The 2017 Challenge Cup, (also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 116th staging of the Challenge Cup the main rugby league knockout tournament for teams in the Super League, the British National Leagues and a number of invited amateur clubs.
The defending champions were Hull F.C. who beat Warrington Wolves 12–10 in the 2016 final at Wembley Stadium. Hull F.C. retained the trophy beating Wigan Warriors 18–14 at Wembley on 26 August 2017.
The format of the competition was eight knock-out rounds followed by a final. The first two rounds were composed entirely of 32 amateur teams. The eight winners of the second round ties were joined in round 3 by the 16 League 1 teams including for the first time a Canadian team, the Toronto Wolfpack. For the fourth round the 12 Championship teams were included in the draw. Round 5 saw four Super League teams entering the competition. These are the four teams that finished in the top four positions of the 2016 Qualifiers and are Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos, Leigh Centurions and Salford Red Devils. The remaining eight Super League teams joined in round 6.
Round dates
RoundDatesRound 128–29 January 2017Round 211–12 February 2017Round 325–26 February 2017Round 417–19+26 March 2017Round 521–23 April 2017Round 611–14 May 2017Quarter-finals15–18 June 2017Semi-finals29–30 July 2017Final26 August 2017Source:
First round The draw for the first round of the 2017 Challenge Cup was held on 5 January 2017 at the Deep to celebrate the city being named 2017 UK City of Culture and Hull's efforts in 2016 and featured 32 amateur teams from around the United Kingdom including one student team, all three armed services and the police. Home teams were drawn by Lee Radford and the away teams drawn by Dean Andrew, President of the RFL and The RAF.
Fixtures for the first round were played over the weekend of the 28–29 January 2017.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceLondon Chargers116–0Bridgend Blue Bulls28 January 2017, 13:00New River StadiumS. EllisLeigh Miners Rangers12–16Wigan St Patricks28 January 2017, 13:00Leigh Miners Welfare Sports & Social ClubS. MikalauskasThatto Heath Crusaders30–10Skirlaugh28 January 2017, 13:30Hattons Solicitors Crusader ParkH. NevilleAberdeen Warriors8–62Pilkington Recs28 January 2017, 13:30Woodside Sports ComplexB. MilliganUniversity of Hull12–22Rochdale Mayfield28 January 2017, 14:00Hull University Sports & Fitness CentreJ. StearneWest Bowling0–12Kells ARLFC28 January 2017, 14:00Emsley Recreation GroundJ. BarrRAF12–30York Acorn28 January 2017, 14:00RAF College CranwellJ. JonesFryston Warriors33–10Normanton Knights28 January 2017, 14:00Fryston Welfare ClubL. StaveleyRoyal Navy34–38Myton Warriors28 January 2017, 14:00US Sports GroundS. HoughtonSiddal ARLFC16–4Milford Marlins28 January 2017, 14:00Siddal Sports & Community CentreC. WorsleyEgremont Rangers24–14 British Army28 January 2017, 14:00Gilfoot ParkC. AstburyWest Hull24–10Hull Dockers28 January 2017, 14:00West Hull Community ParkN. WoodwardThornhill Trojans32–18Lock Lane28 January 2017, 14:00Thornhill Sports & Community CentreS. ChromiakFeatherstone Lions29–28Distington ARLFC28 January 2017, 14:30The Mill Pond StadiumK. MooreWath Brow Hornets4–17Haydock ARLFC28 January 2017, 14:30Cleator Sports & Social ClubJ. TurnerWests Warriors40–22Great Britain Police28 January 2017, 17:00New River StadiumM. Griffiths Source:
