New format for Betfred Challenge Cup in 2025

The RFL have announced that the Betfred Challenge Cup will have a new structure in 2025 with Super League clubs to enter the competition in the Third Round.

The new format will now see the 12 Betfred Super League teams enter the competition in the Third Round as oppose to the Sixth Round. The Third Round draw will take place well before the start of the season in January, with the aim of building more momentum towards the showpiece Finals Day in June.

The changes will also see Super League teams seeded in the Third Round draw which guarantees that clubs in the Betfred Championship, League One and the community game will host top flight opposition.

The Fourth Round (comprising of 16 clubs) will be played in March, the Quarter-Finals in April, and the Semi-Finals on the weekend of May 10-11. This leaves the finalists with four weeks to prepare for the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 June.

All clubs were informed of the new structure – and also a revised prize money structure – at a Rugby League Commercial forum today, and there will now be further discussions over standardised ticket pricing across all Betfred Challenge Cup ties.

The Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final will again be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday June 7 as part of Finals Day, with the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final confirmed for the weekend of May 31 – with discussions ongoing over the best structure for those competitions in 2025.

Rhodri Jones, the Managing Director of RL Commercial, said: “After extensive consultation with clubs and other stakeholders, we believe this new structure for the Betfred Challenge Cup will deliver a number of benefits to the competition and to the sport as a whole.

“It was pleasing to announce an attendance of 64,845 for Finals Day at Wembley Stadium earlier this month – the fourth consecutive year of growth since the 2020 Final was played behind closed doors. However, we recognised a need to reshape and reinvigorate the early rounds of the competition which we believe will allow us to maintain that trend.”

Tickets for the 2025 Challenge Cup Finals Day are now available to purchase online HERE. An early bird deal will give supporters 25% off tickets, with prices starting from £15 Adults and £7.50 Under 16s, with family packages also available.