2020 Challenge Cup

Last updated
2020 Challenge Cup
Duration9 Rounds
Number of teams80
Highest attendance3,112 [lower-alpha 1] Wakefield Trinity v Bradford Bulls
5th round (13 March 2020)
Lowest attendance50 West Wales Raiders v Underbank Rangers
3rd round (9 February 2020)
Aggregate attendance12,784 [lower-alpha 1]
Broadcast partners BBC Sport
Sky Sports
Fox League
Winners Leeds Rhinos
Runners-up Salford Red Devils
Biggest home winBarrow Island 84–6 Rhondda Outlaws
(1st round) 11 January 2020)
Biggest away win Rochdale Mayfield 6–64 North Wales Crusaders
3rd round (8 February 2020)
Lance Todd Trophy Richie Myler (Leeds Rhinos)
Top point-scorer(s)44, Sam Freeman [1]
Rochdale Hornets (2 tries, 18 goals)
Top try-scorer(s)6, Mike Butt [1]
Swinton Lions

The 2020 Challenge Cup, known as the Coral Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 119th staging of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout tournament for teams in the Super League, the British national leagues and a number of invited amateur clubs.

Contents

The competition was won by Leeds Rhinos who beat Salford Red Devils 17–16 at Wembley Stadium on 17 October 2020. [2]

Defending champions Warrington Wolves who won the 2019 title beating St Helens 18–4 at Wembley Stadium on 24 August 2019 were knocked out by Salford in the semi-finals. [3] [4]

The format of the competition remained as eight knock-out rounds followed by the final but the schedule was placed into disarray by the COVID-19 pandemic. The final was scheduled to be played on 18 July instead of the August bank holiday weekend. However on 16 March all rugby league games were suspended indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. [5] The suspension was followed, on 19 May 2020, with confirmation from the Rugby Football League (RFL) of the postponement of the Challenge Cup Final, which had been scheduled for 18 July at Wembley Stadium. [6] The competition did not resume until 22 August with the final to be played on Saturday 17 October. [7]

Entry

Entry into the Cup is mandatory for the English and Welsh professional teams, but is by invitation for all other clubs, either professional or amateur. French side Toulouse declined to enter for 2020, after also declining to play in previous years. [8] Canadian side Toronto Wolfpack rejoined the competition after declining to play in the 2019 competition and by agreement would play all their matches in away from home. [9] Serbian club, Red Star who played in 2019 declined an invitation to enter in 2020 due to the demands the trip to England made on their players. [8]

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

On 16 March 2020, the RFL announced that all rugby league games had been suspended initially, until at least April, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [10] However, on 24 March, rugby league clubs held a board meeting via conference call, attended in part by senior officials of the Rugby Football League, for further discussion of how to respond to the current public health crisis. It was agreed that until further notice, all rugby league fixtures would be suspended indefinitely. [11]

The competition recommenced with the rescheduling of the sixth round on 22 August, after the RFL announced that rugby league could return from 2 August but with all games to be played behind closed doors. [7] The pandemic caused Toronto Wolfpack to withdraw from the competition on 20 July, [12] and just over a week later, on 28 July, the remaining Championship and League 1 clubs also withdrew from the competition. [13] These withdrawals caused the RFL to reconsider the structure of the competition as only 10 Super League clubs remained in the competition. The decision was made to redraw and restructure the sixth round to comprise just two fixtures with only four teams, with the remaining six teams automatically receiving byes to the quarter-finals. [14]

The suspension of the competition also raised some uncertainty about the availability of Wembley as the venue for the final and it was not until 22 September that Wembley was re-confirmed as the venue for the final of the competition. [15] It was hoped that spectators would be allowed into the final but on 28 September, the RFL confirmed that due to new COVID-19 restrictions being announced that the game will be played behind closed doors for the first time in the history of the competition. [16]

