2020 Challenge Cup

The 2020 Challenge Cup known as the Coral Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the 119th 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.

2020 Challenge Cup
Duration9 Rounds
Number of teams80
Lowest attendance50 West Wales Raiders v Underbank Rangers
(9 February 2020)
Aggregate attendance12,784
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport
Sky Sports
Fox League
Biggest home winBarrow Island 84–6 Rhondda Outlaws
(11 January 2020)
Biggest away winRochdale Mayfield 6–64 North Wales Crusaders
(8 February 2020)

The defending champions are Warrington Wolves who beat St Helens 18–4 at Wembley Stadium on 24 August 2019.[1] The format of the competition remains as eight knock-out rounds followed by the final. The final was, scheduled to be played on 18 July instead of the August bank holiday weekend. However on 16 March, the structure and timing of the competition was placed in doubt, as all rugby league games were suspended indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[2]

On 19 May 2020, the RFL confirmed the postponement of the Challenge Cup Final, which had been scheduled for 18 July at Wembley Stadium. The intention remains for the finals to be played later in the year – contingent on the public health situation and government advice.[3]

Round details
RoundDateClubs involved this roundWinners from previous roundNew entries this roundLeagues entering at this round
Round 111–12 January44n/a44
  • 37 English amateur clubs
  • One Scottish, one Irish and two Welsh clubs
  • Three Armed Forces teams
  • British Police
Round 225–26 January2222n/aN/A
Round 38–9 February221111
  • League 1
Round 422–23 February241113*
  • Championship
Round 514–15 March16124
Round 64–5 April1688
Quarter-finals9–10 May88n/aN/A
Semi-finals6–7 June44n/aN/A
Final18 July22n/aN/A
Source:[4]

*Toulouse Olympique declined to participate in the competition.

Entry

Entry into the Cup is mandatory for the English and Welsh professional teams, but is by invitation for all other clubs, either professional or amateur. French side Toulouse declined to enter for 2020, after also declining to play in previous years.[4] Canadian side Toronto Wolfpack rejoined the competition after declining to play in the 2019 competition and will play all ties they are involved in away from home.[5] Serbian club, Red Star who played in 2019 declined an invitation to enter in 2020 due to the demands the trip to England made on their players.[4]

First round

The draw for the first round was made at the home of community club Bentley, near Doncaster.[6] Ties will be played over the weekend of 11–12 January 2020.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance[lower-alpha 1]
Skirlaugh 8–6 Hunslet Club Parkside 11 January 2020, 12:30pm Eastside Community Sports Trust N/A
Barrow Island 84–6 Rhondda Outlaws 11 January 2020, 1:30pm Barrow Island Rugby Club
Thornhill Trojans 22–16 Thatto Heath Crusaders Thornhill Sports and Community Centre
Underbank Rangers 22–10 Lock Lane Lock Lane Sports Centre
Distington 50–10 Bedford Tigers 11 January 2020, 2:00pm Distington Community Sports Club
Edinburgh Eagles 10–58 Ashton Bears Royal High Rugby Club
Featherstone Lions 12–24 West Bowling Featherstone Lions ARLFC
Ince Rose Bridge 50–10 East Hull Ince Rosebridge Sports and Community Club
Milford 47–12 Wigan St Judes Milford Sports Club
Pilkingtons Recs 18–28 West Hull Ruskin Park Health and Leisure Centre
Rochdale Mayfield 32–12 London Chargers Mayfield Sports Centre
Siddal 38–0 Saddleworth Rangers Siddal ARLFC
Upton 30–4 Jarrow Vikings Quarry Lane
West Bank Bears 26–24 Royal Navy Ted Gleave Sports Ground
Wigan St Patricks 30–14 Dewsbury Moor Clarington Park
York Acorn 36–14 Hammersmith Hills Hoists Acorn Sports and Social Club
British Army 26–10 Oulton Raiders 11 January 2020, 2:30pm Army Rugby Stadium
Leigh Miners Rangers 28–26 Stanningley Leigh Miners Welfare Institute
Normanton Knights 30–24 Longhorns 12 January 2020, 1:30pm Normanton Amateur Rugby Club
RAF 10–18 Bentley RAF Cranwell
Sherwood Wolf Hunt 26–24 Wests Warriors Debdale Sports & Recreational Club
GB Police 66–0 Torfaen Tigers 12 January 2020, 2:00pm Mayfield Sports Centre
Source:[7]

