2026 Challenge Cup

2026 Challenge Cup

Duration	7 rounds
Number of teams	67
← 2025 2027 →

The 2026 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 125th staging of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league, run by the Rugby Football League (RFL).

Background

The competition retains the seven-round format introduced in 2025. The first round will again be contested solely by community clubs. The Championship clubs join the competition in the second round and the Super League clubs in the third round. However, for 2026, the first and second rounds will be played with clubs allocated to one of three regions, with games being played on a regional basis. This change has been introduced in an effort to reduce costs and an attempt to increase interest in the early rounds of the competition. ^[1]

As in 2025, the Super League clubs will be drawn away in the third round. ^[1]

The competition starts in January 2026, and will conclude with the final on 30 May at Wembley Stadium.

Toulouse Olympique declined to take part, as in previous years.

On 9 January 2026, Featherstone Rovers were excluded from the competition due to the ongoing financial difficulties at the club. As the draw for the first and second rounds had already been made by this date, Featherstone's opponent in the second round, Lock Lane were given a bye through to the third round. ^[2]

Format and dates

Challenge Cup competition format ^[3]

Round	Date	Clubs involved this round	Winners from previous round	New entries this round	Leagues entering at this round
Round 1	10–12 January	34	None	34	34 UK based community teams
Round 2	24–25 January	37 [a]	17	20	All teams from the Championship (20)
Round 3	6–8 February	32	19	13	13 of the 14 teams from the Super League (all except Toulouse Olympique)
Round 4	14–15 March	16	16	None
Quarter-finals	11–12 April	8	8
Semi-finals	9–10 May	4	4
Final	30 May	2	2

The 34 clubs in the first round will be allocated to one of three regions, North West, Yorkshire and National. Most of the clubs are from the National Conference League (NCL) but also included are the three armed services clubs, GB Police, one each from the Welsh and Irish leagues, four from the Southern Conference League, one from the London league and one from the Midlands. ^[4]

St Helens based club, Haresfinch, were originally included in the competition but withdrew before the first-round matches were played. Their place was taken by Oldham St Annes. ^[5]

North West region

There will be 12 clubs in the North West region who will play six ties in the first round; Blackbrook, GB Police, Ince Rose Bridge, Leigh Miners Rangers, Oldham St Annes, Orrell St James, Rochdale Mayfield, Seaton Rangers, Siddal, Thatto Heath Crusaders, Waterhead, and Wigan St Judes. ^[1]

In the second round, they will be joined by eight Championship clubs; Barrow Raiders, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets, Salford, Swinton Lions, Whitehaven, Widnes Vikings and Workington Town to play seven ties in the second round. ^[1]

Yorkshire region

The Yorkshire region will also comprise 12 clubs playing six ties in the first round; Brighouse Rangers, Dewsbury Moor, Heworth, Hunslet ARLFC, King Cross Park, Lock Lane, Mirfield Spartans, Royal Air Force, Stanningley Rangers, West Hull, Woodhouse and York Acorn. ^[1]

Nine Championship clubs; Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Doncaster, Goole Vikings, Halifax Panthers, Hunslet, Keighley Cougars, Newcastle Thunder and Sheffield Eagles join the six community clubs to play eight ties in the second round. ^[1]

National region

The National region will contain 10 clubs playing five first-round ties; Aberavon Fighting Irish, Bedford Tigers, British Army, Broncos, Hammersmith Hills Hoists, London Chargers, Medway Dragons, Royal Navy, Telford Raiders and Wests Warriors. ^[1]

The five first-round winners will be joined in the second round by London Broncos, Midlands Hurricanes and North Wales Crusaders to play four ties in the second round. ^[1]

First round

The draws for the first and second rounds were made on 24 November 2025. ^[6]

Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 1

Super League [b]	Championship [c]	Non-League	Total
13 / 13	20 / 20	34 / 34	67 / 67