Round details

RoundDateRevised datesClubs involved this roundWinners from previous roundNew entries this roundLeagues entering at this round
Round 111–12 January—44—44
  • 37 English amateur clubs
  • One Scottish, one Irish and two Welsh clubs
  • Three Armed Forces teams
  • British Police
Round 225–26 January—2222——
Round 38–9 February—221111
Round 422–23 February—241113
Round 514–15 March—16124
Round 64–5 April22–23 August16 planned
4 actual		8 planned
0 actual		8 planned
4 actual
  • 2019 Super League top 8 as originally scheduled
  • four Super League teams drawn at random
Quarter-finals9–10 May19–20 September880 planned
6 actual		—
Semi-finals6–7 June3 October44——
Final18 July17 October22——
Source: [8]

First round

The draw for the first round was made at the home of community club Bentley, near Doncaster. [17] Ties were played over the weekend of 11–12 January 2020.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance [lower-alpha 2]
Skirlaugh 8–6 Hunslet Club Parkside 11 January 2020, 12:30pmEastside Community Sports Trust—
Barrow Island84–6Rhondda Outlaws11 January 2020, 1:30pmBarrow Island Rugby Club
Thornhill Trojans 22–16 Thatto Heath Crusaders Thornhill Sports and Community Centre
Underbank Rangers 22–10 Lock Lane Lock Lane Sports Centre
Distington50–10 Bedford Tigers 11 January 2020, 2:00pmDistington Community Sports Club
Edinburgh Eagles 10–58Ashton BearsRoyal High Rugby Club
Featherstone Lions 12–24 West Bowling Featherstone Lions ARLFC
Ince Rose Bridge 50–10 East Hull Ince Rosebridge Sports and Community Club
Milford47–12 Wigan St Judes Milford Sports Club
Pilkingtons Recs18–28 West Hull Ruskin Park Health and Leisure Centre
Rochdale Mayfield 32–12 London Chargers Mayfield Sports Centre
Siddal 38–0 Saddleworth Rangers Siddal ARLFC
Upton30–4 Jarrow Vikings Quarry Lane
West Bank Bears26–24 Royal Navy Ted Gleave Sports Ground
Wigan St Patricks 30–14Dewsbury MoorClarington Park
York Acorn 36–14 Hammersmith Hills Hoists Acorn Sports and Social Club
British Army 26–10 Oulton Raiders 11 January 2020, 2:30pmArmy Rugby Stadium
Leigh Miners Rangers 28–26StanningleyLeigh Miners Welfare Institute
Normanton Knights 30–24Longhorns12 January 2020, 1:30pmNormanton Amateur Rugby Club
RAF 10–18BentleyRAF Cranwell
Sherwood Wolf Hunt26–24Wests WarriorsDebdale Sports & Recreational Club
GB Police 66–0 Torfaen Tigers 12 January 2020, 2:00pmMayfield Sports Centre
Source: [18]

Second round

The draw for the 2nd round was made at the studios of BBC Radio Leeds and broadcast live on air. [19] Ties were played over the weekend of 25–26 January 2020.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance [lower-alpha 2]
Wigan St Patricks 10–30 West Hull 25 January 2020, 12:30pmClarington Park—
Thornhill Trojans 58–14 Normanton Knights 25 January 2020, 1:30pmThornhill Sports & Community Club
York Acorn 34–14Barrow Island25 January 2020, 1:30pmAcorn Sports & Social Club
British Army 17–16 Skirlaugh 25 January 2020, 2:00pmArmy Rugby Stadium
GB Police18–19 Rochdale Mayfield 25 January 2020, 2:00pmMayfield Sports Club
Milford12–19 Ince Rose Bridge 25 January 2020, 2:00pmMilford Sports Club
Siddal 62–4Ashton Bears25 January 2020, 2:00pmSiddal ARLFC
Underbank Rangers 28–14Distington25 January 2020, 2:00pmThe Cross Grounds
West Bank Bears18–20Bentley25 January 2020, 2:00pmTed Gleave Sports Ground
Leigh Miners Rangers 26–6Upton25 January 2020, 2:30pmLeigh Miners Welfare Institute
Sherwood Wolf Hunt6–38 West Bowling 26 January 2020, 1:30pmDebdale Sports & Recreational Club
Source: [20]

