2023 Challenge Cup | |
Duration: | 9 rounds |
No Of Teams: | 71 |
Highest Attendance: | 58,213 (Final ) – Hull KR v Leigh Leopards (12 August 2023) |
Lowest Attendance: | 255 North Wales Crusaders v Royal Navy (25 February 2023) |
Tv: |
|
Season: | 2023 |
Season Champs: | Leigh Leopards |
Season Champ Name: | Winners |
Second Place: | Hull KR |
Mvp: | Lachlan Lam |
Mvp Link: | Lance Todd Trophy |
Prevseason Link: | 2022 Challenge Cup |
Prevseason Year: | 2022 |
Nextseason Link: | 2024 Challenge Cup |
Nextseason Year: | 2024 |
The 2023 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2023 Betfred Challenge Cup, was the 122nd edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It began over the weekend of 11–12 February 2023 and ended with the final, at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 August.[1] [2]
The defending champions were Wigan Warriors, who won the 2022 Challenge Cup Final, by narrowly defeating Huddersfield Giants 16–14, but they were eliminated in the semi finals, as Brad Schneider kicked a drop goal in extra time, to win the game for Hull KR 11–10.[3]
The competition started on 11 February and concluded with the final on 12 August. The final returned to its traditional home, Wembley Stadium in London, after being played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2022. League One team Cornwall R.L.F.C. made their first appearance in the competition having declined to enter in their debut season.[1]
All professional RFL member clubs were invited to participate as well as a number of invited amateur teams including teams representing the British armed forces. This year the entry of the amateur clubs was split; in round 1, the armed forces teams entered along with the Scottish, Irish and Welsh champions with English teams from outside the National Conference League Premier Division making up the 36 teams to compete in the round. Ten teams from the National Conference League Premier Division joined in round 2, together with the 10 teams from League One.[1] Shortly after the format for the tournament was announced, West Wales Raiders withdrew from the competition. The RFL announced that rounds one and two would be altered slightly to cope with this by increasing the number of teams in round one to 36 and reducing the numbers of new clubs in round two from 21 to 20.[4]
The Championship clubs with the exception of Toulouse Olympique who declined to enter, joined the tournament in round 3. Rounds 4 and 5 reduced the lower league clubs to four before the Super League clubs entered in round 6.
Round | Date | Clubs involved this round | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | Leagues entering at this round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round 1 | 11–12 February | 36 | 36 | 36 UK based community league teams | |
Round 2 | 25–26 February | 38 | 18 | 20 | 10 teams from National Conference League Premier Division and 10 League One |
Round 3 | 9–12 March | 32 | 19 | 13 | All teams from the Championship except Toulouse Olympique |
Round 4 | 30 March – 2 April | 16 | 16 | colspan=2 | |
Round 5 | 20–23 April | 8 | 8 | colspan=2 | |
Round 6 | 18–21 May | 16 | 4 | 12 | All 12 teams from the Super League |
Quarter-finals | 15–18 June | 8 | 8 | colspan=2 rowspan=3 | |
Semi-finals | 22 July | 4 | 4 | ||
Final | 12 August | 2 | 2 | ||
The draw for the first and second rounds were made at Wembley Stadium on 12 January 2023. Ties were played over the weekend of 11 and 12 February 2023.
