Challenge Cup

[Cumbria1]

With the Challenge Cup draw on Tuesday not many NCL sides seem to have entered from what I have seen 5 are in round 1 who not in NCL Prem then think 10 of NCL Prem teams enter round 2.

Would it not be better to offer the places given up by NCL teams to other community clubs 

[del capo]

1 hour ago, Cumbria1 said:

With the Challenge Cup draw on Tuesday not many NCL sides seem to have entered from what I have seen 5 are in round 1 who not in NCL Prem then think 10 of NCL Prem teams enter round 2.

Would it not be better to offer the places given up by NCL teams to other community clubs 

Entry is by invitation from the RFL. 

The competition was structured this year with a view to reducing the non SL clubs down to four by the time SL clubs entered.  Given the final is now earlier there was probably no room  / calender time to fit in an extra starting round for a larger community inclusion  ( our fields round here are  all frozen and I bet you're knee deep in the white stuff Cumbria1 ).Hence the limited invite to 30 community clubs.

From Tier 4  we have the top 15 NCL sides  of 47, with the Premier Division ones seeded into Round 2. The other Community clubs are either traditional entrants , such as the Forces, or by  playing merit  ( based on last year ) from the Regions.  Decent facilities and a commitment to compete whatever the draw   ( no one wants to see a walk over in this prestigious competition ) are no doubt unwritten factors taken into account. Finance should not though be a problem as I have no reason to believe that the usual subsidies will not continue.....

The RFL website news section is now showing the clubs involved as well as the home competitions from which they have been drawn.

[usain bolt]

Kells and Egremont must have decided not to enter as they're the only 2 from 12 ncl prem teams not entered

[Cumbria1]

19 minutes ago, usain bolt said:

Kells and Egremont must have decided not to enter as they're the only 2 from 12 ncl prem teams not entered

Sorry but Egremont would been in round 1 as they were NCL Div 1 this year, that’s why West Bowling and Heworth are in round 1, All teams in round 2 are NCL Prem from last year so it’s Kells & St Pats who are missing.

if am honest unless you get home draws or a tasty derby game your not gonna make much money. Most NCL teams are already paying for buses for the NCL season so playing in this adds extra costs that most teams could do without  

[usain bolt]

25 minutes ago, Cumbria1 said:

Sorry but Egremont would been in round 1 as they were NCL Div 1 this year, that’s why West Bowling and Heworth are in round 1, All teams in round 2 are NCL Prem from last year so it’s Kells & St Pats who are missing.

if am honest unless you get home draws or a tasty derby game your not gonna make much money. Most NCL teams are already paying for buses for the NCL season so playing in this adds extra costs that most teams could do without  

Meant only 2 from this years ncl prem that are missing from the draw overall, nothing to do with round 1 or 2