Third round

The draw for the third round was made live from Rochdale Hornets Crown Oil Arena. [21] Ties were played on the weekend of the 8–9 February 2020. Several matches scheduled for 9 February were postponed due to the adverse weather caused by Storm Ciara and played the following weekend. [22]

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Rochdale Mayfield 6–64 NWCrucolours.png North Wales Crusaders 8 February 2020, 12:30pmMayfield Sports CentreS. Race229
Siddal 10–6 West Hull 8 February 2020, 2:00pmExley LaneJ. Stearne450
Thornhill Trojans 20–24 Doncaster colours.svg Doncaster RLFC 8 February 2020, 2:00pm Tetley's Stadium A. SweetNot recorded
British Army 34–22 Ince Rose Bridge 8 February 2020, 2:15pm Aldershot Military Stadium N. Bennett100
Leigh Miners Rangers 20–4Bentley8 February 2020, 2:30pmTwist LaneM. Smail376
Canberra colours.svg West Wales Raiders 8–30 Underbank Rangers 9 February 2020, 2:00pm Stebonheath Park J. Jones50
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet RLFC 36–4 Coventrycolours.png Coventry Bears 9 February 2020, 3:00pm South Leeds Stadium C. Worsley225
Cougscolours.svg Keighley Cougars 12–16 Gthundercolours.svg Newcastle Thunder 15 February 2020, 2:00pm [lower-alpha 3] Cougar Park L. Staveley402
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town 28–22 West Bowling 16 February 2020, 2:00pm [lower-alpha 3] Derwent Park K. Moore950
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow Raiders 38–18 Skolscolours.svg London Skolars 16 February 2020, 3:00pm [lower-alpha 3] Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium B. Milligan769
Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets 54–10 York Acorn 16 February 2020, 3:00pm [lower-alpha 3] AJ Bell Stadium [lower-alpha 4] A. Sweet200
Source: [24] [25]

Fourth round

The draw for the fourth round was made live on BBC Sport, live from Halifax's MBI Shay Stadium. Ties were played over the weekend of 21–23 February 2020.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions 36–10 Batley colours.svg Batley Bulldogs 21 February 2020, 8:00pm Leigh Sports Village M. Rossleigh1,586
Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles 20–18 Faxcolours.svg Halifax RFC 22 February 2020, 2:00pm Mobile Rocket Stadium J. Vella429
Siddal A.R.L.F.C. 10–30 Gthundercolours.svg Newcastle Thunder 22 February 2020, 2:00pmSiddal ARLFCN. Horton450
Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers 18–16 Barrowcolours.svg Barrow Raiders 22 February 2020, 3:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium A. Moore1,120
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton Lions 56–0 Leigh Miners Rangers 22 February 2020, 3:00pm Heywood Road K. Moore622
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 22–0 Underbank Rangers 23 February 2020, 1:00pm Tetley's Stadium C. Worsley1,458
NWCrucolours.png North Wales Crusaders 18–22 Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet RLFC 23 February 2020, 2:30pm Queensway Stadium B. Pearson249
Broncoscolours.png London Broncos 22–24 YorkRLFCcolours.png York City Knights 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Trailfinders Sports Ground T. Grant543
Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets 54–10 British Army 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Crown Oil Arena J. McMullen400
Haven colours.svg Whitehaven RLFC 16–22 Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury Rams 11 March 2020, 7:00pm [lower-alpha 5] Recreation Ground J Smith427
Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings 52–12 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Roughyeds 23 February 2020, 3:00pm DCBL Stadium G. Hewer1,564
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town 22–12 Doncaster colours.svg Doncaster RLFC 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Derwent Park T. Crashley612
Source: [27] [28]

Fifth round

The draw for Round Five was streamed live on BBC Sport and Our League on Monday 24 February at 6.30pm live from Hull Kingston Rovers’ Hull College Craven Park. Rovers were one of four Super League clubs joining the competition at this stage, alongside Huddersfield Giants, Toronto Wolfpack and Wakefield Trinity. Ties were played over the weekend of 14–15 March 2020. [29]

