Wigan Warriors will be looking to defend the Challenge Cup in 2025. Here’s how the early stages of the draw look so far.
2025 Challenge Cup
First Round
Dates: January 11-12, 2025
Draw takes place December 2, 2024
Participating Clubs: 34
West Hull Vs Edinburgh Eagles
London Chargers Vs Oulton Raiders
Longhorns Vs Ince Rose Bridge
Lock Lane Vs Doncaster Toll Bar
Hammersmith Hills Hoists Vs Siddal
Waterhead Warriors Vs Leigh Miners Rangers
GB Police Vs York Acorn
Aberavon Fighting Irish Vs Blackbrook
Mirfield Vs Royal Navy
Crosfields Vs Maryport
British Army vs RAF
Stanley Rangers Vs Hunslet ARLFC
West Bowling Vs Wath Brow Hornets
Dewsbury Moor Vs Haresfinch
Eastern Rhinos Vs Wests Warriors
Rochdale Mayfield Vs Telford Raiders
Thatto Heath Vs Orrell St James
First Round Representation
Armed Forces: British Army, RAF, Royal Navy.
Cumberland Amateur Rugby League: Maryport.
GB Police.
Ireland Rugby League: Longhorns.
Midlands Rugby League: Telford Raiders* (Harry Jepson Trophy winners).
National Conference League: Crosfields, Dewsbury Moor, Hunslet ARLFC, Ince Rose Bridge, Leigh Miners Rangers, Lock Lane, Oulton Raiders, Rochdale Mayfield, Siddal, Thatto Heath (also BARLA National Cup winners), Waterhead Warriors, Wath Brow Hornets, West Bowling, West Hull, York Acorn.
North West Men’s League: Blackbrook, Haresfinch, Orrell St James (as BARLA National Cup runners-up).
Pennine League: Mirfield*.
Scotland Rugby League: Edinburgh Eagles.
Southern Conference League: Eastern Rhinos*, Hammersmith Hills Hoists, London Chargers, Wests Warriors.
Wales Rugby League: Aberavon Fighting Irish.
Yorkshire Men’s League: Doncaster Toll Bar, Stanley Rangers.
*Challenge Cup debut
Second Round
Dates: January 25-26, 2025
Draw takes place December 2, 2024
Participating Clubs: 40 (including 17 winners from the opening round)
GB Police or York Acorn Vs London Chargers Vs Oulton Raiders
Halifax Panthers Vs Thatto Heath or Orrell St James
Dewsbury Moor or Haresfinch Vs Dewsbury Rams
Barrow Raiders Vs Crosfields or Maryport
London Broncos Vs Goole Vikings
Lock Lane or Doncaster Toll Bar Vs Hunslet RLFC
Waterhead Warriors or Leigh Miners Rangers Vs Featherstone Rovers
Eastern Rhinos or Wests Warriors Vs British Army or RAF
Whitehaven Vs Swinton Lions
Stanley Rangers or Hunslet ARLFC Vs West Hull or Edinburgh Eagles
Rochdale Hornets Vs Widnes Vikings
Oldham Vs Rochdale Mayfield or Telford Raiders
Keighley Cougars Vs York Knights*
Sheffield Eagles Vs West Bowling or Wath Brow Hornets
Bradford Bulls Vs Doncaster
Aberavon Fighting Irish or Blackbrook Vs Longhorns or Ince Rose Bridge
Midlands Hurricans Vs Hammersmith Hills Hoists or Siddal
Cornwall Vs North Wales Crusaders
Newcastle Thunder Vs Mirfield or Royal Navy
Championship and League One sides
Championship: Barrow Raiders, Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Doncaster, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax Panthers, Hunslet, London Broncos, Oldham, Sheffield Eagles, Widnes Vikings, York Knights.
League One: Cornwall, Dewsbury Rams, Goole Vikings, Keighley Cougars, Midlands Hurricanes, Newcastle Thunder, North Wales Crusaders, Rochdale Hornets, Swinton Lions, Whitehaven, Workington Town.
Note: York Knights fixture will be played at a later date due to their participating in the Amsterdam event.
Dates for Future Rounds
Round 3: February 8-9 (Super League clubs enter)
Round 4: March 15-16
Quarter-Finals: April 5-6
Semi-Finals: May 10-11
Final: June 8
2025 Challenge Cup Final
Date: June 7, 2025
Tickets: early bird 25% discount tickets close midnight on December 2. More details here.