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
West Bowling | 30–12 | Waterhead | 11 February; 11:00 | Horsfall Stadium | O. Salmon | rowspan=18 | |
Edinburgh Eagles | 20–30 | Saddleworth Rangers | 11 February, 13:15 | Royal High School, Edinburgh | S. Fraser | ||
Brentwood Eels | 34–24 | Bedford Tigers | 11 February, 13:30 | Ashwells Road, Brentwood | M. Rossleigh | ||
Royal Navy | 28–16 | Barrow Island | 11 February, 13:30 | The Victory Stadium, Portsmouth | J. Jones | ||
Skirlaugh | 16–26 | Wests Warriors | 11 February, 13:30 | Slaithes Lane, Hedon | J. Ruckledge | ||
Westgate Common | 36–18 | Crosfields | 11 February, 13:30 | Park Grove Road, Wakefield | D. Arnold | ||
British Army | 12–28 | Ashton Bears | 11 February; 14:00 | Aldershot Military Stadium | W. Gilder | ||
Distington | 4–16 | Orrell St James | 11 February; 14:00 | West View Road, Distington | J. Hughes | ||
Doncaster Toll Bar | 24–36 | Royal Air Force | 11 February; 14:00 | Prospect Road, Doncaster | M. McKelvey | ||
Featherstone Lions | 6–20 | Great Britain Police | 11 February; 14:00 | Wakefield Road, Featherstone | S. Jenkinson | ||
Fryston Warriors | 38–22 | Thornhill Trojans | 11 February; 14:00 | Askham Road, Ferry Fryston | C. Hughes | ||
Hull Dockers | 54–10 | Rhondda Outlaws | 11 February; 14:00 | The Willows, Hull | D. Frederick | ||
Stanningley | 38–4 | Milford | 11 February; 14:00 | The Arthur Miller Stadium, Leeds | A. Williams | ||
London Chargers | 32–12 | North Herts Crusaders | 11 February; 14:30 | Kings House School, Chiswick | M. Cowan | ||
Wigan St Pats | 22–30 | Ince Rose Bridge | 11 February; 14:30 | Harper St, Wigan | F. Lincoln | ||
Hammersmith Hills Hoists | 8–42 | Dublin City Exiles | 11 February; 17:00 | Chiswick Rugby Club, Chiswick | H. Winnard | ||
Heworth | 22–6 | Oulton Raiders | 12 February, 12:00 | Elmpark Way, Heworth | J. Covell-Wood | ||
Jarrow Vikings | 26–40 | Myton Warriors | 12 February, 13:30 | Monkton Stadium, Jarrow | T. Gibbs | ||
Source:[5] |
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
Cornwall | 14–20 | Rochdale Mayfield | 25 February; 13:00 | The Memorial Ground, Penryn | M. Rossleigh | 1,061 | |
Brentwood Eels | 4–58 | Wath Brow Hornets | 25 February; 13:30 | Ashwells Road, Brentwood | W. Gilder | rowspan=6 | |
Lock Lane | 22–30 | West Bowling | 25 February; 13:30 | Lock Lane, Castleford | A. Rhodes | ||
Fryston Warriors | 12–28 | Stanningley | 25 February; 13:30 | Askham Road, Ferry Fryston | A. Belafonte | ||
Saddleworth Rangers | 4–18 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 25 February; 13:30 | Shaw Hall Bank Road | J. Hughes | ||
Ashton Bears | 8–38 | Dewsbury Rams | 25 February; 14:00 | Crown Flatt | E. Burrow | ||
Myton Warriors | 22–34 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 25 February; 14:00 | Marist Sporting Club, Hull | M. Clayton | ||
North Wales Crusaders | 70–0 | Royal Navy | 25 February; 14:00 | Eirias Stadium | J. Lincoln | 255 | |
RAF | 10–12 | York Acorn | 25 February; 14:00 | RAF Cranwell | S. Jenkinson | rowspan=5 | |
Wests Warriors | 18–14 | London Chargers | 25 February; 14:00 | Twyford Avenue, London | H. Winnard | ||
Hunslet ARLFC | 66–0 | Pilkington Recs | 25 February; 14:30 | The Oval, Leeds | C. Hughes | ||
Siddal | 14–8 | West Hull | 25 February; 14:30 | Exley Lane, Halifax | R. Cox | ||
Orrell St James | 68–14 | Dublin City Exiles | 25 February; 15:00 | Bankes Avenue, Orrell | S. Houghton | ||
Rochdale Hornets | 42–4 | London Skolars | 26 February; 13:00 | Spotland Stadium | M. Lynn | 300 | |
GB Police | 18–22 | Westgate Common | 26 February; 13:00 | Scholes Lane, St. Helens | T. Jones | ||
Workington Town | 68–6 | Ince Rose Bridge | 26 February; 14:00 | Derwent Park | B. Milligan | 603 | |