Challenge Cup round 1 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance [d]
Royal Navy	04–18	Hammersmith Hills Hoists	10 January 2026, 13:00	United Services Recreation Ground	O. Maddock	not recorded
Hunslet ARLFC	48–60	York Acorn	10 January 2026, 13:30	Hunslet Oval	M. Clayton
Orrell St James	34–00	Oldham St Annes	10 January 2026, 13:30	Bankes Avenue Playing Fields	L. Breheny
Blackbrook	52–60	GB Police	10 January 2026, 14:00	Boardmans Lane	J. Hughes
British Army	12–24	Wests Warriors	10 January 2026, 14:00	Army Rugby Stadium	S. Jenkinson
Thatto Heath Crusaders	78–10	Seaton Rangers	10 January 2026, 14:00	Close Street	T. Bell
Banbridge Broncos	26–32	Aberavon Fighting Irish	11 January 2026, 13:30	Chambers Park	T. Topping-Higson
Bedford Tigers	36–60	Medway Dragons	11 January 2026, 14:30	Putnoe Woods	O. Salmon
Heworth	C–C	RAF	Tie conceded by the RAF as they were unable to raise a team for the rescheduled fixture on 17 January. [7]
Telford Raiders	18–38	London Chargers	17 January 2026, 13:00 [e]	The Old Showground	S. Houghton
Brighouse Rangers	06–42	Lock Lane	17 January 2026, 13:30 [e]	Brighouse Sports Club	R. Schofield
Stanningley	24–22	Dewsbury Moor	17 January 2026, 13:30 [e]	The Arthur Miller Stadium	F. Lincoln
Woodhouse Warriors	04–36	Mirfield Spartans	17 January 2026, 13:30 [e]	Buslingthorpe Vale	S. Quarmby
King Cross Park	12–42	West Hull	17 January 2026, 14:00 [e]	Hopwood Lane	J. Stearne
Rochdale Mayfield	12–18	Ince Rose Bridge	17 January 2026, 14:00 [e]	Mayfield Sports Centre	J. Pemberton
Wigan St Judes	17–12	Leigh Miners Rangers	17 January 2026, 14:00 [e]	Parsons Meadow	L. Breheny
Siddal	14–22	Waterhead Warriors	18 January 2026, 13:30 [f]	Exley Lane	L. Seal
Source:

Second round

Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 2

Super League [b]	Championship	Non-League	Total
13 / 13	20 / 20	17 / 34	50 / 67

Challenge Cup round 2 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Lock Lane	C–C	Featherstone Rovers	Tie cancelled due to the termination of Featherstone Rovers's RFL membership following the club's entry in administration. Lock Lane received a bye to the third round.
Heworth	00–66	Keighley Cougars	24 January 2026, 13:30	Elmpark Way	L. Seal	not recorded
Stanningley	00–44	Hunslet	24 January 2026, 13:30	The Arthur Miller Stadium	J. Pemberton	950
Ince Rose Bridge	26–44	Swinton Lions	24 January 2026, 14:00	Pinfold Street	D. Arnold	1,017
Wigan St Judes	04–76	Barrow Raiders	24 January 2026, 14:00	Parsons Meadow	F. Lincoln	not recorded
Sheffield Eagles	18–60	Whitehaven	24 January 2026, 14:30	Steel City Stadium	T. Jones	427
Hammersmith Hills Hoists	10–42	Salford	24 January 2026, 18:00	Dukes Meadows	M. McKelvey	not recorded
Thatto Heath Crusaders	00–76	Widnes Vikings	25 January 2026, 13:00	Close Street	R. Cox	1,400
Waterhead Warriors	06–60	Rochdale Hornets	25 January 2026, 13:30	Manor Park	K. Moore	not recorded
Batley Bulldogs	32–10	Hunslet ARLFC	25 January 2026, 14:00	Mount Pleasant	L. Bland	not recorded
Blackbrook	06–28	Workington Town	25 January 2026, 14:00	Boardmans Lane	A. Williams	not recorded
Dewsbury Rams	32–10	West Hull	25 January 2026, 14:00	Crown Flatt	C. Hughes	not recorded
London Broncos	86–00	Wests Warriors	25 January 2026, 14:00	Athletic Ground	A. Belafonte	not recorded
North Wales Crusaders	110–000	Bedford Tigers	25 January 2026, 14:30	Eirias Stadium	S. Jenkinson	289
Doncaster	24–22	Newcastle Thunder	25 January 2026, 15:00	Eco-Power Stadium	M. Lynn	843
Halifax Panthers	88–00	London Chargers	25 January 2026, 15:00	The Shay	L. Breheny	676
Mirfield Spartans	04–58	Goole Vikings	25 January 2026, 15:00	Victoria Pleasure Grounds [g]	J. Hughes	not recorded
Oldham	58–00	Orrell St James	25 January 2026, 15:00	Bower Fold	S. Mikalauskas	671
Midlands Hurricanes	110–000	Aberavon Fighting Irish	25 January 2026, 17:00	Avery Fields	M. Clayton	200
Source: [11]

