2023_Challenge_Cup

2023 Challenge Cup

2023 Challenge Cup

British rugby league knockout tournament

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]

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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]

Background

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.

Format and dates

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First round

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.

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  1. Attendances not recorded for matches involving amateur clubs

Second round

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  1. Although drawn at home Ashton Bears agreed to the match being played at Dewsbury.[6]

Third round

The third round draw was made on 27 February.[8]

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  1. Wests Warriors ceded home advantage and agreed to play at Widnes.[9]
  2. Originally scheduled for 11 March but postponed due to a frozen pitch.[10]
  3. Originally scheduled for 11 March but postponed on 10 March due to adverse weather conditions.[11]

Fourth round

The draw for the fourth and fifth rounds was made on Wednesday 15 March at Millom RLFC, the oldest amateur club.[12] No new teams enter in these rounds so the fourth round comprises just eight matches.

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  1. Fixture moved to Batley after Hunslet's ground deemed unsuitable for a game against a professional team.[13]
  2. Midlands requested that the match be played at Bradford's Odsal Stadium.[14]

Fifth round

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.

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Sixth round

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.

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Quarter-finals

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.

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    Semi-finals

    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.[18]

    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.

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    Final

    Hull KR vs Leigh Leopards in the 2023 Challenge Cup final
    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.[19]

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    Broadcast matches

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    See also

    Notes

    1. after extra time
    2. after golden point extra time

    References

    1. [1]
      McAllister, Josh (20 December 2022). "Wembley to host double draw to launch 2023 Challenge Cups". Love Rugby League.
    2. [2]
      Walker, Callum (12 August 2022). "The time and venue for the 2023 Challenge Cup Final has been CONFIRMED". Rugby League News. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
    3. [3]
      "Wigan edge Huddersfield to win Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 28 May 2022.
    4. [4]
      "West Wales Raiders withdraw from RFL competitions". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
    5. [5]
      "Challenge Cup Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3366. 13 February 2023. p. 27.
    6. [6]
      "Betfred Challenge Cup Second Round ties confirmed". RFL. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
    7. [7]
      "Betfred Challenge Cup". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3368. 27 February 2023. p. 31.
    8. [8]
      "Wests Warriors to face Widnes in Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
    9. [9]
      "Wests Warriors players hoping to reap rewards after funding Widnes cup switch". The Independent. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
    10. [10]
      "Another fixture postponed due to frozen pitch". Rugby League News. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
    11. [11]
      "Siddal vs Sheffield postponed". Sheffield Eagles. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
    12. [12]
      "Betfred Challenge Cup | World's oldest amateur Rugby League club to host Rounds 4 and 5 draws". www.rugby-league.com. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
    13. [13]
      "Betfred Challenge Cup Round Four: Dates, venues and KO times confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
    14. [14]
      "Hurricanes Cup clash to be played at Odsal Stadium". www.bradfordbulls.co.uk. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
    15. [15]
      "Betfred Challenge Cup: Round Four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3373. 3 April 2023. p. 36.
    16. [16]
      "Betfred Challenge Cup: Round Five". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3376. 24 April 2023. p. 35.
    17. [17]
      "Betfred Challenge Cup: Round six". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3380. 22 May 2023. p. 35.
    18. [18]
      Walker, Callum (15 June 2023). "Challenge Cup Semi-Final Draw: When it will take place, ball numbers and where". TotalRL.com. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
    19. [19]
      "Challenge Cup final to return to Wembley in 2023". BBC Sport. 12 August 2022.
    20. [20]
      "Midlands Hurricanes at the double on Sportsman.com". www.rugby-league.com. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
    21. [21]
      Pattison, Cam (17 March 2023). "Exciting Challenge Cup clash to be shown by BBC". Rugby League News. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
    22. [22]
      Walker, Callum (23 March 2023). "TV coverage for Challenge Cup Fourth Round confirmed, when Super League sides come in and quarter-final, semi-final and final dates". TotalRL.com. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
    23. [23]
      "Challenge Cup fifth round coverage confirmed with two games broadcast". LoveRugbyLeague. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    24. [24]
      "Viaplay Sports confirm coverage of two Betfred Challenge Cup Sixth Round ties". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
    25. [25]
      "BBC confirm televised picks for Challenge Cup sixth round". LoveRugbyLeague. 26 April 2023.
    26. [26]
      "Challenge Cup quarter-finals: Key dates, kick-off times & TV coverage". LoveRugbyLeague. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
    27. [27]
      "Double BBC One coverage for Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter Finals". www.rugby-league.com. RFL.
    28. [28]
      "Venues and broadcast details confirmed for Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Finals". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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