Salford RLFC have learned they could face Super League opposition for the first time since the club’s rebirth, after the full draw for the third round of the Challenge Cup was confirmed.
Mike Grady’s men will host Super League side Hull FC if they can get past amateur outfit Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the second round.
Salford travel to Chiswick to face the fourth-tier side in the second round on Saturday 24 January, knowing a win will set up a meeting with Super League opponents at the earliest possible opportunity.
The former Salford Red Devils were beaten 38-6 at home and were routed 80-6 at Hull FC in the top flight last season, before the crisis-ridden club was wound up in the High Court over unpaid taxes in December.
But the Rugby Football League granted a new Salford team membership to the Championship for the 2026 season and the side are set to begin their campaign on Friday 16 January against Oldham.
The sport’s governing body chose former Salford player Mason Caton-Brown’s consortium to resurrect the club.
He got off to a flying start by appointing fan favourite Ryan Brierley as CEO, recruiting new head coach Mike Grady and overseeing the signing of eight new players.
The 16 third-round ties are scheduled to take place across the weekend of February 6-8 – a week before the 2026 Super League season gets underway.
By then, Salford will hope to have negotiated a tricky tie against Hammersmith Hills Hoists and made a bright start to their league campaign.
With a raft of signings are expected to join before their opening game of the season, Grady has been tasked with helping the team gel in a short space of time.
