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2024 Women's Challenge Cup

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2024 Women's Challenge Cup
DurationGroup stage plus three knockout rounds
Number of teams16
WinnersSt Helens
Runners-upLeeds Rhinos
Biggest home win
Biggest away win

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

[edit]

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
Pool 1 Pool 2 Pool 3 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
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 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When the group stage fixtures were announced on 24 January, it was also announced that Castleford Tigers had withdrawn from the competition and group 1 would, therefore, comprise only three clubs.[6]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

[edit]

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

Challenge Cup group stage, round one fixtures
Gp Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
1 Sheffield Eagles 10–74 York Valkyrie 17 March, 14:00 Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium
2 Cardiff Demons 22–16 Barrow Raiders 16 March, 14:00 Cardiff University Sports Fields
Salford Red Devils 00–68 Wigan Warriors 17 March, 14:15 Salford Community Pitches
3 Bradford Bulls 04–52 Warrington Wolves 16 March, 14:00 Odsal Stadium
St Helens 64–00 London Broncos 16 March, 15:00 Totally Wicked Stadium
4 Huddersfield Giants 74–00 Hull KR 16 March, 12:00 Kirklees Stadium
Leigh Leopards 04–52 Leeds Rhinos 17 March, 12:00 Twist Lane
Source:[7]
Challenge Cup group stage, round two fixtures
Gp Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
2 Cardiff Demons 58–00 Salford Red Devils 23 March, 14:00 Cardiff University Sports Fields
3 Bradford Bulls C–C St Helens Match forfeited by Bradford Bulls. Awarded as a 48–0 win to St Helens.[8]
4 Leigh Leopards 06–36 Huddersfield Giants 23 March, 14:00 Twist Lane
Hull KR 00–90 Leeds Rhinos 24 March, 14:00 Craven Park
1 Featherstone Rovers 38–60 Sheffield Eagles 24 March, 12:00 Post Office Road
2 Barrow Raiders 18–20 Wigan Warriors 24 March, 14:00 Craven Park
3 London Broncos 06–24 Warrington Wolves 24 March, 15:30 Rosslyn Park F.C.
Source:[9][a]
Challenge Cup group stage, round three fixtures
Gp Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
1 York Valkyrie 80–60 Featherstone Rovers 6 April, 13:00 York St John Sports Park
3 Warrington Wolves 06–58 St Helens 7 April, 11:00 Dallam Playing Fields
4 Leeds Rhinos 54–10 Huddersfield Giants 7 April, 12:00 West Park RUFC
Hull KR 00–46 Leigh Leopards 7 April, 14:00 Craven Park
2 Wigan Warriors 44–40 Cardiff Demons 7 April, 14:00 Robin Park Arena
Salford Red Devils 00–46 Barrow Raiders 7 April, 14:00 Salford Community Pitches
3 London Broncos 48–00 Bradford Bulls 7 April, 15:30 Rosslyn Park F.C.
Source:[13]

Standings

[edit]
Group 1
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 York Valkyrie 2 2 0 0 154 16 +138 4 Advance to knock-out stages
2 Featherstone Rovers 2 1 0 1 44 86 −42 2
3 Sheffield Eagles 2 0 0 2 16 112 −96 0
Source: [14]
Group 2
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Wigan Warriors 3 3 0 0 132 22 +110 6 Advance to knock-out stages
2 Cardiff Demons 3 2 0 1 84 60 +24 4
3 Barrow Raiders 3 1 0 2 80 42 +38 2
4 Salford Red Devils 3 0 0 3 0 172 −172 0
Source: [14]
Group 3
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 St Helens 3 3 0 0 170 6 +164 6 Advance to knock-out stages
2 Warrington Wolves 3 2 0 1 82 68 +14 4
3 London Broncos 3 1 0 2 54 88 −34 2
4 Bradford Bulls 3 0 0 3 4 148 −144 0
Source: [14]
Group 4
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Leeds Rhinos 3 3 0 0 196 14 +182 6 Advance to knock-out stages
2 Huddersfield Giants 3 2 0 1 120 60 +60 4
3 Leigh Leopards 3 1 0 2 56 88 −32 2
4 Hull KR 3 0 0 3 0 210 −210 0
Source: [14]

Quarter-finals

[edit]

The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Radio Merseyside, on 10 January following the draw for the group stage.[3][15] Ties were played over the weekend of 13/14 April.

Challenge Cup quarter-final fixtures
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Leeds Rhinos 70–10 Warrington Wolves 13 April, 12:00 Headingley
St Helens 74–00 Huddersfield Giants 13 April, 12:00 Crusaders Park, Thatto Heath
Wigan Warriors 44–40 Cardiff Demons 13 April, 14:00 Leigh Miners Rangers
York Valkyrie 70–00 Featherstone Rovers 14 April, 14:00 York Community Stadium
Source:[16]

Semi-finals

[edit]

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
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
St Helens 32–20 York Valkyrie 18 May, 11:15am Eco Power Stadium A. Belafonte 11,163[b]
Wigan Warriors 20–34 Leeds Rhinos 19 May, 12:30pm Totally Wicked Stadium A. Williams [b]
Source:[17]

Final

[edit]
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 1 Score Team 2 Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
St Helens 22–00 Leeds Rhinos 8 June 2024 Wembley Stadium Aaron Moore
Source:[18]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ For the Hull KR v Leeds match, BBC Sport and Hull KR gave the score as 0–90,[10][11] as does the RFL "match centre", but the RFL review article gave the score as 0–92, noting this to equal the club record for Leeds (set in the 2022 Women's Challenge Cup).[9] The description on the Leeds match report also initially stated the score to be 0–92 but was later amended to 0–90. The description credits all 13 goals to Enright – setting an individual club record total of 38 points (3 tries and 13 goals), but the score list of has only 12 goals by Enright and one by Whitehead.[12]
  2. ^ a b attendance combined for both the men's, and women's game

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Sheffield Eagles to join Super League heavyweights in 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup". Rugby-League.com. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Challenge Cup group stage draw details confirmed amid league restructure as St Helens target four-peat". Love Rugby League. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Angela Powers to conduct Betfred Women's Challenge Cup draw this Wednesday". RFL. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Women's Challenge Cup: St Helens face Warrington, Bradford and London Broncos in trophy defence". BBC Sport. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  5. ^ "York Valkyrie learn 2024 Challenge Cup Group Stage opponents". York RLFC. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Women's Challenge Cup: Castleford Tigers withdraw as opening fixtures announced". BBC Sport. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Review | Round 1". RFL. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Saints Women's trip to Bradford cancelled". St.Helens R.F.C. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Review | Round 2". RFL. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Rugby League Scores & Fixtures: Sun 24 March". BBC Sport. 24 March 2024. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Women's Fixtures". Hull KR. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Match Report: Hull KR 0 90 Leeds Rhinos". Leeds Rhinos. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Round Up: Women's Challenge Cup - Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3425. 8 April 2024. pp. 24–25.
  14. ^ a b c d "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup - Tables". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3425. 8 April 2024. p. 34.
  15. ^ "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup: Draws for group stage and quarter-finals". RFL. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Men's and Women's Quarter-Finals Review & Semi-Finals confirmed | Betfred Challenge Cup". RFL. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Wembley Finalists confirmed for June 8". RFL. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Saints beat Leeds to retain Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
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