Challenge Cup 2025

[Bull Mania]

16 hours ago, Barley Mow said:

I'm sure I read somewhere that it will be played the following week. I'm not sure what the plan is for the 1895 cup fixtures scheduled for the replacement date.

If common sense was used, Keighley v York could be played the week of round 1.

According to our fixture list R1 of the 1895 Cup isn't until 1/2 March. I think the early rounds of the CC are used to determine who also qualifies for the knockout stages of the 1895 Cup. 

So York are just using they free weekend of 2nd Feb and then they're level with everyone else. 

[fighting irish]

14 hours ago, welshmagpie said:

I’ll likely be down at Aberavon for their clash if any posters are local or even travelling down with Blackbrook. 

 

13 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

Last time I was at Aberavon the was over 1500 there. Is the clubhouse still nearby? Afters was fantastic  

It's not clear yet where the game will be played. There are (normally) two options :- The Velindre Football Club which was the venue for the recent England Community under 23's v Wales RL Dragonhearts or The Aberavon Harlequins RU club.

There is a possibility it will be at the Aberavon RU ground (old RU first class club) but nothings decided yet.

If you are definitely coming to visit, please let me know? 

[ricky]

2 hours ago, Barley Mow said:

I'd hope there was some leeway - if we ended up with a fixture like West Hull Vs a Hull pro-club in R3, surely it would be best for everyone to switch it.

To continue your example, West Hull vs KR could be played at the MKM.

[Dave W]

I presume there'll be one or two First Round matches on the IPlayer again? If so, who do we reckon they'd pick?

I reckon Army vs Navy and Aberavon Fighting Irish v Blackbrook purely for the name.

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, Dave W said:

I presume there'll be one or two First Round matches on the IPlayer again? If so, who do we reckon they'd pick?

I reckon Army vs Navy and Aberavon Fighting Irish v Blackbrook purely for the name.

Blackbrook isn't that wild a name.

[wroteforluck87]

BBC Sport will kick off their coverage of the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup in Oldham by streaming the First Round tie between Waterhead Warriors and Leigh Miners Rangers on Saturday January 11. 12.30 k.o

[Dunbar]

Hammersmith Hills Hoists, winners of the Southern Conference in 2024, vs. Siddal, winners of the National Conference Premier division is an absolutely fantastic fixture in Round 1. 

Cracking start to 2025 Rugby League for me.

[Hopping Mad]

A few confirmed dates and venues for first round ties:

Saturday, January 11

The Army v RAF @ Aldershot Rugby Stadium, GU11 2TD (2.0, free entry)

Sunday, January 12

Eastern Rhinos v Wests Warriors @ Colchester Sports Park, CO4 5YX (2.30)

GB Police v York Acorn @ Portico Vine ARLFC (1.30)

Edited December 30, 2024 by Hopping Mad

[fighting irish]

The Aberavon Fighting Irish v Blackbrook game will be played on 12th. January 2025 at the Darwin Road playing fields, Port Talbot, SA12 6BS, home of the Aberavon Green Stars R.U. club, for anyone interested in travelling to watch the match. 

Edited December 31, 2024 by fighting irish

[Hopping Mad]

4 hours ago, fighting irish said:

The Aberavon Fighting Irish v Blackbrook game will be played on 12th. January 2025 at the Darwin Road playing fields, Port Talbot, SA12 6BS, home of the Aberavon Green Stars R.U. club, for anyone interested in travelling to watch the match. 

Kick-off time?

[fighting irish]

2 hours ago, Hopping Mad said:

Kick-off time?

I'll check. 

[fighting irish]

2 hours ago, Hopping Mad said:

Kick-off time?

It's 1.30 mate. 

[THE RED ROOSTER]

I am someone in the know wil correct me if wrong, but is the following double header being held at Chiswick Rugby Club on Saturday 11th January.

London Chargers v Oulton 2.30pm

Hammersmith Hill Hoists v Siddal 5.00pm

Is admission free?

[creditwhereitsdews]

Also planning to go to the games at Chiswick. Anyone know if there's a bar there? Or a decent pub nearby?

[Styx]

1 hour ago, creditwhereitsdews said:

Also planning to go to the games at Chiswick. Anyone know if there's a bar there? Or a decent pub nearby?