Hull Dockers | 4–50 | Midlands Hurricanes | 26 February; 14:45 | Craven Park, Hull | A. Sweet | ||
Doncaster | 28–26 | Oldham | 26 February; 15:00 | Keepmoat Stadium | K. Moore | 517 | |
Hunslet | 68–6 | Heworth | 26 February; 15:00 | South Leeds Stadium | L. Bland | 556 | |
Source:[6] |
The third round draw was made on 27 February.[7]
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
Westgate Common | 12–15 | Hunslet A.R.L.F.C | 11 March, 13:30 | Park Grove Road | E. Burrow | rowspan=8 | |
Leigh Miners Rangers | 10–38 | Rochdale Mayfield | 11 March, 14:00 | Twist Lane | M. Smaill | ||
Orrell St James | 12–19 | Midlands Hurricanes | 11 March, 14:00 | Bankes Avenue, Orrell | M. Lynn | ||
London Broncos | 32–10 | Whitehaven | 11 March, 15:00 | Plough Lane | L. Rush | ||
Wests Warriors | 4–80 | Widnes Vikings | 11 March, 15:00 | DCBL Stadium | R. Cox | ||
Thatto Heath Crusaders | 10–18 | North Wales Crusaders | 12 March, 12:30 | Close Street | S. Mikalauskas | ||
Stanningley | 16–58 | Newcastle Thunder | 12 March, 13:00 | The Arthur Miller Stadium | L. Bland | ||
Batley Bulldogs | 60–0 | Wath Brow Hornets | 12 March, 14:00 | Mount Pleasant | B. Milligan | ||
Dewsbury Rams | 38–18 | Rochdale Hornets | 12 March, 14:00 | Crown Flatt | C. Worsley | 445 | |
Siddal | 12–34 | Sheffield Eagles | 12 March, 14:30 | Exley Lane, Halifax | K. Moore | ||
Barrow Raiders | 32–14 | Swinton Lions | 12 March, 15:00 | Craven Park | J. Vella | 1,161 | |
Bradford Bulls | 62–6 | York Acorn | 12 March, 15:00 | Odsal Stadium | A. Belafonte | 1,143 | |
Doncaster | 24–20 | Workington Town | 12 March, 15:00 | Eco-Power Stadium | N. Bennett | 485 | |
Featherstone Rovers | 18–22 | Halifax Panthers | 12 March, 15:00 | Post Office Road | L. Moore | 1,487 | |
Hunslet | 14–16 | Keighley Cougars | 12 March, 15:00 | South Leeds Stadium | M. Rossleigh | 519 | |
York Knights | 52–12 | West Bowling | 12 March, 15:00 | York Community Stadium | A. Sweet | 1,040 | |
Source: |
The draw for the fourth and fifth rounds was made on Wednesday 15 March at Millom RLFC, the oldest amateur club.[8] No new teams enter in these rounds so the fourth round comprises just eight matches.
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
Rochdale Mayfield | 12–22 | Newcastle Thunder | 1 April, 13:00 | Mayfield Sports Centre | N. Bennett | ||
Keighley Cougars | 36–14 | North Wales Crusaders | 1 April, 15:00 | Cougar Park | M. Smaill | 862 | |
London Broncos | 66–16 | Doncaster | 1 April, 15:00 | Priory Lane | S. Mikalauskas | 428 | |
York Knights | 24–22 | Sheffield Eagles | 2 April, 12:30 | York Community Stadium | J. Vella | 832 | |
Hunslet ARLFC | 6–80 | Batley Bulldogs | 2 April, 14:00 | B. Milligan | 579 | ||
Dewsbury Rams | 32–12 | Widnes Vikings | 2 April, 15:00 | Crown Flatt | L. Rush | 802 | |
Halifax Panthers | 24–18 | Barrow Raiders | 2 April 15:00 | The Shay | T. Grant | 1,474 | |
Midlands Hurricanes | 18–66 | Bradford Bulls | 2 April, 15:00 | Odsal Stadium | C. Worsley | 1,003 | |
Source:[9] |
Drawn immediately after the fourth round draw, the four fixtures determined which teams from below Super League would progress to the draw with the 12 Super League teams.
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
22–18 | Newcastle Thunder | 21 April, 19:30 | York Community Stadium | N. Bennett | 1,100 | ||
Halifax Panthers | 26–0 | 22 April, 19:00 | The Shay | T. Grant | 2,146 | ||
Batley Bulldogs | 34–16 | Keighley Cougars | 23 April, 15:00 | Mount Pleasant | J. Vella | 923 | |
36–16 | Dewsbury Rams | 23 April, 15:05 | Priory Lane | L. Rush | 353 | ||
Source:[10] |
The draw for the sixth round took place live on BBC News' Sportsday on 24 April. The draw was made by England women's captain Jodie Cunningham.
Ties were played over the weekend of 19-21 May.
