2023 Women's Challenge Cup Explained

2023 Women's Challenge Cup
Duration:Group stage plus three knockout rounds
No Of Teams:16
Tv:BBC Sport
Biggest Home Win:York Valkyrie 122–0 Hull KR
Biggest Away Win:Castleford Tigers 0–106 St Helens
Season:2023
Season Champ Name:Winners
Mvp Link:Player of the Match
Prevseason Link:2022 Women's Challenge Cup
Prevseason Year:2022
Nextseason Link:2024 Women's Challenge Cup
Nextseason Year:2024

The 2023 Women's Challenge Cup (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2023 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 11th staging of the Rugby Football League's cup competition for women's rugby league clubs.

Format

The competition used the same format as in 2022 with four groups of four competing in a single round robin with group winners and runners-up advancing to the knockout rounds. The group stage draw took place on 12 January.[1]

Groups
width=25%Group 1width=25%Group 2width=25%Group 3width=25%Group 4

Group stage

The fixture list for the group stage was published on 16 February 2023.[2]

Challenge Cup group fixtures week 1
GroupHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Referee
1Salford Red Devils8–22Featherstone Rovers23 April, 12:00AJ Bell StadiumJ. Pemberton
Cardiff Demons20–38Wigan Warriors23 April, 14:00Cardiff University Sports FieldsR. Apsee
2Leeds Rhinos72–0Bradford Bulls23 April, 13:00Weetwood Sports ParkF. Lincoln
Oulton Raidettes4–54Huddersfield Giants23 April, 14:00Oulton Sports PavilionM. Mckelvey
3London Broncos0–76St Helens22 April, 14:00The Rock, RoehamptonH. Winnard
Castleford Tigers0–72Warrington Wolves23 April, 14:00Mend-a-Hose JungleA. Rhodes
4Barrow Raiders4–44York Valkyrie23 April, 14:00Craven Park, Barrow-in-FurnessJ. Hughes
Hull KR16–38Leigh Leopards23 April; 14:00Craven Park, HullD. Frederick
Source:[3]
Challenge Cup group fixtures week 2
GroupHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Referee
1Featherstone Rovers10–12Wigan Warriors7 May; 12:00Post Office RoadC. Hughes
Salford Red Devils8–12Cardiff Demons7 May; 13:00Moor LaneS. Houghton
2Bradford Bulls12–32Huddersfield Giants7 May; 14:00Horsfall StadiumM. Clayton
Oulton Raidettes0–48Leeds Rhinoscolspan=3
3Castleford Tigers0–106St Helens7 May; 14:00Mend-a-Hose JungleD. Geddes
Warrington Wolves64–10London Broncos7 May; 14:00Victoria ParkO. Ireland
4York Valkyrie122–0Hull KR7 May; 12:00York Community StadiumB. Worsley
Leigh Leopards30–22Barrow Raiders7 May; 14:00Twist LaneL. Flavell
Source:[4]
Challenge Cup group fixtures week 3
GroupHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Referee
1Cardiff Demons36–18Featherstone Rovers21 May; 14:00Cardiff University Sports FieldsR. Apsee
Wigan Warriors60–0Salford Red Devils21 May; 14:00Robin ParkS. Houghton
2Huddersfield Giants0–54Leeds Rhinos21 May; 14:00Laund HillJ. Covell-Wood
Bradford Bulls38–6Oulton Raidettes21 May; 17:15Odsal StadiumA. Rhodes
3London Broncos40–4Castleford Tigers21 May; 14:00The Rock, Roehampton
St Helens38–4Warrington Wolves21 May; 14:00Totally Wicked StadiumL. Flavell
4Hull KR11–20Barrow Raiders21 May; 14:00Craven Park, Hull
Leigh Leopards0–54York Valkyrie21 May; 14:00Twist Lane
Source:[5] [6] [7]

Standings

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Radio Five, on 26 May.[8] Ties took place over the weekend of 17–18 June.

Challenge Cup quarter-final fixtures
HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Leeds Rhinos54–0 Leigh Leopards17 June, 13:00Headingley Stadium
Wigan Warriors46–10 Huddersfield Giants18 June, 11:30Robin Park Arena
St Helens36–0 Warrington Wolves18 June, 12:30
York Valkyrie54–0 Cardiff Demons18 June, 14:00York Community Stadium
Source:[9]

Semi-finals

Ties took place over the weekend of 22–23 July, each being part of a double header with one of the men's semi-finals; St Helens v York was played with the Leigh v St Helens men's game and Wigan v Leeds was played with the Hull KR v Wigan men's game. Both of the women's matches were broadcast live on the BBC Sport website.[10]

Challenge Cup semi-final fixtures
Team AScoreTeam BMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
St Helens17–16 York Valkyrie22 July, 11:45Halliwell Jones StadiumA. Belafonte12,113
Wigan Warriors4–16 Leeds Rhinos23 July, 14:15HeadingleyE. Burrow10,926
Source:[11]

Final

See main article: 2023 Women's Challenge Cup final.

On 12 August 2022, the RFL announced that the Women's Challenge Cup Final would make its Wembley debut, and be played as a double header with the men's final. The final was played on 12 August 2023.[12]

Challenge Cup Final
Team 1ScoreTeam 2Match Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Leeds Rhinos8–22 St Helens12 August 2023, 12:00Wembley StadiumJ. Vella
Source:[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Challenge Cup 2023: Draw details for women's and men's competitions as St Helens and Wigan Warriors defend titles . Sky Sports . 12 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup: Our League to stream Cardiff Demons versus Wigan Warriors . RFL . 16 February 2023 . 16 February 2023.
  3. News: Women's Challenge Cup: Round-up . . 24–25 . 3376 . 24 April 2023.
  4. Web site: Women's Challenge Cup Round-up Sunday 7 May . RFL . 8 May 2023 . 30 November 2023.
  5. Web site: Cardiff Demons join big guns in Cup Quarter-Final draw . RFL . 22 May 2023 . 11 January 2023.
  6. Web site: Hull KR Women 11 – 20 Barrow . Sky Sports . 11 January 2023.
  7. Web site: Bradford 28 – 6 Oulton Raidettes . Sky Sports . 11 January 2023.
  8. Web site: BBC Radio 5 Live to broadcast Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Final draw . RFL . 19 May 2023 . 30 November 2023.
  9. Web site: Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Finals Round-Up . RFL . 19 June 2023 . 11 January 2023.
  10. Web site: Venues and broadcast details confirmed for Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Finals . www.rugby-league.com . RFL . 19 June 2023 . 19 June 2023.
  11. Web site: Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Final Preview . RFL . 10 August 2023 . 11 January 2023.
  12. News: Challenge Cup final to return to Wembley in 2023 . BBC Sport . 12 August 2022.
  13. Web site: Women's Challenge Cup final: Leeds Rhinos 8-22 St Helens - Saints win third title in first-ever Wembley final . BBC Sport . 12 August 2023 . 11 January 2023.

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