Challenge Cup Draw 2023
Hurricanes will be in the hat tomorrow as the countdown to the `Worlds oldest and most famous Rugby League knockout tournament , The Betfred Challenge Cup begins at Wembley Stadium with the traditional draw for the early rounds of the competition .
Wigan Warriors Coach Matt Peet and England International Kai Peace Paul will make the draw , which will see teams paired for the first and second round ties of the Mens Competition . They will also make a separate draw for the Group qualification of the Women’s event which will culminate this year in a historic first final at Wembley as double header with the mens final .
Thirty six teams from the community game will enter the Men’s competition at Round One ( games w/c 11/12 February), including each of the three Armed Forces sides, six teams from the Southern Conference League, and one each from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Midlands , along with the nine other League One sides enter at Round Two , along with the eighteen Round One winners and ten of the games top amateur clubs from the Premier Division of the National Conference League . Games taking place on the weekend of Feb 25th /26th.
Rochdale Hornets provided opposition for the Hurricanes in the 2022 second round , with the match at Hornets Spotland Stadium broadcast live on the BBC.
Despite tries from Nathan Newbound , Hayden Freeman and Benn Hardcastle , Midlands went down 36-16 in not just their first ever Challenge Cup game , but also their first ever competitive match under the Midlands name.
With the big guns from the Championship entering the fray in round three , Richard Squires squad will be hoping for a favourable draw this week to give them a chance of taking a them a step nearer Wembley !
The draw takes place on Thursday 12th January at 6pm at Wembley Stadium and will be broadcast live on the BBC Iplayer and BBC Sport Website .
First round teams Featherstone Lions, Heworth, Hull Dockers, Ince Rose Bridge, Milford, Myton Warriors, Oulton Raiders, Saddleworth Rangers, Skirlaugh, Stanningley, Thornhill Trojans, West Bowling, Wigan St Patricks, British Army, Great Britain Police, RAF, Royal Navy,Ashton Bears, Bedford Tigers, Brentwood Eels, Distington, Doncaster Toll Bar, Dublin City Exiles, Edinburgh Eagles, Fryston Warriors, Hammersmith Hills Hoists, Jarrow Vikings, London Chargers, North Herts Crusaders, Orrell St James, Rhondda Outlaws, Waterhead, Westgate Common, Wests Warriors.
Second round teams First round winners plus Cornwall, Dewsbury Rams, Doncaster, Hunslet, London Skolars, Midlands Hurricanes, North Wales Crusaders, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets, West Wales Raiders, Workington Town,Hunslet ARLFC, Leigh Miners, Lock Lane, Pilkington Recs, Rochdale Mayfield, Siddal, Thatto Heath Crusaders, Wath Brow Hornets, West Hull, York Acorn.
The Betfred Challenge Cup Final (Mens and Women double header ) takes place on Saturday August 12th
