Challenge Cup dates confirmed as competition takes on nine round format

[josie andrews]

The 2024 Challenge Cup will start in January.

The details for the 2024 Challenge Cup have been confirmed, with the competition to be staged over nine different rounds. The new season will be the 123rd edition of rugby league's famous knockout tournament, with Leigh Leopards the current holders after their dramatic golden point victory over Hull KR.

As per the last several seasons, Super League sides will enter the competition in round six, with the sport's leading amateur clubs contesting rounds one and two. Championship and League 1 clubs will then join the competition in round three, with the sport's second and third-tier clubs also playing in the 1895 Cup early on in the year before a March league start.

A total of 20 clubs will be left for round six when the top-tier outfits enter the competition, with eight clubs joining the 12 top-flight sides.

The final will once again be held at Wembley on Saturday, June 8 alongside the Women's Challenge Cup final and 1895 Cup final. However, the venues for the semi-finals have yet to be determined, with locations chosen later in the year to ensure neutrality

Full Challenge Cup schedule

Round One - January 13/14
Round Two - January 27/28
Round Three - February 10/11
Round Four - February 24/25
Round Five - March 9/10
Round Six - March 23/24
Quarter-finals - April 13/14
Semi-finals - May 18/19
Final - June 8

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... on-8927017

[Shaun1967]

Is it just me who's struggling with how we jump from 20 teams in round six to the quarter finals which surely only need 8 teams qualifying from these 20?

[moto748]

Is it just me who's struggling with how we jump from 20 teams in round six to the quarter finals which surely only need 8 teams qualifying from these 20?

Yes, surely you need 16 teams in Round 6, not 20?

[EDINBURGH-WARRIOR]

There will only be 4 clubs left after round 5 who will be joined by the 12 Superleague clubs making 16 for the 6th round . The article facts are correct just very badly written.

EW

[Blackpool_Pie]

Super league clubs should be joining at round 3

[Wiganer Ted]

SL clubs should join at Rd 6.
The RFL tried bringing them in earlier and when round after round SL clubs were drawn against each other we got to the semis and there were Championship clubs in the draw.

It is very possible that should SL clubs join at Rd 3 and they be drawn against each other there'd be only a couple or maybe even just one club in the semi final draw. Should the draw then be two SL clubs playing each other and two Championship clubs playing each other. That would give us a C Cup Final between a SL club and a Championship club. Not a very good idea!

The C Cup format should stay as it is. The date and venue need to be discussed on a regular basis.