The 2018 Challenge Cup, also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 117th 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 cup was won by Catalans Dragons, who beat Warrington Wolves 20–14 at Wembley on 25 August 2018 to become the first non-British team to win the challenge cup in its 117-year history. The defending champions, Hull F.C., went out at the quarter-final stage.
The Catalans , Tony Gigot, was voted the winner of the Lance Todd Trophy, becoming the first Frenchman to win the trophy since it was first awarded in 1946.
The format of the competition was eight knock-out rounds followed by a final. The first two rounds were composed entirely of 48 amateur teams. The 12 winners of the second round ties were joined in round three by the 14 League 1 teams. For the fourth round, the 13 winners from round 3 were joined by 11 of the 12 Championship teams (Toulouse Olympique. who play in the Championship, chose not to enter the 2018 cup competition). Round five saw four Super League teams entering the competition, namely those that finished in the top four positions of the 2017 Qualifiers—Warrington Wolves, Widnes Vikings, Hull Kingston Rovers and Catalans Dragons. The remaining eight Super League teams joined in round six.
Round details
Round Date Clubs involved this round Winners from previous round New entries this round Leagues entering at this round Round 1 27–28 January 48 n/a 48 39 English amateur clubsScottish, Welsh & Irish champions3 Armed Forces teamsBritish Police2 University rugby league representatives Round 2 10–11 February 24 24 0 n/a Round 3 24–25 February 26 12 14 League 1 Round 4 17–18 March 24 13 11* Championship Round 5 21–22 April 16 12 4 2017 Super League Qualifiers top 4 Round 6 12–13 May 16 8 8 2017 Super League top 8 Quarter-finals 2–3 June 8 8 n/a n/a Semi-finals 5 August 4 4 n/a n/a Final 25 August 2 2 n/a n/a
*Toulouse Olympique did not participate in the competition.
First round The draw for the first round was made on 12 December 2017 at Media City and streamed live on the BBC Sport website. The draw was made by recently retired Hull F.C. captain, Gareth Ellis, and former Lance Todd Trophy winner, Paul Wellens. The 48 teams in the draw comprised 39 English amateur teams, the winners of the Scottish, Welsh and Irish leagues, two teams from the Universities rugby league and representative teams for the three armed services and the police.
Ties were played over the weekend of 27–28 January 2018 with the exception of one game postponed to the following weekend.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceLeigh Miners Rangers18–22Myton Warriors27 January 2018, 2:30pmTwist LaneUnderbank Rangers16–17Batley Boys27 January 2018, 2:00pmThe Cross GroundsKells40–8British Police27 January 2018, 2:00pmOld ArrowthwaiteD. ArnoldWallsend Eagles 6–42Pilkington Recs27 January 2018, 2:30pmBenfield Sports CentreRochdale Mayfield28–0Crosfields27 January 2018, 2:30pmMayfield Sports CentreL. StaveleyLock Lane48–0Hindley27 January 2018, 2:00pmHicksons ArenaJ. BarrHunslet Club ParksidewalkoverValley Cougars27 January 2018, 2:00pmHillidge RoadLondon Chargers18–0Hammersmith Hills Hoists27 January 2018, 1:00pmNew River StadiumT. JonesRoyal Air Force12–4Drighlington27 January 2018, 1:30pmRAF CranwellN.WoodwardOulton Raiders28–26Siddal27 January 2018, 2:00pmOulton & Woodlesford Sports clubMillom36–18Strathmore Silverbacks27 January 2018, 1:30pmCoronation FieldD. BowmerLoughborough University4–38Bradford Dudley Hill27 January 2018, 12:00pmRugby RubbercrumbS.EllisUniversity of Hull24–10Hensingham RLFC27 January 2018, 2:30pmHull Uni Sports & Fitness CentreM. SmaillOrrell St James34–0Northampton Demons27 January 2018, 2:30pmBankes AvenueRoyal Navy11–12Normanton Knights27 January 2018, 2:00pmUS Sports GroundYork Acorn16–32Askam RLFC27 January 2018, 2:00pmThanet RoadSaddleworth Rangers12–22Thatto Heath Crusaders27 January 2018, 2:00pmShaw Hall Bank Road Shaw Cross Sharks18–0Beverley3 February 2018, 2:00pmBywell FieldC. Astbury West Hull58–10Longhorns ARLFC28 January 2018, 2:00pmCommunity ParkEast Leeds10–28Thornhill Trojans27 January 2018, 2:30pmEast End ParkJ. StearneHunslet Warriors0–30Wath Brow Hornets27 January 2018, 2:00pmThe OvalH. NevilleFeatherstone Lions34–14Skirlaugh27 January 2018, 2:00pmThe MillpondBritish Army48–10Milford Marlins27 January 2018, 3:00pmAldershot Rugby StadiumC. WorselyDistington ARLFC32–24Queens ARLFC27 January 2018, 2:00pmGrass Road Source:
Second round The draw for the second round was made on 31 January 2018 at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium and streamed live on the BBC Sport website. The draw was made by Warrington Wolves former prop forward and Swinton Lions coach, Gary Chambers, and current Warrington forward Sitaleki Akauola. The 24 teams in the draw comprised the winners from the first round.
