2024 Women's Challenge Cup Explained

2024 Women's Challenge Cup
Duration:Group stage plus three knockout rounds
No Of Teams:16
Season:2024
Season Champs:St Helens
Season Champ Name:Winners
Second Place:Leeds Rhinos
Mvp Link:Player of the Match
Prevseason Link:2023 Women's Challenge Cup
Prevseason Year:2023
Nextseason Link:2025 Women's Challenge Cup
Nextseason Year:2025

The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup (sponsored as the 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 12th staging of the Rugby Football League's cup competition for women's rugby league clubs. The final took place on 8 June 2024 as part of a triple-header at Wembley Stadium alongside the men's final, and the final of the 1895 Cup.[1]

Format

The competition used the same format as in 2023 with four groups of four competing in a single round robin with group winners and runners-up advancing to the knockout rounds. The teams were announced on 22 December 2023 and the group stage draw took place on 10 January.

St Helens, winners in 2023, were in the top seed pool alongside Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, and York Valkyrie. The four remaining Super League teams were in pool two. The other pools consisted of teams from the regional leagues with pool three containing sides who took part in the 2023 Super League. Hull KR and 2023 Super League South grand finalists Cardiff Demons and London Broncos were in pool four with Sheffield Eagles who were making their debut in the competition.[1] [2]

Seeding pots for group stage draw
width=25%Pool 1width=25%Pool 2width=25%Pool 3width=25%Pool 4

The draw for the group stages and the quarter finals was made on 10 January.[3] [4] Each of the four top-seeded teams had only one home game in the group stage.[5]

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

When the group stage fixtures were announced on 24 January, it was also announced that Castleford Tigers had withdrawn from the competition and group 1 would, therefore, comprise only three clubs.[6]

Group stage

Games were scheduled to take place in March and April.[1]

Challenge Cup group stage, round one fixtures
GpHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
1Sheffield Eagles10–74York Valkyrie17 March, 14:00Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium
2Cardiff Demons22–16Barrow Raiders16 March, 14:00Cardiff University Sports Fields
Salford Red Devils0–68Wigan Warriors17 March, 14:15Salford Community Pitches
3Bradford Bulls4–52Warrington Wolves16 March, 14:00Odsal Stadium
St Helens64–0London Broncos16 March, 15:00Totally Wicked Stadium
4Huddersfield Giants74–0Hull KR16 March, 12:00Kirklees Stadium
Leigh Leopards4–52Leeds Rhinos17 March, 12:00Twist Lane
Source:[7]
Challenge Cup group stage, round two fixtures
GpHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
2Cardiff Demons58–0Salford Red Devils23 March, 14:00Cardiff University Sports Fields
3Bradford BullsC–CSt HelensMatch forfeited by Bradford Bulls. Awarded as a 48–0 win to St Helens.[8]
4Leigh Leopards6–36Huddersfield Giants23 March, 14:00Twist Lane
Hull KR0–90Leeds Rhinos24 March, 14:00Craven Park
1Featherstone Rovers38–6Sheffield Eagles24 March, 12:00Post Office Road
2Barrow Raiders18–20Wigan Warriors24 March, 14:00Craven Park
3London Broncos6–24Warrington Wolves24 March, 15:30Rosslyn Park F.C.
Source:[9]
Challenge Cup group stage, round three fixtures
GpHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
1York Valkyrie80–6Featherstone Rovers6 April, 13:00York St John Sports Park
3Warrington Wolves6–58St Helens7 April, 11:00Dallam Playing Fields
4Leeds Rhinos54–10Huddersfield Giants7 April, 12:00West Park RUFC
Hull KR0–46Leigh Leopards7 April, 14:00Craven Park
2Wigan Warriors44–4Cardiff Demons7 April, 14:00Robin Park Arena
Salford Red Devils0–46Barrow Raiders7 April, 14:00Salford Community Pitches
3London Broncos48–0Bradford Bulls7 April, 15:30Rosslyn Park F.C.
Source:[10]

Standings

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Radio Merseyside, on 10 January following the draw for the group stage.[3] [11] Ties were played over the weekend of 13/14 April.

Challenge Cup quarter-final fixtures
HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Leeds Rhinos70–10Warrington Wolves13 April, 12:00Headingley
St Helens74–0Huddersfield Giants13 April, 12:00Crusaders Park, Thatto Heath
Wigan Warriors44–4Cardiff Demons13 April, 14:00Leigh Miners Rangers
York Valkyrie70–0Featherstone Rovers14 April, 14:00York Community Stadium
Source:[12]

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made during the half time break at the men's quarter-final between St Helens and Warrington. The matches were played on 18 and 19 May, as part of double headers alongside the men's semi finals.

Challenge Cup semi-final fixtures
HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
St Helens32–2York Valkyrie18 May, 11:15amEco Power StadiumA. Belafonte11,163
Wigan Warriors20–34Leeds Rhinos19 May, 12:30pmTotally Wicked StadiumA. Williams
Source:[13]

Final

See main article: 2024 Women's Challenge Cup final.

The final was played as part of a triple header, alongside the Men's Final, and the 2024 RFL 1895 Cup final.

Challenge Cup Final
Team 1ScoreTeam 2Match Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
St Helens22–0Leeds Rhinos8 June 2024Wembley StadiumAaron Moore
Source:[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sheffield Eagles to join Super League heavyweights in 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup . Rugby-League.com . 22 December 2023 . 23 December 2023.
  2. Web site: Challenge Cup group stage draw details confirmed amid league restructure as St Helens target four-peat . Love Rugby League . 22 December 2023 . 23 December 2023.
  3. Web site: Angela Powers to conduct Betfred Women's Challenge Cup draw this Wednesday. RFL . 8 January 2024 . 10 January 2024.
  4. News: Women's Challenge Cup: St Helens face Warrington, Bradford and London Broncos in trophy defence . 10 January 2024 . BBC Sport . 10 January 2024.
  5. Web site: York Valkyrie learn 2024 Challenge Cup Group Stage opponents . York RLFC . 10 January 2024 . en . 10 January 2024.
  6. News: Women's Challenge Cup: Castleford Tigers withdraw as opening fixtures announced . 24 January 2024 . BBC Sport . 24 January 2024.
  7. Web site: Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Review Round 1 . RFL . 18 March 2024 . 23 March 2024.
  8. Web site: Saints Women's trip to Bradford cancelled . St.Helens R.F.C. . 22 March 2024 . 22 March 2024.
  9. Web site: Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Review Round 2 . RFL . 25 March 2024 . 26 March 2024.
  10. News: Round Up: Women's Challenge Cup - Group Stage . . 24–25 . 3425 . 8 April 2024.
  11. Web site: Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup: Draws for group stage and quarter-finals . RFL . 10 January 2024 . 11 January 2024.
  12. Web site: Men's and Women’s Quarter-Finals Review & Semi-Finals confirmed Betfred Challenge Cup . RFL . 14 April 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  13. Web site: Wembley Finalists confirmed for June 8 . RFL . 19 May 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  14. Web site: Saints beat Leeds to retain Women's Challenge Cup . BBC Sport . 8 June 2024 . 9 June 2024.

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