The Draws for the 2025 Challenge Cup’s First and Second Rounds Announced
Published: December 2, 2023
Source: Rugby League Live
Rugby league enthusiasts can mark their calendars as the draws for the 2025 Challenge Cup’s first and second rounds will take place on Monday, December 2. This highly anticipated announcement comes after the game’s oldest cup competition unveiled a revised format earlier this year.
In a significant change, Super League clubs will now join the competition three rounds earlier than they did in 2024, entering at the last 32 stage. This means they will be guaranteed to play away from home in the third round, facing off against the 20 winners of the second-round ties. These second-round participants could hail from a mix of Championship, League 1, and community teams.
First and Second Rounds
The first and second rounds of the 2025 Challenge Cup are scheduled to take place in January, preceding the start of the league season. Round one will witness 32 UK-based community teams, including ten from the National Conference League Premier Division, competing in 16 ties over the weekend of January 11-12. The second round will then follow the next weekend, on January 25-26, with the winners of the first-round matches joined by teams from the Championship and League 1 (excluding French outfit Toulouse Olympique).
Third Round
The third round, where the Super League clubs enter the fray, is set for the weekend of February 8-9, with the draw for this stage to be held in mid-January.
“This revised format will add even more excitement and drama to the Challenge Cup, one of the sport’s most iconic and historic competitions,” said a spokesperson for the Rugby Football League.
🔗 Source
