2024 Women's Challenge Cup final

2024 (2024) Women's Challenge Cup Final  ()
Leeds Rhinos St Helens 0 22
1 2 Total LEE 0 0 0 ST H 10 12 22
Date	8 June 2024
Stadium	Wembley Stadium
Location	London, United Kingdom
Player of the Match	Zoe Harris (St Helens)
Abide with Me	Maxwell Thorpe
God Save the King	Katherine Jenkins
Referee	Aaron Moore
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	BBC
Finals ←  2023 2025  →

The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup Final was the 12th final of the Rugby Football League's Women's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The 2024 was the second final at Wembley Stadium, and held on 8 June 2024. ^[1]

The final was contested by Leeds Rhinos and St Helens.

Background

The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup final was the third consecutive meeting between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos in the competition final.

St Helens were three times defending champions of the Challenge Cup having won in 2021, 2022, and 2023. They also won the tournament four times in a row between 2013 and 2016. Upon gaining their place in the final St Helens were third in Super League.

Leeds Rhinos entered the final aiming to avenge back to back defeats to St Helens in 2022 and 2023. They last won the competition in 2019 retaining it after their 2018 victory. Upon qualification Leeds were in second place in Super League, behind Wigan Warriors the team they eliminated in the semi-finals, but above St Helens.

Route to the final

Leeds Rhinos

Round	Opposition	Venue	Score
Group Stage	Leigh Leopards	Twist Lane	52–4
	Hull KR	Craven Park	90–0
	Huddersfield Giants	West Park RUFC	54–10
Quarter-final	Warrington Wolves	Headingley	70–10 [2]
Semi-final	Wigan Warriors	Totally Wicked Stadium	34–20 [3]

St Helens

Round	Opposition	Venue	Score
Group Stage	London Broncos	Totally Wicked Stadium	64–0
	Bradford Bulls	Odsal Stadium	F–W/O
	Warrington Wolves	Dallam Playing Fields	58–6
Quarter-final	Huddersfield Giants	Crusaders Park	74–0 [4]
Semi-final	York Valkyrie	Eco-Power Stadium	32–2 [5]

Source: ^[6]

Pre-match

British singer Maxwell Thorpe sang the national anthem and Abide with Me ahead of the match. Thorpe was supported by British DJ Alex Simmons in providing the pre match entertainment. ^[7] Following the death of Rob Burrow on 2 June, the RFL announced that Rob's death be commemorated with a minute's silence before kick-off and with a minute's applause during the seventh minute of the game. ^[8]

Before the game, the Year 7 School's Final was played. Wigan's St Peter's Catholic High School won against Cardiff's Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf. ^[9]

Match details

Saturday, 8 June 2024 11:45am BST

Leeds Rhinos	0–22	St Helens
		Tries: Gaskin, Hook, McColm, Crowl Goals: Gaskin (3/4)

Wembley Stadium, London Referee: Aaron Moore Touch judges: Neil Horton, Beth Neilson Player of the Match: Zoe Harris (St Helens)

Team details

Leeds Rhinos		Position	St Helens
Name	Number		Number	Name
Ruby Enright	1	Fullback	1	Beri Salihi
Liv Whitehead	18	Wing	20	Phoebe Hook
Caitlin Beevers	3	Centre	4	Erin Stott
Amy Hardcastle	4	Centre	3	Luci McColm
Evie Cousins	21	Wing	5	Leah Burke
Hanna Butcher	6	Stand off	6	Zoe Harris
Caitlin Casey	7	Scrum half	7	Faye Gaskin
Grace Field	19	Prop forward	8	Vicky Whitfield
Keara Bennett	9	Hooker	9	Tara Jones
Izzy Northrop	10	Prop forward	10	Chantelle Crowl
Shona Hoyle	11	Second row	11	Paige Travis
Lucy Murray	17	Second row	12	Emily Rudge
Bella Sykes	12	Loose forward	13	Jodie Cunningham
Sophie Robinson	2	Interchange	14	Naomi Williams
Zoe Hornby	8	Interchange	16	Darcy Stott
Bethan Dainton	13	Interchange	19	Katie Mottershead
Ella Donnelly	25	Interchange	24	Georgia Sutherland
Jenna Greening	22	Concussion substitute	17	Philippa Birchall
Lois Forsell		Coach		Matty Smith

The match officials were named on 4 June, with Aaron Moore as the referee, alongside Neil Horton, and Beth Neilson, the touch judges. Neilson became the first woman to be part of a senior final officiating team. ^{[10] [a]}

Post-match

Following the game, the men's final was played along with the 2024 1895 Cup final. The men's game saw an 18–8 victory to Wigan Warriors against Warrington Wolves. ^{[12] [13] [14]} The 1895 Cup final saw Wakefield Trinity beat Sheffield Eagles 50–6. ^[15]

See also

• 2024 Men's Challenge Cup final

Notes

1. Caitlin Beevers refereed the Year 7 Schools Final in 2018. ^[11]

References

1. "RFL to move Wembley Challenge Cup final date again". BBC Sport. 12 August 2023.
2. "Leeds Rhinos Women 70 Warrington Wolves Women 10". Sky Sports.
3. "Leeds beat Wigan to book third straight final v Saints". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024.
4. "St Helens Women 74 Huddersfield Giants Women 0". Sky Sports.
5. "St Helens beat York to reach Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. 18 May 2024.
6. "Wembley cup final gives women's game incentive". BBC Sport. 17 May 2024.
7. "Katherine Jenkins OBE to perform at Wembley Stadium on Rugby League's Finals Day". RFL. 13 May 2024.
8. Bower, Aaron (5 June 2024). "Challenge Cup final kick-off time moved to honour Rob Burrow at Wembley". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
9. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/orrells-st-peters-victorious-at-wembley-to-lift-the-steven-mullaney-memorial-trophy-4658388
10. Smith, Peter (4 June 2024). "Leeds referee appointed as 1895 and Challenge Cup final match officials confirmed". Yorkshire Evening Post . Retrieved 6 June 2024.
11. "Champions Schools: Year Seven Boys Final". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3, 136. 27 August 2018. p. 21.
12. Fletcher, Charlotte (2024-06-08). "Warriors win Challenge Cup at Wembley". Wigan Warriors. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
13. "Challenge Cup final: Wigan beat Warrington at Wembley again". BBC Sport. 2024-06-08. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
14. "Wigan dominate Warrington to secure Challenge Cup glory | Challenge Cup | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
15. "Match Report". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.