2025 Women’s Challenge Cup format confirmed
Details for the 2025 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup group stage draw has been confirmed ahead of the competition kicking off in April.
All eight Betfred Women’s Super League teams will compete for a spot at Wembley Stadium on June 7 alongside four clubs from the Northern Championship – Featherstone Rovers, Sheffield Eagles, London Broncos and Cardiff Demons, the latter two having been given permission to play in the “Northern” competition to secure higher quality opposition on a regular basis.
The 12 teams will be drawn into four groups of three, and as in previous years the draw will be seeded with one of last season’s top four teams – Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, York Valkyrie and St Helens, who have won each of the first two Women’s Challenge Cup Finals at Wembley in 2023 and 2024 – in each group, alongside two teams selected from the remaining eight.
Newly promoted Leigh Leopards will be in the group of eight teams in pool one alongside Barrow Raiders, Huddersfield Giants, Warrington Wolves and the four Championship teams.
The group stage draw will take place live next Tuesday evening (14 January, 630pm), with live coverage on BBC red button, iPlayer and website.
The three rounds of group fixtures are scheduled to take place on the weekends of April 5/6, 12/13 and 19/20.
The winners and runners up of each group will then progress to the quarter finals on April 26/27 ahead of a semi-final double header with the Men’s competition on May 10/11.
The 2025 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup is part of a Finals Day triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 June, alongside the finals of the Betfred Men’s Challenge Cup and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup. Tickets are available online from only £20 Adults and £10 Under 16s. Get yours here!
Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup
Pool one – Barrow Raiders, Cardiff Demons, Featherstone Rovers, Leigh Leopards, London Broncos, Huddersfield Giants, Sheffield Eagles, Warrington Wolves
Pool two – Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Wigan Warriors, York Valkyrie
Four groups of three to be drawn, each consisting of one team from Pool Two, and two from Pool One