Ties were played on 10 February 2018. Batley Boys won their tie with a drop goal in golden point extra time, having won their first round tie in the same fashion.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceBritish Army26–14London Chargers10 February 2018, 1:00pmAldershot Military StadiumK. Moore Millom24–12Bradford Dudley Hill10 February 2018, 1:30pmCoronation FieldN.WoodwardKells16–4Orrell St James10 February 2018, 2:00pmOld ArrowthwaiteL. Rush Batley Boys13–12Royal Air Force10 February 2018, 2:00pmHalifax RoadJ. StearneOulton Raiders24–10Shaw Cross Sharks10 February 2018, 2:00pmOulton Community Sports ClubG.Houston Distington12–4Lock Lane10 February 2018, 2:00pmDistington Community Sports ClubM. Smaill Hunslet Club Parkside24–6Wath Brow Hornets10 February 2018, 2:00pmHillidge RoadP. Marklove Pilkington Recs16–0Thornhill Trojans10 February 2018, 2:00pmRuskin DriveJ. Jones Featherstone Lions18–6Thatto Heath Crusaders10 February 2018, 2:00pmThe Mill Pond StadiumM. Rossleigh Askam16–4West Hull10 February 2018, 2:00pmSandy LaneJ. Barr Rochdale Mayfield4–8Normanton Knights10 February 2018, 2:30pmMayfield Sports ArenaC. Smith University of Hull18–22Myton Warriors10 February 2018, 2:30pmUniversity of HullC. Worsley Source:
Third round The draw for the third round was made on 13 February live on the BBC Sport website. The draw was made by Super League players Alex Walmsley and Kriss Brining. Ties were played over the weekend of 24–25 February.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceKells30–4British Army24 February 2018, 2:00pmOld ArrowthwaiteC. Smith300Normanton Knights18–0Batley Boys24 February 2018, 2:00pmQueen Elizabeth DriveM. Smaill350Askam6–64 York City Knights24 February 2018, 2:30pmFallowfield ParkB. Milligan750Hunslet Club Parkside16–24 Workington Town24 February 2018, 2:30pmJohn Charles StadiumT. Crashley285Pilkington Recs32–16Millom24 February 2018, 2:30pmRuskin DriveJ. Stearne285 Hemel Stags0–74 Newcastle Thunder25 February 2018, 2:00pmPennine Way stadiumA.Sweet115 North Wales Crusaders28–24 Keighley Cougars25 February 2018, 2:30pmRacecourse GroundJ.Jones281 Bradford Bulls82–6 West Wales Raiders25 February 2018, 3:00pmOdsal StadiumN.Woodward1,505 Coventry Bears42–12Distington25 February 2018, 3:00pmButts Park ArenaC. Worsley267 Doncaster82–6Myton Warriors25 February 2018, 3:00pmKeepmoat StadiumM.Mannifield388 Hunslet72–16Oulton Raiders25 February 2018, 3:00pmSouth Leeds StadiumB. Pearson896 Oldham42–0Featherstone Lions25 February 2018, 3:00pmVestacare StadiumL. Staveley 364 Whitehaven16-14 London Skolars25 February 2018, 6:00pmRecreation GroundM. Griffiths439 Source:
Fourth round The draw was conducted by former player (and Challenge Cup winner) Rob Parker and former Scottish international Andrew Henderson.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Kells 6–56 Toronto Wolfpack 16 March 2018, 6:15pm Recreation Ground N. Bennett 1,000 Doncaster 34–0 Newcastle Thunder 16 March 2018, 8:00pm Keepmoat Stadium L. Staveley 398 Normanton Knights 8–20 Rochdale Hornets 17 March 2018, 2:00pm L.D. Nutrition Stadium G. Dolan Not recorded Barrow Raiders 28–16 Sheffield Eagles 18 March 2018, 3:00pm Craven Park B. Robinson 936 Batley Bulldogs 4–8 Leigh Centurions 18 March 2018, 3:00pm Fox's Biscuits Stadium T. Grant 606 Whitehaven 25–18 Dewsbury Rams 18 March 2018, 3:00pm