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Toronto Wolfpack 18–0 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 11 March 2020, 7:45pm John Smith's Stadium [lower-alpha 6] S Mikalauskas1,488
Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers 46–6 Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet 13 March 2020, 7:30pm LD Nutrition Stadium A Moore1,002
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity 17–14 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 13 March 2020, 7:45pm Mobile Rocket Stadium M Griffiths3,112
Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles 34–18 Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town 15 March 2020, 2:00pm Keepmoat Stadium J Vella323
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers 22–19 Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions 15 March 2020, 3:00pm Hull College Craven Park G Hewer2,620
Gthundercolours.svg Newcastle Thunder 38–30 Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury Rams 15 March 2020, 3:00pm Kingston Park B Pearson689
Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings 32–16 Swintoncolours.svg Swinton Lions 15 March 2020, 3:00pm DCBL Stadium T Grant1,527
YorkRLFCcolours.png York City Knights 70–12 Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets 15 March 2020, 3:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium [lower-alpha 7] J Smith400
Source: [31]

Sixth round

The draw for the sixth round was made live from MediaCityUK in Salford on Monday 16 March 2020, and was streamed live on BBC Sport, and the Our League app from 6:00pm. [32] Originally scheduled to be made in New York, the draw was moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [33]

Defending champions Warrington were due to start the defence of their title at this stage, along with other Super League teams Castleford, Catalans, Hull FC, Leeds, Salford, St Helens and Wigan. Ties were scheduled to be played over the weekend of 4–5 April 2020, however due to the suspension of all rugby league games as part of the United Kingdom's response to the coronavirus pandemic meant that these dates were speculative and therefore rescheduled for a later date. [34] The fixtures drawn on 16 March were: [34]

On 17 July 2020, the RFL announced that the competition would resume on 22 August with a double header at the John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield involving the Warrington v Wigan and Salford v St Helens with both games shown live on BBC TV. [35] A few days later on 21 July Toronto Wolfpack announced that the club would be taking no further part in the Challenge Cup due to financial problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. [36]

The RFL had also decided to abandon the Championship and League 1 competitions and following Toronto's withdrawal a meeting was held on 27 July to consider the future of the cup competition. The following day, the five non-Super League teams left in the cup; Featherstone Rovers, Newcastle Thunder, Sheffield Eagles, York City Knights, and Widnes Vikings, all announced that they were withdrawing from the competition. In response to this, the RFL announced that the whole of the sixth round was to be redrawn, involving just the 10 Super League sides remaining in the competition. Four teams would play in the revised sixth round, with the six remaining teams not to receive a tie for this round automatically gaining a bye to the quarter-finals. [37]

The redraw for the sixth round and the draw for the quarter-finals was made on 29 July. [38] The two sixth round ties were due to be played as a double header at the John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield as previously announced, with both ties being televised live on the BBC. [37] During the week of 10 August, a number of Hull players and coaching staff tested positive for COVID-19, so the club's next fixtures, including the sixth round tie against Castleford were postponed. [39] The Castleford v Hull fixture was eventually played on 13 September. [40]

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueReferee
Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons 36–24 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity 22 August 2020, 2:30pm John Smith's Stadium C Kendall
Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 16–29 Hullcolours.svg Hull FC 13 September 2020, 3:00pm [lower-alpha 8] Totally Wicked Stadium L Moore
Source: [41] [40]

Quarter-finals

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueReferee
Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons 18–22 [lower-alpha 9] Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils 18 September 2020, 6:00pm Totally Wicked Stadium B Thaler
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 48–18 HKRcolours.svg Hull KR 18 September 2020, 8:15pmL Moore
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 20–18 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 19 September 2020, 2:30pm AJ Bell Stadium C Kendall
Hullcolours.svg Hull FC 4–36 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 19 September 2020, 5:00pmR Hicks
Source: [43]

