The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup (sponsored as the 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) is the 12th staging of the Rugby Football League's cup competition for women's rugby league clubs. The final will take 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.[1]
| Duration | Group stage plus three knockout rounds |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Biggest home win |
|
| Biggest away win |
|
Format edit
The competition uses 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, are in the top seed pool alongside Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, and York Valkyrie. The four remaining Super League teams are in pool two. The other pools consist 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 are in pool four with Sheffield Eagles who are making their debut in the competition.[1][2]
| Pool 1 | Pool 2 | Pool 3 | Pool 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The draw for the group stages and the quarter finals was made on 10 January.[3][4] Each of the four top-seeded teams will have only one home game in the group stage.[5]
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
When the group stage fixtures were announced on 24 January, it was also announced that Castleford Tigers had withdrawn from the competition and group 1 would, therefore, comprise only three clubs.[6]
Group stage edit
Games are scheduled to take place in March and April.[1]
| Gp | Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| 1 | Sheffield Eagles | 10–74 | York Valkyrie | 17 March, 14:00 | Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium | |||
| 2 | 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 Pitches | ||||
| 3 | Bradford Bulls | 4–52 | Warrington Wolves | 16 March, 14:00 | Odsal Stadium | |||
| St Helens | 64–0 | London Broncos | 16 March, 15:00 | Totally Wicked Stadium | ||||
| 4 | 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:[7] | ||||||||
| Gp | Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| 2 | Cardiff Demons | 58–0 | Salford Red Devils | 23 March, 14:00 | Cardiff University Sports Fields | |||
| 3 | Bradford Bulls | C–C | St Helens | Match forfeited by Bradford Bulls. Awarded as a 48–0 win to St Helens.[8] | ||||
| 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:[9][a] | ||||||||
| Gp | Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| 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:[13] | ||||||||
Standings edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  York Valkyrie
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 154 | 16 | +138 | 4 | Advance to knock-out stages |
| 2 |  Featherstone Rovers
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 86 | −42 | 2 | |
| 3 |  Sheffield Eagles
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 112 | −96 | 0 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Wigan Warriors
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 22 | +110 | 6 | Advance to knock-out stages |
| 2 |  Cardiff Demons
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 84 | 60 | +24 | 4 | |
| 3 |  Barrow Raiders
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 80 | 42 | +38 | 2 | |
| 4 |  Salford Red Devils
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 172 | −172 | 0 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  St Helens
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 6 | +164 | 6 | Advance to knock-out stages |
| 2 |  Warrington Wolves
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 82 | 68 | +14 | 4 | |
| 3 |  London Broncos
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 88 | −34 | 2 | |
| 4 |  Bradford Bulls
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 148 | −144 | 0 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Leeds Rhinos
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 196 | 14 | +182 | 6 | Advance to knock-out stages |
| 2 |  Huddersfield Giants
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 60 | +60 | 4 | |
| 3 |  Leigh Leopards
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 88 | −32 | 2 | |
| 4 |  Hull KR
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 210 | −210 | 0 |
Quarter-finals edit
The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Radio Merseyside, on 10 January following the draw for the group stage.[3][15] Ties were played over the weekend of 13/14 April.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||
| 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 edit
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 will be played on 18-19 May, as part of a double header alongside the men's semi finals.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||
| St Helens | – | York Valkyrie | 18 May, 11:15am | Eco Power Stadium | |||
| Wigan Warriors | – | Leeds Rhinos | 19 May, 12:30pm | Totally Wicked Stadium | |||
| Source: | |||||||
Notes edit
- ^ For the Hull KR v Leeds match, BBC Sport and Hull KR gave the score as 0–90,[10][11] as does the RFL "match centre", but the RFL review article gave the score as 0–92, noting this to equal the club record for Leeds (set in the 2022 Women's Challenge Cup).[9] The description on the Leeds match report also noted the club record and stated the score to be 0–92. However, the report gave two different lists of scorers which both add up to 90 points: the line-ups and the top section each had 16 tries, 12 goals by Enright and one by Whitehead, and text description listed 16 tries, (no goal by Whitehead) and 13 goals by Enright – setting an individual club record total of 38 points (3 tries and 13 goals).[12]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Sheffield Eagles to join Super League heavyweights in 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup". Rugby-League.com. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Challenge Cup group stage draw details confirmed amid league restructure as St Helens target four-peat". Love Rugby League. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Angela Powers to conduct Betfred Women's Challenge Cup draw this Wednesday". RFL. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Women's Challenge Cup: St Helens face Warrington, Bradford and London Broncos in trophy defence". BBC Sport. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "York Valkyrie learn 2024 Challenge Cup Group Stage opponents". York RLFC. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Women's Challenge Cup: Castleford Tigers withdraw as opening fixtures announced". BBC Sport. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Review | Round 1". RFL. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Saints Women's trip to Bradford cancelled". St.Helens R.F.C. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Review | Round 2". RFL. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Rugby League Scores & Fixtures: Sun 24 March". BBC Sport. 24 March 2024. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Women's Fixtures". Hull KR. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Match Report: Hull KR 0 90 Leeds Rhinos". Leeds Rhinos. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Round Up: Women's Challenge Cup - Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3425. 8 April 2024. pp. 24–25.
- ^ a b c d "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup - Tables". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3425. 8 April 2024. p. 34.
- ^ "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup: Draws for group stage and quarter-finals". RFL. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.