Sweeping changes to Challenge Cup format confirmed for 2025

THE RFL have unveiled a revised structure for next year’s Challenge Cup.

It will involve Warrington Wolves and their Super League rivals entering the competition at the third round stage and playing their first knockout matches of the year in early-February.

The third-round draw will be held in January with ties to be played over the weekend of February 8-9, with all Super League clubs to play away from home in what will be a seeded draw.

It means any of the 20 second-round winners from the Championship, League One and the community game will have the chance of a plum draw against one of the game’s giants.

The fourth round will then be played in March, with quarter-finals to follow in April and the semis in May before the final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 7.

An illustration of the new Challenge Cup format, which will come into effect next year (Image: Rugby League Commercial)

“After extensive consultation with clubs and other stakeholders, we believe this new structure for the Betfred Challenge Cup will deliver a number of benefits to the competition and to the sport as a whole,” Rugby League Commercial chief executive Rhodri Jones said.

“It was pleasing to announce an attendance of 64,845 for Finals Day at Wembley this month, the fourth consecutive year of growth since the 2020 Final was played behind closed doors.

“But we recognised a need to reshape and reinvigorate the early rounds of the competition, which we believe will allow us to maintain that trend at Wembley next June.

“The 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup will again start with a first round featuring teams from the community game, but all the League One and Championship clubs will enter at the Second Round stage, knowing that victory will secure a place in the Third Round when the 12 Betfred Super League clubs enter – and will be seeded to play away from home.

“That returns the competition closer to its traditions, with top-flight clubs joining in the round of 32 in the winter months – the start of the road to the Wembley final in the spring.

“We hope that holding the draws for the second and third rounds of the Betfred Challenge Cup together in January will provide a pre-season talking point for all professional clubs.”