Hull FC will face three fresh opponents in 2026.
Hull FC will come up against three fresh opponents in Super League next season, with Bradford Bulls, Toulouse Olympique, and York Knights entering the competition and expanding it to 14 teams.
And while the makeup and format of the 2026 season is still to be determined, there are many familiar faces for the Black and Whites across the three teams, with three venues, Odsal, Stade Ernest Wallon, and York’s LNER Stadium, all on the calendar next year.
Bradford Bulls
Jayden Okunbor – The Australian featured eight times for Hull as a back rower in 2024, scoring one try, before moving to Bradford on loan. Making the move permanent ahead of 2025, he has appeared 47 times for the Bulls in the outside back positions, scoring 32 tries.
Connor Wynne – The Bulls, as exclusively reported by All Out Rugby League, have signed the former Hull outside back after his move to Hull KR fell through due to ‘salary cap’ reasons. But nonetheless, the Hull-born youngster, who made 36 appearances for Hull from 2019 to 2023, scoring 14 tries, is now back in the top flight and ready to prove a point after two years at Featherstone.
Toulouse Olympique
Joe Cator – The former Hull forward, who left the club in 2024 after making 60 appearances, was part of the Toulouse team that won the Championship Grand Final against York earlier this month. He has featured 27 times for the French club and signed a new deal earlier this year to take him into 2026 and beyond.
York Knights
Kieran Buchanan – The outside back left Hull after the 2020 season to join Batley Bulldogs, where he featured over 100 times before joining York this year. An international with Scotland, he played 13 games for Hull in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, scoring three tries.
Liam Harris – The half-back played 12 times for Hull in 2018, making a try-scoring debut against Hull KR at the Magic Weekend. He left Hull at the end of 2020 and has played for Halifax and York, making over 150 career appearances.
Paul McShane – The hooker played four times on loan for Hull in 2010 and is closing in on 400 career games. He helped lead York to a first-place Championship finish, having joined the club on a two-year deal from Castleford.
Jordan Thompson – The forward played over 100 games for Hull from 2014 to 2019, scoring 23 tries. He has also featured for Castleford, Leeds, Leigh, and Workington in a career that spanned more than 350 appearances.
York and Toulouse were selected by an independent panel to enter Super League in 2026. Bradford finished 10th in IMG’s scoring table.