Second round

The draw for the 2nd round was made at the studios of BBC Radio Leeds and broadcast live on air.[8] Ties will be played over the weekend of 25–26 January 2020.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance[lower-alpha 1]
Wigan St Patricks 10–30 West Hull 25 January 2020, 12:30pm Clarington Park N/A
Thornhill Trojans 58–14 Normanton Knights 25 January 2020, 1:30pm Thornhill Sports & Community Club
York Acorn 34–14 Barrow Island 25 January 2020, 1:30pm Acorn Sports & Social Club
British Army 17–16 Skirlaugh 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Army Rugby Stadium
GB Police 18–19 Rochdale Mayfield 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Mayfield Sports Club
Milford 12–19 Ince Rose Bridge 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Milford Sports Club
Siddal 62–4 Ashton Bears 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Siddal ARLFC
Underbank Rangers 28–14 Distington 25 January 2020, 2:00pm The Cross Grounds
West Bank Bears 18–20 Bentley 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Ted Gleave Sports Ground
Leigh Miners Rangers 26–6 Upton 25 January 2020, 2:30pm Leigh Miners Welfare Institute
Sherwood Wolf Hunt 6–38 West Bowling 26 January 2020, 1:30pm Debdale Sports & Recreational Club
Source:

Third round

The draw for the 3rd round was made live from Rochdale Hornets Crown Oil Arena.[9]

Ties were played on the weekend of the 8–9 February 2020. Several matches scheduled for 9 February were postponed due to the adverse weather caused by Storm Ciara and played the following weekend.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Rochdale Mayfield 6–64 North Wales Crusaders 8 February 2020, 12:30pm Mayfield Sports Centre S. Race 229
Siddal 10–6 West Hull 8 February 2020, 2:00pm Exley Lane J. Stearne 450
Thornhill Trojans 20–24 Doncaster RLFC 8 February 2020, 2:00pm Tetley's Stadium A. Sweet Not recorded
British Army 34–22 Ince Rose Bridge 8 February 2020, 2:15pm Aldershot Military Stadium N. Bennett 100
Leigh Miners Rangers 20–4 Bentley 8 February 2020, 2:30pm Twist Lane M. Smail 376
West Wales Raiders 8–30 Underbank Rangers 9 February 2020, 2:00pm Stebonheath Park J. Jones 50
Hunslet RLFC 36–4 Coventry Bears 9 February 2020, 3:00pm South Leeds Stadium C. Worsley 225
Keighley Cougars 12–16 Newcastle Thunder 15 February 2020, 2:00pm[lower-alpha 2] Cougar Park L. Staveley 402
Workington Town 28–22 West Bowling 16 February 2020, 2:00pm[lower-alpha 2] Derwent Park K. Moore 950
Barrow Raiders 38–18 London Skolars 16 February 2020, 3:00pm[lower-alpha 2] Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium B. Milligan 769
Rochdale Hornets 54–10 York Acorn 16 February 2020, 3:00pm[lower-alpha 2] AJ Bell Stadium[lower-alpha 3] A. Sweet 200
Source:[11][12]

Fourth round

The draw for the fourth round was made live on BBC Sport, live from Halifax's MBI Shay Stadium