Second round The second round draw was made on 31 January from the home of amateur team Siddal, who qualified for the second round by defeating Milford Martins 16–14, and was streamed live on BBC Sport's website. The draw was made by former players, Johnny Lawless and Luke Robinson both of whom played for Siddal before turning professional. Ties were played over the weekend of 11–12 February 2017 with the exception of the game between West Hull and Thatto Heath which was postponed for a week due to a waterlogged pitch.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceMyton Warriors18–4York Acorn11 February 2017, 13:30Marist Sporting ClubG. DolanFeatherstone Lions0–26Wests Warriors11 February 2017, 14:00The Mill Pond StadiumB. RobinsonHaydock ARLFC30–20Thornhill Trojans11 February 2017, 14:00King George Playing FieldsL. StaveleyWigan St Patricks18–28Egremont Rangers11 February 2017, 14:00Clarington ParkN. BennettKells14–16Rochdale Mayfield11 February 2017, 14:00The Pit FieldL. MoorePilkington Recs10–34Siddal ARLFC11 February 2017, 14:15Ruskin DriveG. HewerLondon Chargers12–40Fryston Warriors11 February 2017, 16:00New River StadiumM. RossleighWest Hull18–16Thatto Heath Crusaders18 February 2017, 14:00West Hull ARLFCS. Race Source:
Third round The draw for the third round as made on 14 February 2017. The draw was conducted by Super League players Stefan Ratchford and Ryan Brierley. Ties were played 25–26 February 2017.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceSiddal ARLFC6–14 Toronto Wolfpack25 February 2017, 13:00Siddal Sports & Community CentreT. Grant1,053West Hull16–18 Whitehaven25 February 2017, 14:00West Hull Community ParkP. Marklove150Wests Warriors12–26Haydock ARLFC25 February 2017, 14:30New River StadiumM. Rossleigh430Fryston Warriors32–50 Keighley Cougars25 February 2017, 15:00The Big Fellas StadiumJ. McMullen739 Newcastle Thunder18–16 Workington Town25 February 2017, 17:00Kingston ParkM. Mannifield400 Barrow Raiders60–6Rochdale Mayfield26 February 2017, 14:00Craven ParkM. Griffiths500 Gloucestershire All Golds36–18 North Wales Crusaders26 February 2017, 14:00Prince of Wales StadiumG. Dolan87 Hemel Stags12–22 London Skolars26 February 2017, 14:30Pennine Way StadiumS. Race112 Doncaster34–6Myton Warriors26 February 2017, 15:00Keepmoat StadiumL. Moore366 York City Knights48–8Egremont Rangers26 February 2017, 15:00Bootham CrescentL. Staveley635 South Wales Ironmen4–18 Oxford Rugby League26 February 2017, 15:00The WernN. Bennett115 Hunslet34–0 Coventry Bears26 February 2017, 15:00South Leeds StadiumS. Mikalauskas249 Source:
Fourth round
The winners of the 12 third-round ties were joined in the fourth round by the 12 teams in the Championship. The draw was made on board HMS Bulwark on Tuesday 28 February. The draw was made by former St Helens player, Paul Sculthorpe and the chairman of the Royal Marine Rugby League Association, Major Jack Duckitt. Ties were played over the weekend of 17–19 March with the exception of the Whitehaven v Oxford fixture which was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance London Broncos26–30 Toronto Wolfpack17 March 2017, 20:00Trailfinders Sports GroundS. Mikalauskas758 Dewsbury Rams36–8 Newcastle Thunder17 March 2017, 20:00Tetley's StadiumJ. McMullen425 Oldham40–12Haydock ARLFC18 March 2017, 13:00Bower FoldN. Bennett743 Toulouse Olympique16–34 Batley Bulldogs18 March 2017, 14:00Stade Ernest-ArgelèsJ. Child150 Swinton Lions40 – 8 London Skolars18 March 2017, 15:00Heywood RoadG. Dolan200 Barrow Raiders20–0 Keighley Cougars18 March 2017, 18:30Craven Park, Barrow-in-FurnessG. Hewer721 Bradford Bulls13–21Featherstone Rovers19 March 2017, 15:00Provident StadiumC. Straw2,458 Gloucestershire All Golds22–48 Doncaster19 March 2017, 15:00Keepmoat Stadium M. Rossleigh280 Halifax20–6 Hunslet19 March 2017, 15:00The ShayT. Grant793 Hull Kingston Rovers48–10 Sheffield Eagles19 March 2017, 15:00Craven ParkJ. Roberts3,408 York City Knights26–20 Rochdale Hornets19 March 2017, 15:00Bootham CrescentB. Robinson652 Whitehaven46–14 Oxford26 March 2017, 14:00Recreation GroundT. Crashley375 Source:
