Barrow
29 July 20 Batley Bulldogs H Post Office Road W 28–8 Hau (2), Smith, Taylor, Wildie Hankinson (4) 3,145 RLP
6 August 21 Halifax Panthers A Shay Stadium L 22–25 Briscoe, Kheirallah, Kopczak, Springer Kheirallah (3) 1,609 RLP
18 August 22 Sheffield Eagles A Olympic Legacy Park W 38–10 Hau (2), Aekins, Chisholm, Gale, Hankinson, Moors Kheirallah (5) 1,709 RLP
27 August 23 Keighley Cougars H Post Office Road W 36–6 Gale (2), Jones (2), Kheirallah (2), Leilua Kheirallah (4) 3,235 RLP
3 September 24 Bradford Bulls A Odsal Stadium W 16–8 Aekins, Day, Gale Kheirallah (2) 4,567 RLP
8 September 25 Newcastle Thunder A Kingston Park W 56–22 Gale (3), Hall (2), Cozza, Day, Longstff, Taylor, Wildie Hall (8) 747 RLP
16 September 26 Toulouse Olympique A Stade des Minimes W 29–16 Hall Jones, Kheirallah, Lacans, Leilua Kheirallah (4), Lacans (FG) 2,603 RLP
23 September 27 Widnes Vikings H Post Office Road W 62–10 Leilua (3), Aekins (2), Gale (2), Hall, Hankinson, Jones, Moors Kheirallah (9) 3,874 RLP
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Play-offs

More information Date, Round ...
DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
Play-off results
8 October Semi-final London Broncos H Post Office Road L 26–36 Hankinson (2), Leilua (2), Briscoe Kheirallah (3) RFL
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Team bracket
Eliminators Semi-finals Grand Final
1 Featherstone Rovers 26
4 Sheffield Eagles 0 5 London Broncos 36
5 London Broncos 42 2 Toulouse Olympique 14
5 London Broncos 18
2 Toulouse Olympique 38
3 Bradford Bulls 22 3 Bradford Bulls 20
6 York Knights 8
Sources:Rugby League Project

Challenge Cup

Main article: 2023 Challenge Cup

W Win L Loss

More information Date, Round ...
DateRoundVersusH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
Challenge Cup results
12 March 3 Halifax Panthers H Post Office Road L 18–22 Hardcastle, Lacans, Springer Hall (3) RFL
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Players

Squad

More information First team squad, Coaching staff ...
Featherstone Rovers 2023 Squad
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated:
Source(s): Rugby League Project,[6]

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Transfers

Gains

More information Player, Club ...
List of players joining Featherstone
Player Club Contract Date
Chris HankinsonToulouse Olympique1 YearOctober 2022[28]
Mathieu CozzaCatalans Dragons1 YearOctober 2022[29]
Thomas LacansNewcastle Thunder[20]
Elijah TaylorSalford Red Devils[20]
Riley DeanWarrington Wolves[20]
Caleb AekinsLeigh Leopards2 YearsNovember 2022[30]
McKenzie YeiQueensland Capras1 YearDecember 2022[31]
Kyle EvansWakefield Trinity1 YearJanuary 2023[32]
Brad DayNewcastle Thunder[20]
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Losses

More information Player, Club ...
List of players leaving Featherstone
Player Club Contract Date
Ben HellewellSalford Red Devils[20]
Adam CuthbertsonRetired[20]
Jesse Sene-LefaoSheffield Eagles[20]
Callum FieldWidnes Vikings[20]
Jacob DoyleDewsbury Rams[20]
Morgan SmithWakefield Trinity2 YearOctober 2022[33]
Brett FerresDoncaster[20]
Loui McConnellDoncaster[20]
Ryley JacksReleasedNovember 2022[34]
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References

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