Ties will be played over the weekend of 21–23 February 2020.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Leigh Centurions 36–10 Batley Bulldogs 21 February 2020, 8:00pm Leigh Sports Village M. Rossleigh 1,586
Sheffield Eagles 20–18 Halifax RFC 22 February 2020, 2:00pm Mobile Rocket Stadium J. Vella 429
Siddal A.R.L.F.C. 10–30 Newcastle Thunder 22 February 2020, 2:00pm Siddal ARLFC N. Horton 450
Featherstone Rovers 18–16 Barrow Raiders 22 February 2020, 3:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium A. Moore 1,120
Swinton Lions 56–0 Leigh Miners Rangers 22 February 2020, 3:00pm Heywood Road K. Moore 622
Bradford Bulls 22–0 Underbank Rangers 23 February 2020, 1:00pm Tetley's Stadium C. Worsley 1,458
North Wales Crusaders 18–22 Hunslet RLFC 23 February 2020, 2:30pm Queensway Stadium B. Pearson 249
London Broncos 22–24 York City Knights 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Trailfinders Sports Ground T. Grant 543
Rochdale Hornets 54–10 British Army 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Crown Oil Arena J. McMullen 400
Whitehaven RLFC 16–22 Dewsbury Rams 11 March 2020, 7:00pm[lower-alpha 4] Recreation Ground J Smith 427
Widnes Vikings 52–12 Oldham Roughyeds 23 February 2020, 3:00pm DCBL Stadium G. Hewer 1,564
Workington Town 22–12 Doncaster RLFC 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Derwent Park T. Crashley 612
Source:[13][14]

Fifth round

The draw for Round Five was streamed live on BBC Sport, and Our League, on Monday 24 February, 6.30pm, live from Hull Kingston Rovers’ Hull College Craven Park. Rovers are one four Super League clubs joining the competition at this stage, alongside Huddersfield Giants, Toronto Wolfpack and Wakefield Trinity. Ties will be played over the weekend of 14–15 March 2020.[15]

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Toronto Wolfpack 18–0 Huddersfield Giants 11 March 2020, 7:45pm John Smith's Stadium[lower-alpha 5] S Mikalauskas 1,488
Featherstone Rovers 46–6 Hunslet 13 March 2020, 7:30pm LD Nutrition Stadium A Moore 1,002
Wakefield Trinity 17–14 Bradford Bulls 13 March 2020, 7:45pm Mobile Rocket Stadium M Griffiths 3,112
Sheffield Eagles 34–18 Workington Town 15 March 2020, 2:00pm Keepmoat Stadium J Vella 323
Hull Kingston Rovers 22–19 Leigh Centurions 15 March 2020, 3:00pm Hull College Craven Park G Hewer 2,620
Newcastle Thunder 38–30 Dewsbury Rams 15 March 2020, 3:00pm Kingston Park B Pearson 689
Widnes Vikings 32–16 Swinton Lions 15 March 2020, 3:00pm DCBL Stadium T Grant 1,527
York City Knights 70–12 Rochdale Hornets 15 March 2020, 3:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium[lower-alpha 6] J Smith 400
Source:[17]

Sixth round

The draw for the sixth round was made live from MediaCityUK in Salford on Monday 16 March 2020, and was streamed live on BBC Sport, and the Our League app from 6:00pm.[18] Originally scheduled to be made in New York, the draw was moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defending champions Warrington, start their defence of their title at this stage, alongside Castleford, Catalans, Hull FC, Leeds, Salford, St Helens and Wigan. Ties are scheduled to be played over the weekend of 4–5 April 2020, however, due to the suspension of all rugby league games until 3 April 2020, as part of the United Kingdom's response to the coronavirus pandemic, could mean that these dates are speculative and therefore played at a later date.[19]

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Leeds Rhinos – Hull Kingston Rovers TBC Emerald Headingley Stadium
Newcastle Thunder – Toronto Wolfpack Kingston Park Stadium
Salford Red Devils – St Helens AJ Bell Stadium
Sheffield Eagles – Hull F.C. Olympic Legacy Park
Wakefield Trinity – Featherstone Rovers Mobile Rocket Stadium
Widnes Vikings – Catalans Dragons DCBL Stadium
Wigan Warriors – Warrington Wolves DW Stadium
York City Knights – Castleford Tigers Bootham Crescent
Source:

Quarter-finals


Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
–
–
–
–

Semi-finals
Team A Score Team B Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
– TBD University of Bolton Stadium
–

Final
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
– TBD Wembley Stadium

