2025 Challenge Cup
| Duration | 7 rounds |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 69 |
| Broadcast partners |
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The 2025 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 124th edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league, run by the Rugby Football League (RFL).
Background
[edit]Following discussions in 2024, it was announced that the format will be revised and there will now only be seven rounds of competition, down from the nine rounds used in recent seasons. The changes will see the Championship and League One clubs entering in round 2 (round 3 in 2024), and the Super League clubs entering in round 3 (round 6 in 2024), with all 12 super league teams being drawn "away from home" in round 3.[1]
The change follows criticism that the previous format favoured Super League clubs, and reducing the opportunities for smaller clubs to stage a tie against a big club.[2]
The competition will start in January 2025, and will conclude with the final on 7 June at Wembley Stadium.[3]
Toulouse Olympique have declined to take part, as in previous years.[4]
Format and dates
[edit]| Round | Date | Clubs involved this round | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | Leagues entering at this round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 11–12 January | 34 | None | 34 | 34 UK based community teams |
| Round 2 | 25–26 January | 40 | 17 | 23 | All teams (except Toulouse) from the Championship (12) and League One (11) |
| Round 3 | 8–9 February | 32 | 20 | 12 | All 12 teams from the Super League |
| Round 4 | 15–16 March | 16 | 16 | None | |
| Quarter-finals | 5–6 April | 8 | 8 | ||
| Semi-finals | 10–11 May | 4 | 4 | ||
| Final | 8 June | 2 | 2 | ||
The 32 clubs in the first round comprise:[5]
- the three armed services clubs,
- 15 from the National Conference League (NCL),
- one each from the Scottish, Welsh and Irish leagues,
- GB Police,
- 12 from other English regional leagues (outside the NCL).
References
[edit]- ^ "Challenge Cup to undergo major revamp as Super League role changes". Love Rugby League. 25 June 2024.
- ^ Cook, Sam (25 June 2024). "RFL reveal new Challenge Cup format from 2025 with Super League clubs impacted". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Challenge Cup: Super League clubs to join competition earlier in 2025". BBC Sport. 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Challenge Cup draw and round dates revealed as competition adopts new format for 2025". Love Rugby League. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "2025 Betfred Challenge Cup First and Second Round Draw Details Confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.