The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup (sponsored as the 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 12th staging of the Rugby Football League's cup competition for women's rugby league clubs. The final took place on 8 June 2024 as part of a triple-header at Wembley Stadium alongside the men's final, and the final of the 1895 Cup. In the final, defeated 22–0 to retain the title.
Format The competition used the same format as in 2023 with four groups of four competing in a single round robin with group winners and runners-up advancing to the knockout rounds. The teams were announced on 22 December 2023 and the group stage draw took place on 10 January.
St Helens, winners in 2023, were in the top seed pool alongside Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, and York Valkyrie. The four remaining Super League teams were in pool two. The other pools consisted of teams from the regional leagues with pool three containing sides who took part in the 2023 Super League. Hull KR and 2023 Super League South grand finalists Cardiff Demons and London Broncos were in pool four with Sheffield Eagles who were making their debut in the competition.
+ Seeding pots for group stage draw Pool 1 Pool 2 Pool 3 Pool 4 Leeds Rhinos St Helens Wigan Warriors York Valkyrie Barrow Raiders Featherstone Rovers Huddersfield Giants Warrington Wolves Bradford Bulls Castleford Tigers Leigh Leopards Salford Red Devils Cardiff Demons Hull Kingston Rovers London Broncos Sheffield Eagles
The draw for the group stages and the quarter finals was made on 10 January. Each of the four top-seeded teams had only one home game in the group stage.
+ Groups Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4Sheffield Eagles Castleford Tigers Featherstone Rovers York ValkyrieCardiff Demons Salford Red Devils Barrow Raiders Wigan WarriorsLondon Broncos Bradford Bulls Warrington Wolves St Helens Hull Kingston Rovers Leigh Leopards Huddersfield Giants Leeds Rhinos
When the group stage fixtures were announced on 24 January, it was also announced that Castleford Tigers had withdrawn from the competition and group 1 would, therefore, comprise only three clubs.
Group stage Games were scheduled to take place in March and April.
+ Challenge Cup group stage, round one fixturesGpHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance 1 Sheffield Eagles 10–74 York Valkyrie 17 March, 14:00 Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium2 Cardiff Demons 22–16 Barrow Raiders 16 March, 14:00 Cardiff University Sports Fields Salford Red Devils 0–68 Wigan Warriors 17 March, 14:15 Salford Community Pitches3 Bradford Bulls 4–52 Warrington Wolves 16 March, 14:00 Odsal Stadium St Helens 64–0 London Broncos 16 March, 15:00 Totally Wicked Stadium4 Huddersfield Giants 74–0 Hull KR 16 March, 12:00 Kirklees Stadium Leigh Leopards 4–52 Leeds Rhinos 17 March, 12:00 Twist Lane Source:
+ Challenge Cup group stage, round two fixturesGpHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance 2 Cardiff Demons 58–0 Salford Red Devils 23 March, 14:00 Cardiff University Sports Fields 3 Bradford Bulls C–C St HelensMatch forfeited by Bradford Bulls. Awarded as a 48–0 win to St Helens. 4 Leigh Leopards 6–36 Huddersfield Giants 23 March, 14:00 Twist Lane Hull KR 0–90 Leeds Rhinos 24 March, 14:00 Craven Park 1 Featherstone Rovers 38–6 Sheffield Eagles 24 March, 12:00 Post Office Road 2 Barrow Raiders 18–20 Wigan Warriors 24 March, 14:00 Craven Park 3 London Broncos 6–24 Warrington Wolves 24 March, 15:30 Rosslyn Park F.C. Source:
+ Challenge Cup group stage, round three fixturesGpHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance 1 York Valkyrie 80–6 Featherstone Rovers 6 April, 13:00 York St John Sports Park 3 Warrington Wolves 6–58 St Helens 7 April, 11:00 Dallam Playing Fields 4 Leeds Rhinos 54–10 Huddersfield Giants 7 April, 12:00 West Park RUFC Hull KR 0–46 Leigh Leopards 7 April, 14:00 Craven Park 2 Wigan Warriors 44–4 Cardiff Demons 7 April, 14:00 Robin Park Arena Salford Red Devils 0–46 Barrow Raiders 7 April, 14:00 Salford Community Pitches 3 London Broncos 48–0 Bradford Bulls 7 April, 15:30 Rosslyn Park F.C. Source:
Standings
Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Radio Merseyside, on 10 January following the draw for the group stage. Ties were played over the weekend of 13/14 April.
+ Challenge Cup quarter-final fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Leeds Rhinos 70–10 Warrington Wolves 13 April, 12:00 Headingley St Helens 74–0 Huddersfield Giants 13 April, 12:00 Crusaders Park, Thatto Heath Wigan Warriors 44–4 Cardiff Demons 13 April, 14:00 Leigh Miners Rangers York Valkyrie 70–0 Featherstone Rovers 14 April, 14:00 York Community Stadium Source:
Semi-finals The draw for the semi-finals was made during the half time break at the men's quarter-final between St Helens and Warrington. The matches were played on 18 and 19 May, as part of double headers alongside the men's semi finals.
+ Challenge Cup semi-final fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance St Helens 32–2 York Valkyrie 18 May, 11:15am Eco Power Stadium A. Belafonte 11,163 Wigan Warriors 20–34 Leeds Rhinos 19 May, 12:30pm Totally Wicked Stadium A. Williams Source:
Final
The final was played as part of a triple header, alongside the Men's Final, and the 2024 RFL 1895 Cup final.
+ Challenge Cup FinalTeam 1ScoreTeam 2Match InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance St Helens 22–0 Leeds Rhinos 8 June 2024 Wembley Stadium Aaron Moore 9,608 Source:
Notes
References