2026 Challenge Cup

Last updated

2026 Challenge Cup
Duration7 rounds
Number of teams68

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).

Contents

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 second round had already been made by this date, Featherstone's opponent in the second round, Brighouse or Lock Lane will be given a bye through to the third round. [2]

Format and dates

Challenge Cup competition format [3]
RoundDateClubs involved this roundWinners from previous roundNew entries this roundLeagues entering at this round
Round 110–12 January34None3434 UK based community teams
Round 224–25 January37 [a] 1720All teams from the Championship (20)
Round 36–8 February32191313 of the 14 teams from the Super League (all except Toulouse Olympique)
Round 414–15 March1616None
Quarter-finals11–12 April88
Semi-finals9–10 May44
Final30 May22

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 Red Devils, 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-LeagueTotal
13 / 13
21 / 21
34 / 34
68 / 68
Challenge Cup round 1 fixtures
HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance [d]
Royal Navy 4–18 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 10 January 2026, 13:00 United Services Recreation Ground O. Maddocknot recorded
Hunslet ARLFC48–6 York Acorn 10 January 2026, 13:30Hunslet OvalM. Clayton
Orrell St James34–0Oldham St Annes10 January 2026, 13:30Bankes Avenue Playing FieldsL. Breheny
Blackbrook 52–6 GB Police 10 January 2026, 14:00Boardmans LaneJ. Hughes
British Army 12–24 Wests Warriors 10 January 2026, 14:00 Army Rugby Stadium S. Jenkinson
Thatto Heath Crusaders 78–10Seaton Rangers10 January 2026, 14:00Close StreetT. Bell
Banbridge Broncos26–32Aberavon Fighting Irish11 January 2026, 13:30Chambers ParkT. Topping-Higson
Bedford Tigers 36–6 Medway Dragons 11 January 2026, 14:30Putnoe WoodsO. 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 ShowgroundS. Houghton
Brighouse Rangers6–42 Lock Lane 17 January 2026, 13:30 [e] Brighouse Sports ClubR. Schofield
Stanningley24–22Dewsbury Moor17 January 2026, 13:30 [e] The Arthur Miller StadiumF. Lincoln
Woodhouse Warriors4–36Mirfield Spartans17 January 2026, 13:30 [e] Buslingthorpe ValeS. Quarmby
King Cross Park12–42 West Hull 17 January 2026, 14:00 [e] Hopwood LaneJ. Stearne
Rochdale Mayfield 12–18 Ince Rose Bridge 17 January 2026, 14:00 [e] Mayfield Sports CentreJ. Pemberton
Wigan St Judes 17–12 Leigh Miners Rangers 17 January 2026, 14:00 [e] Parsons MeadowL. Breheny
Siddal 14–22Waterhead Warriors18 January 2026, 13:30 [f] Exley LaneL. Seal
Source:

Second round

Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 2
Super League [b] ChampionshipNon-LeagueTotal
13 / 13
21 / 21
17 / 34
51 / 68
Challenge Cup round 2 fixtures
HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Lock Lane C–C Featherstone Rovers Tie cancelled due to the termination of Featherstone Rovers's RFL membership following the club's winding up order. Lock Lane subsequently received a bye to the third round.
Heworth Keighley Cougars 24 January 2026, 13:30Elmpark WayL. Seal
Stanningley Hunslet 24 January 2026, 13:30The Arthur Miller StadiumJ. Pemberton
Ince Rose Bridge Swinton Lions 24 January 2026, 14:00Pinfold Street
Wigan St Judes Barrow Raiders 24 January 2026, 14:00Parsons MeadowF. Lincoln
Sheffield Eagles Whitehaven 24 January 2026, 14:30 Steel City Stadium T. Jones
Hammersmith Hills Hoists Salford RLFC 24 January 2026, 18:00Dukes MeadowsM. McKelvey
Thatto Heath Crusaders Widnes Vikings 25 January 2026, 13:00Close StreetR. Cox
Waterhead Warriors Rochdale Hornets 25 January 2026, 13:30Manor ParkK. Moore
Batley Bulldogs Hunslet ARLFC25 January 2026, 14:00 Mount Pleasant L. Bland
Blackbrook Workington Town 25 January 2026, 14:00Boardmans LaneA. Williams
Dewsbury Rams West Hull 25 January 2026, 14:00 Crown Flatt C. Hughes
London Broncos Wests Warriors 25 January 2026, 14:00 Athletic Ground A. Belafonte
North Wales Crusaders Bedford Tigers 25 January 2026, 14:30 Eirias Stadium S. Jenkinson
Doncaster Newcastle Thunder 25 January 2026, 15:00 Eco-Power Stadium M. Lynn
Halifax Panthers London Chargers 25 January 2026, 15:00 The Shay L. Breheny
Mirfield Spartans Goole Vikings 25 January 2026, 15:00 Victoria Pleasure Grounds J. Hughes
Oldham Orrell St James25 January 2026, 15:00 Bower Fold S. Mikalauskas
Midlands Hurricanes Aberavon Fighting Irish25 January 2026, 17:00Avery FieldsM. Clayton
Source: [10]

Third round

The third round draw was made on 12 January 2026.

Number of teams per tier remaining in competition at start of round 3
Super LeagueChampionshipNon-LeagueTotal
13 / 13
20 / 21
17 / 34
50 / 68
Challenge Cup round 3 fixtures
HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Batley Bulldogs / Hunslet ARLFC Catalans Dragons 6-8 February 2026
Blackbrook / Workington Town St Helens 6-8 February 2026
Lock Lane Hull KR 6-8 February 2026
Doncaster / Newcastle Thunder Castleford Tigers 6-8 February 2026
Halifax Panthers / London ChargersMirfield Spartans / Goole Vikings 6-8 February 2026
Hammersmith Hills Hoists / Salford RLFC Hull FC 6-8 February 2026
Heworth / Keighley Cougars Midlands Hurricanes / Aberavon Fighting Irish6-8 February 2026
London Broncos / Wests Warriors Bradford Bulls 6-8 February 2026
North Wales Crusaders / Bedford Tigers Leigh Leopards 6-8 February 2026
Oldham / Orrell St James Dewsbury Rams / West Hull6-8 February 2026
Ince Rose Bridge / Swinton Lions Wakefield Trinity 6-8 February 2026
Sheffield Eagles / Whitehaven Warrington Wolves 6-8 February 2026
Waterhead Warriors / Rochdale Hornets Wigan Warriors 6-8 February 2026
Stanningley / Hunslet Huddersfield Giants 6-8 February 2026
Thatto Heath Crusaders / Widnes Vikings Leeds Rhinos 6-8 February 2026
Wigan St Judes / Barrow Raiders York Knights 6-8 February 2026
Source: [11]

Broadcast matches

Broadcast matches
RoundMatchDateBroadcast method
1stThatto Heath Crusaders v Seaton Rangers10 JanuaryBroadcast live on BBC iPlayer . [5] [12]
British Army vs Wests WarriorsBroadcast live on BFBS
Siddal vs Waterhead Warriors18 JanuaryStreamed live on The Sportsman
2ndSheffield Eagles v Whitehaven24 JanuaryBroadcast live on BBC iPlayer . [13]

Notes

  1. ↑ One team has a bye due to the exclusion of Featherstone Rovers
  2. 1 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Postponed from 10 January due to frozen pitch. [8]
  6. ↑ Postponed from 11 January due to an unfit pitch. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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. 1 2 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 First and Second Round draws confirmed as Road to Wembley begins". Love Rugby League. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Challenge Cup: Holders Hull KR to face Castleford Lock Lane or Brighouse". BBC Sport. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Bower, Aaron (9 January 2026). "Every Challenge Cup, pre-season game cancelled by Storm Goretti". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  13. ↑ 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.
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