The 2024 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 123rd 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 13–14 January 2024, and ended with the final, at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 June.
The cup was won by Wigan Warriors who beat Warrington Wolves 18–8 before a 64,000 crowd at Wembley.
Wigan's Bevan French was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy.
Leigh Leopards were the defending champions, having won the 2023 Final, defeating Hull Kingston Rovers 17–16 in extra time. They were eliminated in the quarter finals, losing 16–24 to Hull KR.
Background The competition started on 13 January, and concluded with the final on 8 June.
The Championship and League One clubs joined the tournament in round 3. Rounds 4 and 5 reduced the lower league clubs to four before the Super League clubs enter in round 6.
Toulouse Olympique of the Championship are not full members of the RFL and although invited to take part have declined as in previous years.
Format and dates + Challenge Cup competition format Round Date Clubs involved this round Winners from previous round New entries this round Leagues entering at this round Round 1 13–14 January 20 20 20 UK based community, and armed forces league teams Round 2 27–28 January 20 10 10 10 teams from National Conference League Premier Division Round 3 10–11 February 32 10 22 All teams (except Toulouse) from the Championship and League One Round 4 22 – 25 February 16 16 colspan=2 Round 5 7–10 March 8 8 colspan=2 Round 6 22–24 March 16 4 12 All 12 teams from the Super League Quarter-finals 12–14 April 8 8 colspan=2 rowspan=3 Semi-finals 18 –19 May 4 4 Final 8 June 2 2
First round The draw for the first round was made by Josh Charnley on 5 December 2023. Ties were played over the weekend of 13 and 14 January 2024.
+ Challenge Cup round 1 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Royal Air Force 22–28 Royal Navy 13 January, 12:30 RAF Cranwell T. Jones rowspan=10 Lowca 22–28 Edinburgh Eagles 13 January, 13:30 West Croft Terrace, Whitehaven L. Seal South Wales Jets 4–40 Stanningley 13 January, 13:30 Wales Rugby Club, Cardiff J. Jones Doncaster Toll Bar 22–20 Ashton Bears 13 January, 13:30 Doncaster Toll Bar Sports Club D. Geddes Clock Face Miners 22–20 Heworth 13 January, 13:30 Clock Face Miners Recreation W. Turley Fryston Warriors 13–10 British Army 13 January, 14:00 Fryston Social Club C. Hughes Oulton Raiders 22–34 West Bowling 13 January, 14:00 Oulton Sports Pavilion Wests Warriors 28–4 Newsome Panthers 13 January, 14:30 Twyford Avenue Sports Ground M. Cowan Hammersmith Hills Hoists 56–6 Medway Dragons 13 January, 15:00 Chiswick RFC G. Winnard Orrell St James 20–4 Haresfinch 14 January, 14:00 Orrell St James Social Club D. Arnold Source:
Second round + Challenge Cup round 2 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Leigh Miners Rangers 18–19 Stanningley 27 January, 12:30 Twist Lane S. Jenkinson rowspan=10 Clock Face Miners 4–38 Siddal 27 January, 13:30 Clock Face Miners Recreation L. Flavell Doncaster Toll Bar 18–40 West Hull 27 January, 13:30 Doncaster Toll Bar Sports Club O. Salmon Fryston Warriors 0–68 Hunslet ARLFC 27 January, 14:00 Fryston Social Club M. Clayton Hull Dockers 0–38 Wath Brow Hornets 27 January, 14:00 The Willows Sports Club C. Hughes Lock Lane 72–0 Edinburgh Eagles 27 January, 14:00 Lock Lane Sports Centre M. Mckelvey Wests Warriors 28–22 Rochdale Mayfield 27 January, 14:00 Twyford Avenue Sports Ground M. Cowan Hammersmith Hills Hoists 32–10 West Bowling 27 January, 17:00 Chiswick RFC G. Winnard Royal Navy 24–32 Thatto Heath Crusaders 28 January, 12:30 United Services Recreation Ground H. Winnard Orrell St James 12–22 York Acorn 28 January, 14:00 Orrell St James Social Club W. Turley Source:
