2026 Challenge Cup
| Duration | 7 rounds |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 68 |
The 2026 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 125th staging of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league, run by the Rugby Football League (RFL).
Background
[edit]The competition retains the seven-round format introduced in 2025. The first round will again be contested solely by community clubs. The Championship clubs join the competition in the second round and the Super League clubs in the third round. However, for 2026, the first and second rounds will be played with clubs allocated to one of three regions, with games being played on a regional basis. This change has been introduced in an effort to reduce costs and an attempting to increase interest in the early rounds of the competition.[1]
As in 2025, the Super League clubs will be drawn away in the third round.[1]
The competition starts in January 2026, and will conclude with the final on 30 May at Wembley Stadium.
Toulouse Olympique declined to take part, as in previous years.
Format and dates
[edit]| Round | Date | Clubs involved this round | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | Leagues entering at this round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 10–12 January | 34 | None | 34 | 34 UK based community teams |
| Round 2 | 24–25 January | 38 | 17 | 21 | All teams from the Championship (21) |
| Round 3 | 6–8 February | 32 | 19 | 13 | 13 of the 14 teams from the Super League (all except Toulouse Olympique) |
| Round 4 | 14–15 March | 16 | 16 | None | |
| Quarter-finals | 11–12 April | 8 | 8 | ||
| Semi-finals | 9–10 May | 4 | 4 | ||
| Final | 30 May | 2 | 2 | ||
The 34 clubs in the first round will be allocated to one of three regions, North West, Yorkshire and National. Most of the clubs are from the National Conference League (NCL) but also included are the three armed services clubs, GB Police, one each from the Welsh and Irish leagues, four from the Southern Conference League, one from the London league and one from the Midlands.[2]
North West region
[edit]There will be 12 clubs in the North West region who will play six ties in the first round; Blackbrook, GB Police, Haresfinch, Ince Rose Bridge, Leigh Miners Rangers, Orrell St James, Rochdale Mayfield, Seaton Rangers, Siddal, Thatto Heath Crusaders, Waterhead, and Wigan St Judes.[1]
In the second round, they will be joined by eight Championship clubs; Barrow Raiders, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets, Salford Red Devils, Swinton Lions, Whitehaven, Widnes Vikings and Workington Town to play seven ties in the second round.[1]
Yorkshire region
[edit]The Yorkshire region will also comprise 12 clubs playing six ties in the first round; Brighouse Rangers, Dewsbury Moor, Heworth, Hunslet ARLFC, King Cross Park, Lock Lane, Mirfield Spartans, Royal Air Force, Stanningley Rangers, West Hull, Woodhouse and York Acorn.[1]
Ten Championship clubs; Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Doncaster, Featherstone Rovers, Goole Vikings, Halifax Panthers, Hunslet, Keighley Cougars, Newcastle Thunder and Sheffield Eagles join the six community clubs to play eight ties in the second road.[1]
National region
[edit]The National region will contain 10 clubs playing five first-round ties; Aberavon Fighting Irish, Bedford Tigers, British Army, Broncos, Hammersmith Hills Hoists, London Chargers, Medway Dragons, Royal Navy, Telford Raiders and Wests Warriors.[1]
The five first-round winners will be joined in the second round by London Broncos, Midlands Hurricanes and North Wales Crusaders to play four ties in the second round.[1]
First round
[edit]The draw for the first and second rounds will be made on 24 November 2025.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Tomlinson, Daniel (18 November 2025). "Challenge Cup draw details as format confirmed and regionalised ties to be made". All Out Rugby League. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ Olawumi, Ben (18 November 2025). "Challenge Cup First and Second Round draw details confirmed as regionalised format revealed". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ Olawumi, Ben (18 November 2025). "2026 Challenge Cup round dates revealed in full as calendar takes shape". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 18 November 2025.