Third round

The third round draw was made on 12 January 2026. ^[12]

Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 3

Super League	Championship	Non-League	Total
13 / 13	18 / 20	1 / 34	32 / 67

Challenge Cup round 3 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Hunslet	06–52	Huddersfield Giants	6 February 2026, 19:00	South Leeds Stadium	D. Arnold	990
Sheffield Eagles	06–34	Warrington Wolves	6 February 2026, 19:30	Halliwell Jones Stadium [h]	S. Mikalauskas	2,908
Workington Town	02–98	St Helens	6 February 2026, 19:30	Derwent Park	L. Rush	4,129
Lock Lane	000–104	Hull KR	6 February 2026, 20:00	Craven Park [i]	J. Smith
Salford	00–60	Hull FC	6 February 2026, 20:00	CorpAcq Stadium	M. Lynn	1,976
Doncaster	00–14	Castleford Tigers	7 February 2026, 14:00	Eco-Power Stadium	T. Grant	2,537
Widnes Vikings	12–25	Leeds Rhinos	7 February 2026, 15:00	Halton Stadium	L. Moore	2,977
Barrow Raiders	06–32	York Knights	7 February 2026, 18:00	Craven Park	K. Moore	1,389
North Wales Crusaders	06–60	Leigh Leopards	7 February 2026, 19:00	Eirias Stadium	J. Vella	1,899
Batley Bulldogs	04–56	Catalans Dragons	8 February 2026, 14:00	Mount Pleasant	R. Cox
Halifax Panthers	14–18	Goole Vikings	8 February 2026, 15:00	The Shay	L. Bland
Keighley Cougars	18–14	Midlands Hurricanes	8 February 2026, 15:00	Cougar Park	C. Hughes
London Broncos	08–26	Bradford Bulls	8 February 2026, 15:00	Plough Lane	M. Griffiths	3,477
Oldham	46–00	Dewsbury Rams	8 February 2026, 15:00	Bower Fold	M. McKelvey	741
Rochdale Hornets	00–83	Wigan Warriors	8 February 2026, 15:00	Spotland Stadium	A. Moore	4,248
Swinton Lions	06–82	Wakefield Trinity	8 February 2026, 15:00	Heywood Road	T. Jones	918
Source:

Fourth round

The fourth round draw was made on 9 February 2026. ^[15]

Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 3

Super League	Championship	Non-League	Total
13 / 13	3 / 20	0 / 34	16 / 67

Challenge Cup round 4 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Wigan Warriors	–	Bradford Bulls	13 March 2026, 20:00	Brick Community Stadium
Catalans Dragons	–	Oldham	14 March 2026, TBC	Stade Gilbert Brutus
Castleford Tigers	–	St Helens	14/15 March 2026	Wheldon Road
Goole Vikings	–	Warrington Wolves	14/15 March 2026	Victoria Pleasure Grounds
Huddersfield Giants	–	Hull KR	14/15 March 2026	Kirklees Stadium
Leigh Leopards	–	Hull F.C.	14/15 March 2026	Leigh Sports Village
Wakefield Trinity	–	Leeds Rhinos	14/15 March 2026	Belle Vue
York Knights	–	Keighley Cougars	14/15 March 2026	York Community Stadium
Source:

