Duration | 7 rounds |
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Number of teams | 68 |
Broadcast partners |
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The 2025 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 124th edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league, run by the Rugby Football League (RFL).
Following discussions in 2024, it was announced that the format will be revised and there will now only be seven rounds of competition, down from the nine rounds used in recent seasons. The changes will see the Championship and League One clubs entering in round 2 (round 3 in 2024), and the Super League clubs entering in round 3 (round 6 in 2024), with all 12 super league teams being drawn "away from home" in round 3.[1] In addition the Super League clubs will all play away in round 3.[1]
The change follows criticism that the previous format favoured Super League clubs, and reducing the opportunities for smaller clubs to stage a tie against a big club.[2]
The competition will start in January 2025, and will conclude with the final on 7 June at Wembley Stadium.[3]
Toulouse Olympique have declined to take part, as in previous years.
Round | Date | Clubs involved this round | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | Leagues entering at this round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round 1 | January | 32 | None | 32 | 32 UK based community teams including 10 from the NCL Premier Division |
Round 2 | January | 40 | 16 | 24 | All teams (except Toulouse) from the Championship (13) and League One (11) |
Round 3 | 8–9 February | 32 | 20 | 12 | All 12 teams from the Super League |
Round 4 | 15–16 March | 16 | 16 | None | |
Quarter-finals | 5–6 April | 8 | 8 | ||
Semi-finals | 10–11 May | 4 | 4 | ||
Final | 8 June | 2 | 2 |