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made on 19 September with both games played at the Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens as a double-header on 3 October. [44] The draw was made live on BBC Two at the A J Bell stadium during the half-time interval of the last quarter-final match between Hull FC and Wigan. [45]

Team AScoreTeam BMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueReferee
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 26–12 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 3 October 2020, 2:30pm Totally Wicked Stadium C Kendall
Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils 24–22 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 3 October 2020, 5:00pmL Moore
Source: [46] [4]

Final

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueReferee
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 17–16 Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils 17 October 2020, 3:00pm Wembley Stadium L Moore
Source: [47]

Broadcast matches

RoundMatchDateBroadcast method
1stSkirlaugh v Hunslet Club Parkside11 January 2020, 12:30pmStreamed live BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button [48]
RAF v Bentley12 January 2020, 1:30pmStreamed live on Our League [48]
2ndWigan St. Patricks v West Hull25 January 2020, 12:30pmStreamed live BBC iplayer and BBC Red Button [49]
Sherwood Wolf Hunt v West Bowling26 January 2020, 1:30pmStreamed live on Our League [49]
3rdRochdale Mayfield v North Wales Crusaders8 February 2020, 12:30pmStreamed live BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button [50]
British Army v Ince Rose Bridge8 February 2020, 2:15pmstreamed live on Our League [50]
Keighley Cougars v Newcastle Thunder15 February 2020, 3:00pmStreamed live on Our League [23]
4thBradford Bulls v Underbank Rangers23 February 2020, 1:00pmStreamed live on BBC iPlayer [51]
London Broncos v York City Knights23 February 2020, 3:00pmStreamed live on Our League [51]
5thToronto Wolfpack v Huddersfield Giants11 March 2020, 7:45pmStreamed live on Our League
6thCatalans Dragons v Wakefield Trinity22 August 2020, 2:30pmLive on BBC One [39]
Castleford Tigers v Hull FC13 September 2020, 3:00pmLive on BBC One [52]
QFWarrington Wolves v St Helens19 September 2020, 2:30pmLive on BBC One [52]
Hull FC v Wigan Warriors19 September 2020, 5:00pmLive on BBC Two [52]
SFLeeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors3 October 2020, 2:00pmLive on BBC One [53]
Salford Red Devils v Warrington Wolves3 October 2020, 5:00pmLive on BBC Two [53]
FLeeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils17 October 2020, 3:00pmLive on BBC One [53]

Notes

  1. 1 2 All games from the sixth round onwards were played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions
  2. 1 2 Attendances for games involving only community clubs are not recorded
  3. 1 2 3 4 Match postponed on original date due to poor weather conditions caused by Storm Ciara [22]
  4. ↑ Match moved to Salford Red Devils' ground as the Crown Oil Arena was unplayable. [23]
  5. ↑ Match postponed on 23 February due to a waterlogged pitch. [26]
  6. ↑ Toronto were drawn as the home team but under their agreement with the RFL Toronto do not play cup games at home
  7. ↑ Bootham Crescent unavailable to York City Knights. [30]
  8. ↑ Match originally scheduled for 22 August, but postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests among the Hull squad. [39]
  9. ↑ After golden-point extra time. Scores tied at 18-all after 80 minutes [42]

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  45. ↑ "Challenge Cup semi-final draw: When is it, TV channel and ball numbers". Hull Daily Mail. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  46. ↑ "Luke Gale blows Wigan away and guides Leeds into Challenge Cup final". The Guardian . 3 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  47. ↑ Bower, Aaron (17 October 2020). "Luke Gale's late drop goal grabs Challenge Cup for Leeds from Salford". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  48. 1 2 "Coral Challenge Cup First Round coverage confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  49. 1 2 "BBC and Our League confirm challenge cup round 2 coverage". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  50. 1 2 "BBC and Our League confirm challenge cup round 3 coverage". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  51. 1 2 "BBC and Our League confirm Round Four coverage". Rugby Football League. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
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