Fifth round The fifth round draw sees the entry of four Super League clubs, these being those that finished the top of the 2016 Qualifiers. The draw was made live on the BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast show on Tuesday 21 March at 7-45 am. The draw was made by show host, Rachel Burden, and former international player, at both codes, Jason Robinson.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Leeds Rhinos64–28 Doncaster21 April 2017, 20:00Headingley Carnegie StadiumC. Campbell5,097 Leigh Centurions10–23 Hull Kingston Rovers22 April 2017, 15:00Leigh Sports VillageJ. Child3,880 Salford Red Devils29–22 Toronto Wolfpack23 April 2017, 12:15AJ Bell StadiumJ. Smith1,318 Huddersfield Giants24–28 Swinton Lions23 April 2017, 12:30John Smith's StadiumS. Mikalauskas1,292 Featherstone Rovers30–4 Oldham23 April 2017, 15:00The Big Fellas StadiumT. Grant1,408 Dewsbury Rams23–22 Batley Bulldogs23 April 2017, 15:00Tetley's StadiumJ. Roberts962 Whitehaven12–36 Halifax23 April 2017, 15:00Recreation GroundL. Moore636 York City Knights28–50 Barrow Raiders23 April 2017, 15:00Bootham CrescentJ. McMullen904 Source:
Sixth round The draw for the sixth round was made on Tuesday 25 April live on the BBC News channel during the 6-30pm Sportsday programme. The draw was made by former players Chris Joynt and Keith Senior.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Featherstone Rovers24–12 Halifax11 May 2017, 20:00The Big Fellas StadiumC. Campbell1,736 Salford Red Devils24–14 Hull Kingston Rovers12 May 2017, 20:00AJ Bell StadiumR. Hicks3,100 Dewsbury Rams6–54 Wakefield Trinity12 May 2017, 20:00Tetley's StadiumS. Mikalauskas2,125 Hull62–0 Catalans Dragons12 May 2017, 20:00KCOM StadiumB. Thaler6,470 Castleford Tigers53–10 St. Helens13 May 2017, 14:30Mend-A-Hose JungleP. Bentham5,216 Leeds Rhinos72–10 Barrow Raiders14 May 2017, 15:00HeadingleyJ. Smith5,226 Swinton Lions12–42 Wigan Warriors14 May 2017, 15:00Heywood RoadC. Kendall2,003 Warrington Wolves34–20 Widnes Vikings14 May 2017, 15:00Halliwell Jones StadiumJ. Child5,971 Source:
Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter finals was made immediately after the conclusion of the last sixth round match. Home teams were drawn by former Welsh international Iestyn Harris and away teams by Leigh captain Micky Higham. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Salford Red Devils30–6 Wakefield Trinity15 June, 20:00AJ Bell StadiumR. Hicks2,820 Leeds Rhinos58–0 Featherstone Rovers16 June, 20:00HeadingleyC. Kendall6,181 Warrington Wolves26–27 Wigan Warriors17 June, 15:00Halliwell Jones StadiumB. Thaler7,312 Hull32–24 Castleford Tigers18 June, 15:00KCOM StadiumP. Bentham11,944
Semi-final The semi-final draw was conducted on BBC 2 immediately after Hull's 32–24 victory over Castleford Tigers. Conducting the draw were two Challenge Cup winning team members; Danny Brough (2005) and Barry Johnson (1986). The ties were played at neutral venues; after the draw these were announced as Doncaster and Warrington.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Hull43–24 Leeds Rhinos29 July 2017, 14:30Keepmoat StadiumP. Bentham14,526 Wigan Warriors27–14 Salford Red Devils30 July 2017, 14:30Halliwell Jones StadiumJ. Child10,796
Final
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Hull18–14 Wigan Warriors26 August 2017, 15:00Wembley StadiumPhil Bentham68,525
Teams:
Hull: Jamie Shaul, Mahe Fonua, Josh Griffin, Carlos Tuimavave, Fetuli Talanoa, Albert Kelly, Marc Sneyd, Liam Watts, Danny Houghton, Scott Taylor, Sika Manu, Mark Minichiello, Gareth Ellis (captain).
Substitutes (all used): Chris Green, Danny Washbrook, Josh Bowden, Jake Connor. Tries: Talanoa (1), Fonua (2). Goals: Sneyd (3/3).
Wigan Warriors: Sam Tomkins, Liam Marshall, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, George Williams, Thomas Leuluai, Frank Paul Nuuausala, Michael McIlorum, Tony Clubb, John Bateman, Liam Farrell, Sean O'Loughlin (captain).
Substitutes (all used): Willie Isa, Ryan Sutton, Sam Powell, Taulima Tautai. Tries: Bateman (1), Gildart (1), Burgess (1). Goals: Williams (1/3).
Lance Todd Trophy Winner: Marc Sneyd
Broadcasts