Not sure about admission price, but definitely a bar at the club.  Has been open for the three SCL games I've been involved in. 

[Archie Gordon]

On 02/01/2025 at 17:20, THE RED ROOSTER said:

I am someone in the know wil correct me if wrong, but is the following double header being held at Chiswick Rugby Club on Saturday 11th January.

London Chargers v Oulton 2.30pm

Hammersmith Hill Hoists v Siddal 5.00pm

Is admission free?

Chargers down for Sunday according to rugby-league.com. But I think it's Saturday. Eastern Rhinos listed as Saturday on same site but that is deffo Sunday.

I guess it doesn't matter much.

[Archie Gordon]

Any coverage by The Sportsman this year?

[Barley Mow]

Preview of next weekend's matches:

https://www.totalrl.com/club-drops-out-of-challenge-cup-with-concerning-reason-given/

Wath Brow pulling out is a shame, the reason for it is concerning.

If I've understood (and I may not have), amateur clubs aren't allowed to do contact training yet (we are still some way from the first round of league fixtures) - but the RFL have nonetheless scheduled them to play in the Challenge Cup from next weekend. Wath Brow have therefore withdrawn due to concerns over player welfare.

West Bowling consequently get a bye and face Sheffield Eagles in the next round - so they will now face a Championship club as their first fixture of the season, having been allowed to start contact training later than their opponents. Apparently the amateur clubs aren't permitted pre-season matches yet either, whereas Sheffield will have had two.

Edited January 6 by Barley Mow

[Archie Gordon]

26 minutes ago, Barley Mow said:

Preview of next weekend's matches:

https://www.totalrl.com/club-drops-out-of-challenge-cup-with-concerning-reason-given/

Wath Brow pulling out is a shame, the reason for it is concerning.

If I've understood (and I may not have), amateur clubs aren't allowed to do contact training yet (we are still some way from the first round of league fixtures) - but the RFL have nonetheless scheduled them to play in the Challenge Cup from next weekend. Wath Brow have therefore withdrawn due to concerns over player welfare.

West Bowling consequently get a bye and face Sheffield Eagles in the next round - so they will now face a Championship club as their first fixture of the season, having been allowed to start contact training later than their opponents. Apparently the amateur clubs aren't permitted pre-season matches yet either, whereas Sheffield will have had two.

How did Wath Brow only come to this decision a few days ago?

[Impartial Observer]

38 minutes ago, Barley Mow said:

 

 

 

If I've understood (and I may not have), amateur clubs aren't allowed to do contact training yet (we are still some way from the first round of league fixtures) - but the RFL have nonetheless scheduled them to play in the Challenge Cup from next weekend. Wath Brow have therefore withdrawn due to concerns over player welfare.

 

i understood that teams in the challenge cup are permiited to do contact training which they were told when they were invited.

They should have declined the invite like others did. A friend has told me who knows one of the players that they only had a few training last week when they were expecting a big turn out, maybe that is the reason they dont want to play. Losing four players to the pro game hasnt helped them though. 

 

[RigbyLuger]

27 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

How did Wath Brow only come to this decision a few days ago?

And should be banned from the competition for a period of time for that.

[Archie Gordon]

8 minutes ago, Impartial Observer said:

i understood that teams in the challenge cup are permiited to do contact training which they were told when they were invited.

...

Correct. The ban on contact training until Feb doesn't apply to community teams in the CC. It is all set out when a club agrees to take up their invite. 

[hunsletgreenandgold]

On 21/12/2024 at 13:11, Dunbar said:

Hammersmith Hills Hoists, winners of the Southern Conference in 2024, vs. Siddal, winners of the National Conference Premier division is an absolutely fantastic fixture in Round 1. 

Cracking start to 2025 Rugby League for me.

Not normally a stickler for spelling mistakes mate, but you spelt Hunslet ARLFC wrong 

[RigbyLuger]

Also, headlines saying "Major Blow" are terrible.

[Impartial Observer]

2 hours ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

Not normally a stickler for spelling mistakes mate, but you spelt Hunslet ARLFC wrong 

I thought Hunslet were the GF winners and Siddal won the league