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
Halifax Panthers | 6–26 | St Helens | 19 May, 19:45 | The Shay | A. Moore | 4,693 | |
Wakefield Trinity | 12–40 | Leigh Leopards | 19 May, 19:45 | The Be Well Support Stadium | B. Thaler | 1,568 | |
Hull KR | 50–0 | Batley Bulldogs | 19 May, 20:00 | Sewell Group Craven Park | T. Grant | 5,200 | |
Leeds Rhinos | 14–18 | Wigan Warriors | 20 May, 14:30 | Headingley | C. Kendall | 7,103 | |
Catalans Dragons | 14–16 | Warrington Wolves | 20 May, 17:00 | Stade Gilbert Brutus | J. Smith | 5,014 | |
Salford Red Devils | 42–40 | Huddersfield Giants | 20 May, 19:30 | AJ Bell Stadium | M. Griffiths | 2,872 | |
Castleford Tigers | 8–32 | Hull FC | 21 May, 15:00 | Mend-A-Hose Jungle | L. Moore | 4,249 | |
York Knights | 36–12 | London Broncos | 21 May, 15:00 | York Community Stadium | J. Vella | 951 | |
Source:[11] |
The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Two after the conclusion of the sixth-round tie between Castleford and Hull FC. The draw was made by John Kear. Ties were played over the weekend of 17–18 June.
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
Hull KR | 28–10 | Salford Red Devils | 17 June, 12:00 | Craven Park | B. Thaler | 6,289 | |
Hull FC | 18–32 | St Helens | 17 June, 14:30 | MKM Stadium | C. Kendall | 8,127 | |
Wigan Warriors | 14–12 | Warrington Wolves | 18 June, 14:30 | DW Stadium | L. Moore | 9,302 | |
York Knights | 14–34 | Leigh Leopards | 18 June, 17:00 | York Community Stadium | J. Smith | 2,412 |
The draw for the semi-finals was conducted on 18 June, during half time in the Wigan v Warrington match. The draw was made by Lois Forsell, head coach of Leeds Rhinos.[12]
Ties took place over the weekend of 22–23 July, each being a double header with one of the semi-finals of the women's competition.
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
Leigh Leopards | 12–10 | St Helens | 22 July, 14:30 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | C. Kendall | 12,113 | |
Hull KR | 11–10 | Wigan Warriors | 23 July, 17:00 | Headingley | L. Moore | 10,926 |
See main article: 2023 Challenge Cup final. On 12 August 2022, the RFL announced that the Challenge Cup Final would return to Wembley after its one year hiatus, and be played as a triple header, alongside the women's final, and the 1895 Cup final. The final was played on 12 August 2023.[13]
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Match Information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
width=17% | Date and Time | width=22% | Venue | width=10% | Referee | width=7% | Attendance |
Hull KR | 16–17 | Leigh Leopards | 12 August, 15:00 | Wembley Stadium | C. Kendall | 58,213 |
1st | Edinburgh Eagles v Saddleworth Rangers | 11 February | Broadcast live on BBC Red Button | |
Wigan St Pats v Ince Rose Bridge | Streamed live on The Sportsman | |||
2nd | Cornwall v Rochdale Mayfield | 25 February | Broadcast live on BBC Red Button | |
Hull Dockers v Midlands Hurricanes | 26 February | Streamed live on The Sportsman[14] | ||
3rd | Thatto Heath Crusaders v North Wales Crusaders | 12 March | Broadcast live on BBC Red Button | |
Featherstone Rovers v Halifax Panthers | Streamed live on The Sportsman | |||
4th | York Knights v Sheffield Eagles | 2 April | Broadcast live on BBC Red Button[15] | |
Dewsbury Rams v Widnes Vikings | Streamed live on The Sportsman[16] | |||
5th | Halifax Panthers v Bradford Bulls | 22 April | Broadcast live on BBC Red Button[17] | |
Batley Bulldogs v Keighley Cougars | 23 April | Streamed live on The Sportsman | ||
6th | Halifax Panthers v St Helens | 19 May | Broadcast live on Viaplay[18] | |
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors | 20 May | Broadcast live on BBC One[19] | ||
Salford Red Devils v Huddersfield Giants | Broadcast live on Viaplay | |||
Castleford Tigers v Hull F.C. | 21 May | Broadcast live on BBC Two | ||
QF | Hull KR v Salford Red Devils | 17 June | Broadcast live on Viaplay[20] | |
Hull FC v St Helens | Broadcast live on BBC One[21] | |||
Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves | 18 June | |||
York Knights v Leigh Leopards | Broadcast live on Viaplay | |||
SF | Leigh Leopards v St Helens | 22 July | Broadcast live on BBC One[22] | |
Hull KR v Wigan Warriors | 23 July | Broadcast live on BBC Two | ||
F | Hull KR v Leigh Leopards | 12 August | Broadcast live on BBC One |