Broadcast matches

Broadcast matches

Round	Match	Date	Broadcast method
1st	Thatto Heath Crusaders v Seaton Rangers	10 January	Broadcast live on BBC iPlayer . [5] [16]
	British Army vs Wests Warriors		Broadcast live on BFBS
	Siddal vs Waterhead Warriors	18 January	Streamed live on The Sportsman
2nd	Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven	24 January	Broadcast live on BBC iPlayer . [17]
	Waterhead Warriors v Rochdale Hornets	25 January	Streamed live on The Sportsman
3rd	Workington Town v St Helens	6 February	Streamed live on The Sportsman
	Widnes Vikings v Leeds Rhinos	7 February	Streamed live on The Sportsman
	London Broncos v Bradford Bulls	8 February	Broadcast live on BBC iPlayer . [18]

Notes

1. One team has a bye due to the exclusion of Featherstone Rovers
2. Super League teams joined the competition in the third round
3. Championship clubs joined the competition in the second round
4. Attendances not recorded for matches only involving amateur teams
5. Postponed from 10 January due to frozen pitch. ^[8]
6. Postponed from 11 January due to an unfit pitch. ^[9]
7. Mirfield ceded home advantage. ^[10]
8. Sheffield ceded home advantage. ^[13]
9. Lock Lane ceded home advantage. ^[14]

References

1. Tomlinson, Daniel (18 November 2025). "Challenge Cup draw details as format confirmed and regionalised ties to be made". All Out Rugby League. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
2. Tomlinson, Daniel (9 January 2026). "Featherstone Rovers denied entry to Championship as RFL explain decision". All Out Rugby League. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
3. "Betfred Challenge Cup 2026 – First and Second Round draws details". Rugby Football League. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
4. Olawumi, Ben (18 November 2025). "Challenge Cup First and Second Round draw details confirmed as regionalised format revealed". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
5. Olawumi, Ben (17 December 2025). "2026 Challenge Cup First Round: TV picks made as community club withdraw from competition". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
6. "2026 Betfred Challenge Cup Rounds One and Two Draws made". Rugby Football League. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
7. "RAF forced to pull out of Challenge Cup as Heworth progress – Total Rugby League". Total RL. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
8. "Updated Postponements: Betfred Challenge Cup Round 1". RFL. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
9. "Siddal v Waterhead called off in ninth Challenge Cup postponement – Total Rugby League". Total RL. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
10. "Challenge Cup - Round 2 - tickets". Goole Vikings. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
11. "Betfred Challenge Cup: Round Two". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3516. 26 January 2026. p. 27.
12. "Challenge Cup: Holders Hull KR to face Castleford Lock Lane or Brighouse". BBC Sport. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
13. "Date and venue swap confirmed for Warrington Wolves' Challenge Cup tie". Warrington Guardian. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
14. Shaw, Matthew (22 January 2026). "Castleford Tigers respond as local club opt against using stadium". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
15. Olawumi, Ben (9 February 2026). "Challenge Cup Fourth Round draw made as Goole Vikings get glamour tie". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
16. Bower, Aaron (9 January 2026). "Every Challenge Cup, pre-season game cancelled by Storm Goretti". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
17. Olawumi, Ben (16 January 2026). "BBC make Challenge Cup Second Round broadcast pick as all-Championship tie chosen". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
18. Olawumi, Ben (28 January 2026). "Challenge Cup Third Round TV picks confirmed as full schedule locked in". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 28 January 2026.