Third round The draws for the third and fourth rounds were made live on the BBC Sport website on 29 January. The draw took place at Widnes Vikings' DCBL Stadium. Hosted by broadcaster Tanya Arnold, the draw was made by brothers Mike and Steve O'Neill, both of whom played for Widnes in the club's 1983–84 Challenge Cup final victory. + Challenge Cup round 3 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Barrow Raiders 10–22 Oldham 10 February, 12:30 Craven Park M. Griffiths 1,401 Cornwall 10–18 York Acorn 10 February, 13:00 The Memorial Ground K. Young Lock Lane 6–46 Hunslet ARLFC 10 February, 14:00 Lock Lane Sports Centre S. Jenkinson Sheffield Eagles 88–12 Newcastle Thunder 10 February, 14:00 Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium D. Arnold 617 Stanningley 4–30 Wath Brow Hornets 10 February, 14:00 Arthur Miller Stadium C. Hughes Siddal 6–70 Wakefield Trinity 10 February, 14:00 Chevinedge L. Bland 900 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 22–12 Wests Warriors 10 February, 14:30 Chiswick R.F.C. H. Winnard Batley Bulldogs 48–18 Workington Town 11 February, 14:00 Mount Pleasant K. Moore Dewsbury Rams 8–14 York Knights 11 February, 14:00 Crown Flatt M. Smaill 824 Thatto Heath Crusaders 0–72 Featherstone Rovers 11 February, 14:00 Crusader Park S. Houghton Bradford Bulls 48–2 North Wales Crusaders 11 February, 15:00 Odsal Stadium B. Milligan Halifax Panthers 32–4 Whitehaven 11 February, 15:00 The Shay C. Worsley Hunslet 14–22 Keighley Cougars 11 February, 15:00 South Leeds Stadium A. Sweet 817 Rochdale Hornets 24–20 Midlands Hurricanes 11 February, 15:00 Spotland Stadium M. Lynn 411 Swinton Lions 50–6 West Hull 11 February, 15:00 Heywood Road T. Jones 441 Widnes Vikings 50–16 Doncaster 11 February, 15:00 DCBL Stadium L. Rush 788 Source:
Fourth round + Challenge Cup round 4 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance York Acorn 32–28 Wath Brow Hornets 24 February, 14:00 Thanet Road N. Bennett Halifax Panthers 50–4 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 24 February, 17:00 The Shay B. Milligan 724 Bradford Bulls 12–26 Widnes Vikings 25 February, 12:30 Odsal Stadium B. Thaler Batley Bulldogs 30–14 Rochdale Hornets 25 February, 14:00 Mount Pleasant M. Smaill Wakefield Trinity 78–6 Hunslet ARLFC 25 February, 14:00 Belle Vue M. Lynn 2,775 Keighley Cougars 14–58 Featherstone Rovers 25 February, 15:00 Cougar Park S. Mikalauskas 1,477 York Knights 16–32 Sheffield Eagles 25 February, 15:00 York Community Stadium L. Rush Swinton Lions 28–12 Oldham 25 February, 18:00 Heywood Road C. Worsley 746 Source:
Fifth round The fifth round draw was conducted on BBC Radio Leeds on 25 February. + Challenge Cup round 5 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Swinton Lions 12–14 Sheffield Eagles 9 March, 12:30 Heywood Road M. Griffiths 412 Widnes Vikings 14–18 Batley Bulldogs 9 March, 18:00 DCBL Stadium L. Rush 1,067 Featherstone Rovers 14–10 Wakefield Trinity 10 March, 15:00 Post Office Road B. Thaler Halifax Panthers 62–6 York Acorn 10 March, 15:00 The Shay K. Moore 785 Source:
Sixth round The sixth round draw was made on 11 March on BBC Sportsday. The draw was conducted by Iestyn Harris. The ties were played over the weekend of 22–24 March. + Challenge Cup round 6 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Hull KR 40–0 Salford Red Devils 22 March, 20:00 Craven Park, Hull L. Moore Leeds Rhinos 6–20 St Helens 22 March, 20:00 Headingley Stadium C. Kendall 7,108 Wigan Warriors 44–18 Sheffield Eagles 22 March, 20:00 DW Stadium J. Vella 5,733 Huddersfield Giants 50–6 Hull FC 23 March, 14:00 John Smiths Stadium A. Moore 1,673 Leigh Leopards 26–14 Featherstone Rovers 23 March, 14:00 Leigh Sports Village J. Smith 4,287 Batley Bulldogs 14–28 Castleford Tigers 23 March, 15:00 Mount Pleasant M. Griffiths Warrington Wolves 42–0 London Broncos 23 March, 17:30 Halliwell Jones Stadium T. Grant 3,416 Halifax Panthers 4–40 Catalans Dragons 24 March, 15:00 The Shay L. Rush 1,811 Source:
Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 25 March. The ties will be played 12–14 April. + Challenge Cup round 6 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Hull KR 26–14 Leigh Leopards 13 April, 17:00 Sewell Group Craven Park C. Kendall Catalans Dragons 6–34 Huddersfield Giants 13 April, 19:00 Stade Gilbert Brutus A. Moore 5,892 Castleford Tigers 6–60 Wigan Warriors 14 April, 15:00 Mend-A-Hose Jungle L. Moore 4,097 St Helens 8–31 Warrington Wolves 14 April, 16:30 Totally Wicked Stadium J. Smith 11,280 Source:
Semi-finals The draw for the semi-finals was made on 14 April, during half time in the match between St Helens and Warrington. The ties were played on 18 and 19 May as part of a double header, alongside the women's semi finals. + Challenge Cup semi final fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Hull KR 6–38 Wigan Warriors 18 May, 13:45 Eco-Power Stadium C. Kendall 11,163 Huddersfield Giants 10–46 Warrington Wolves 19 May, 15:15 Totally Wicked Stadium L. Moore 9,253 Source:
Final
The tie was played on 8 June as part of a triple header, alongside the women's final, and the 1895 Cup final. Following the death of Rob Burrow on 2 June, the RFL announced that kick-off for the final would be put back from 3pm to 3:07pm to honour Rob and the number seven shirt he wore. Rob's death was also commemorated with a minute's silence before kick-off and with a minute's applause during the seventh minute of the game. Team 1ScoreTeam 2Match InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Wigan Warriors 18–8 Warrington Wolves 8 June, 15:07 Wembley Stadium Chris Kendall 64,845 Source:
Broadcast matches + Broadcast matches Round Match Date Broadcast method 1st Royal Navy v Royal Air Force 13 January Broadcast live on BBC Red Button Fryston Warriors v British Army Streamed live on BFBS Sport Orrell St James v Haresfinch 14 January Streamed live on The Sportsman 2nd Leigh Miners Rangers v Stanningley 27 January Broadcast live on BBC Red Button Orrell St James v York Acorn 28 January Streamed live on The Sportsman 3rd Barrow Raiders v Oldham 10 February Broadcast live on BBC Red Button Dewsbury Rams v York Knights 11 February Streamed live on The Sportsman 4th Bradford Bulls v Widnes Vikings 24 February Broadcast live on BBC Red Button Swinton Lions v Oldham 25 February Streamed live on The Sportsman5th Swinton Lions v Sheffield Eagles 9 March Broadcast live on BBC Red Button Featherstone Rovers v Wakefield Trinity 10 March Streamed live on The Sportsman 6th Leeds Rhinos v St Helens 22 March Broadcast live on BBC Red Button. Leigh Leopards v Featherstone Rovers 23 March Streamed live on The Sportsman Hull KR v Leigh Leopards 13 April Broadcast live on BBC Two St Helens v Warrington Wolves 14 April Hull KR v Wigan Warriors 18 May Broadcast live on BBC One Huddersfield Giants v Warrington Wolves 19 May Broadcast live on BBC Two Final Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves 8 June Broadcast live on BBC One
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