Recreation Ground A. Sweet 414 Workington Town 20–22 London Broncos 18 March 2018, 3:00pm Derwent Park M. Griffiths 548 York City Knights 26–12 Swinton Lions 18 March 2018, 3:00pm L.D. Nutrition Stadium M. Mannifield 525 Halifax 6–27 Oldham 20 March 2018, 7:30pm The Shay B. Pearson 688 North Wales Crusaders 6–66 Featherstone Rovers 20 March 2018, 7:30pm L.D. Nutrition Stadium J. Roberts 1,098 Coventry Bears 31–20 Pilkington Recs 25 March 2018, 3pm Butts Park Arena A. Sweet 395 Hunslet RLFC 10–34 Bradford Bulls 2 April 2018, 2:00pm South Leeds Stadium N. Bennett 1,081 Source:
Fifth round The draw was made on 20 March 2018 by two Women's Super League players, Faye Gaskin of St. Helens and Gemma Walsh of Wigan Warriors.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Widnes Vikings90–0 Coventry Bears21 April 2018, 13:00Select Security StadiumJ McMullen1,438 Warrington Wolves54–6 Bradford Bulls21 April 2018, 15:00Halliwell Jones Stadium T Grant 4,710 Doncaster16–26 Featherstone Rovers22 April 2018, 15:00Keepmoat Stadium M Rossleigh 1,076 Leigh Centurions40–0 London Broncos22 April 2018, 15:00Leigh Sports Village L Moore 2,507 Oldham0–32 Hull KR22 April 2018, 15:00Bower Fold G Hewer 1,064 Toronto Wolfpack16–12 Barrow Raiders22 April 2018, 15:00Furness Heating Components Stadium G Dolan 1,140 Whitehaven38–0 Rochdale Hornets22 April 2018, 15:00Recreation Ground L Staveley604 York City Knights22–34 Catalans Dragons22 April 2018, 15:00Bootham Crescent C Kendall 3,081 Source:
Sixth Round The draw for the Sixth Round was made on 25 April 2018, live on Chris Evans' Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Two, alongside Leeds Rhinos veteran forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan, and Warrington Wolves winger Josh Charnley.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Featherstone Rovers 20–38 Hull F.C. 10 May 2018, 7:35pm LD Nutrition Stadium S. Mikalauskas 2,322 Leigh Centurions 22–10 Salford Red Devils 11 May 2018, 7:35pm Leigh Sports Village L. Moore 4,024 Huddersfield Giants 24–14 Wakefield Trinity 11 May 2018, 7:45pm John Smith's Stadium G. Hewer 2,631 Widnes Vikings 20–23 Leeds Rhinos 11 May 2018, 8:00pm Select Security Stadium G. Dolan 1,865 Castleford Tigers 18–36 St. Helens 12 May 2018, 2:30pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle J. Child 5,342 Catalans Dragons 56–10 Whitehaven 12 May 2018, 3:30pm Stade Gilbert Brutus M. Rossleigh 2,533 Hull KR 10–28 Wigan Warriors 13 May 2018, 3:00pm MS3 Craven Park C. Kendall 3,524 Toronto Wolfpack 10–66 Warrington Wolves 13 May 2018, 4:00pm Halliwell Jones Stadium B. Thaler 6,507 Source:
Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Two directly after the conclusion of the Toronto v Warrington game. The draw was made by former players Nathan McAvoy and Robbie Hunter-Paul. Ties were played 31 May – 3 June with all four ties being televised either on Sky Sports or the BBC. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Huddersfield Giants 6–20 Catalans Dragons31 May 2018, 7:35pmJohn Smith's StadiumG. Hewer2,151 Leeds Rhinos 52–22 Leigh Centurions1 June 2018, 7:35pmLD Nutrition StadiumC. Kendall3,277 Warrington Wolves 23–0 Wigan Warriors2 June 2018, 2:30pmHalliwell Jones StadiumR. Hicks10,213 St. Helens 25–22 Hull F.C.3 June 2018, 3:30pmTotally Wicked StadiumB. Thaler9,644 Source:
Semi-final