2025 Challenge Cup
| Duration | 7 rounds |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 69 |
| Broadcast partners |
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The 2025 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 124th edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league, run by the Rugby Football League (RFL).
Background
[edit]Following discussions in 2024, it was announced that the format will be revised and there will now only be seven rounds of competition, down from the nine rounds used in recent seasons. The changes will see the Championship and League One clubs entering in round 2 (round 3 in 2024), and the Super League clubs entering in round 3 (round 6 in 2024), with all 12 super league teams being drawn "away from home" in round 3.[1]
The change follows criticism that the previous format favoured Super League clubs, and reducing the opportunities for smaller clubs to stage a tie against a big club.[2]
The competition will start in January 2025, and will conclude with the final on 7 June at Wembley Stadium.[3]
Toulouse Olympique have declined to take part, as in previous years.[4]
Format and dates
[edit]| Round | Date | Clubs involved this round | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | Leagues entering at this round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 11–12 January | 34 | None | 34 | 34 UK based community teams |
| Round 2 | 25–26 January | 40 | 17 | 23 | All teams (except Toulouse) from the Championship (12) and League One (11) |
| Round 3 | 8–9 February | 32 | 20 | 12 | All 12 teams from the Super League |
| Round 4 | 15–16 March | 16 | 16 | None | |
| Quarter-finals | 5–6 April | 8 | 8 | ||
| Semi-finals | 10–11 May | 4 | 4 | ||
| Final | 8 June | 2 | 2 | ||
The 34 clubs in the first round comprise:[5]
- the three armed services clubs
- 15 from the National Conference League (NCL)
- one each from the Scottish, Welsh and Irish leagues
- GB Police
- 12 from other English regional leagues (outside the NCL)
First round
[edit]The draw for the first and second rounds of the competition were made on 2 December 2024.[6]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||
| Aberavon Fighting Irish | Blackbrook | 11/12 January 2025 | Vivian Park | |||
| British Army | RAF | 11/12 January 2025 | Aldershot Military Stadium | |||
| Crosfields | Maryport | 11/12 January 2025 | Hood Lane Recreation Ground | |||
| Dewsbury Moor | Haresfinch | 11/12 January 2025 | Dewsbury Moor Sports Club | |||
| Eastern Rhinos | Wests Warriors | 11/12 January 2025 | Northern Gateway Sports Park | |||
| GB Police | York Acorn | 11/12 January 2025 | ||||
| Hammersmith Hills Hoists | Siddal | 11/12 January 2025 | ||||
| Lock Lane | Doncaster Toll Bar | 11/12 January 2025 | Lock Lane Sports Centre | |||
| London Chargers | Oulton Raiders | 11/12 January 2025 | Chiswick Rugby Football Club | |||
| Longhorns | Ince Rose Bridge | 11/12 January 2025 | Coolmine Rugby Club | |||
| Mirfield | Royal Navy | 11/12 January 2025 | Slipper Lane | |||
| Rochdale Mayfield | Telford Raiders | 11/12 January 2025 | Keswick Street | |||
| Stanley Rangers | Hunslet ARLFC | 11/12 January 2025 | Lee Moor Road | |||
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | Orrell St James | 11/12 January 2025 | Close St | |||
| Waterhead Warriors | Leigh Miners Rangers | 11/12 January 2025 | Peach Road | |||
| West Bowling | Wath Brow Hornets | 11/12 January 2025 | Horsfall Stadium | |||
| West Hull | Edinburgh Eagles | 11/12 January 2025 | Johnny Whiteley Park | |||
| Source: | ||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "Challenge Cup to undergo major revamp as Super League role changes". Love Rugby League. 25 June 2024.
- ^ Cook, Sam (25 June 2024). "RFL reveal new Challenge Cup format from 2025 with Super League clubs impacted". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Challenge Cup: Super League clubs to join competition earlier in 2025". BBC Sport. 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Challenge Cup draw and round dates revealed as competition adopts new format for 2025". Love Rugby League. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "2025 Betfred Challenge Cup First and Second Round Draw Details Confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "2025 Challenge Cup Rounds 1 and 2 draws made as road to Wembley begins with mouthwatering ties". Love Rugby League. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.