Broadcast matches
Round Match Date Broadcast method
1st Skirlaugh v Hunslet Club Parkside 11 January 2020, 12:30 streamed live BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button[20]
RAF v Bentley 12 January 2020, 13:30 streamed live on Our League[20]
2nd Wigan St. Patricks v West Hull 25 January 2020, 12:30 streamed live BBC iplayer and BBC Red Button[21]
Sherwood Wolf Hunt v West Bowling 26 January 2020, 13:30 streamed live on Our League[21]
3rd Rochdale Mayfield v North Wales Crusaders 8 February 2020, 12:30 streamed live BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button[22]
British Army v Ince Rose Bridge 8 February 2020, 14:15 streamed live on Our League[22]
Keighley Cougars v Newcastle Thunder 15 February 2020, 15:00 streamed live on Our League[10]
4th Bradford Bulls v Underbank Rangers 23 February 2020, 13:00 streamed live on BBC iPlayer[23]
London Broncos v York City Knights 23 February 2020, 15:00 streamed live on Our League[23]
5th Toronto Wolfpack v Huddersfield Giants 11 March 2020, 19:45 live on Our League

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

On 16 March 2020, the RFL announced that all rugby league games had been suspended initially, until at least April, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]

However, on 24 March, Rugby League clubs held a Board meeting via conference call, attended in part by senior officials of the Rugby Football League, for further discussion of how to respond to the current public health crisis.

It was agreed that until further notice, all rugby league fixtures will be suspended indefinitely.[25]

Notes
  1. Attendances for games involving only community clubs are not recorded
  2. Match postponed on original date due to poor weather conditions caused by Storm Ciara
  3. Match moved to Salford Red Devils' ground as the Crown Oil Arena was unplayable.[10]
  4. Match postponed on 23 February due to a waterlogged pitch
  5. Toronto were drawn as the home team but under their agreement with the RFL Toronto do not play cup games at home
  6. Bootham Crescent unavailable to York City Knights.[16]

References
  1. "Warrington stun Saints to clinch Challenge Cup glory". Total RL. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  2. "Coronavirus: Rugby Football League suspends season until 3 April". BBC Sport. 16 March 2020.
  3. "Coronavirus: Challenge and Ab Sundecks Cup Finals postponed". rugby football league. 19 May 2020.
  4. "Road to Wembley starts at Bentley for Coral Challenge Cup First Round draw". RFL. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  5. McAllister, Josh (18 November 2019). "Toronto confirmed in Challenge Cup 2020". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  6. Gordon, James (5 December 2019). "2020 Challenge Cup first round draw". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  7. "Coral Challenge Cup - round one". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 208). 13 January 2020. p. 23.
  8. "BBC Radio Leeds to host Coral Challenge Cup second round draw". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  9. "Rochdale hornets to host Coral Challenge Cup third round draw". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  10. "Keighley and Newcastle Coral Challenge Cup tie on Our League". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby Football League. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  11. "Coral Challenge Cup Round Three". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 212). 10 February 2020. p. 32.
  12. "Coral Challenge Cup Round Three". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 213). 17 February 2020. p. 36.
  13. "Coral Challenge Cup Round Four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 214). 24 February 2020. p. 36.
  14. "Coral Challenge Cup Round Four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 217). 16 March 2020. p. 36.
  15. "Challenge Cup draw: Toronto Wolfpack to face Huddesfield Giants". BBC Sport. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  16. "Club Statement: Cup game moved to Featherstone". York City Knights. 14 March 2020.
  17. "Coral Challenge Cup Round Five". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 217). 16 March 2020. p. 36.
  18. "Coral Challenge Cup Sixth Round draw moved to UK". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  19. "Challenge Cup sixth round: Newcastle Thunder rewarded with Toronto Wolfpack tie". BBC Sport. 16 March 2020.
  20. "Coral Challenge Cup First Round coverage confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  21. "BBC and Our League confirm challenge cup round 2 coverage". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  22. "BBC and Our League confirm challenge cup round 3 coverage". www.rugby-league.com. Rugby Football League. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  23. "BBC and Our League confirm Round Four coverage". Rugby Football League. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  24. "Super League fixtures Suspended until April". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  25. "Season Suspension Update". superleague.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
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