# 2019 Challenge Cup

The 2019 Challenge Cup known as the Coral Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the 118th staging of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout tournament for teams in the Super League, the British National Leagues and a number of invited amateur clubs.
The defending champions were Catalans Dragons, who beat Warrington Wolves 20–14 at Wembley Stadium on 25 August 2018, to become the first non-British team to win the challenge cup in its 117-year history. However, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 51–8 defeat, away to Hull F.C.
The format of the competition will be eight knock-out rounds followed by the final. The final will be held on the August bank holiday weekend, and from 2020 the final will move to July, but will still be played at Wembley Stadium. The day of the final will see three matches played back-to-back, with the Challenge Cup final being preceded by the Steven Mullaney Memorial Match (the RFL Champion Schools Final for Year 7s), and the final of the newly announced 1895 Cup for clubs in the Championship and League 1.
A new sponsorship deal was announced in January 2019, with Coral replacing Ladbrokes (although both are part of the Ladbrokes Coral group).

## Round details

| Round | Date | Clubs involved this round | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | Leagues entering at this round |
| Round 1 | 26–27 January | 52 | n/a | 52 | 44 English amateur clubs Scottish, Welsh & Irish champions 3 Armed Forces teams British Police Serbian champions |
| Round 2 | 9–10 February | 26 | 26 | n/a | — |
| Round 3 | 9–10 March | 24 | 13 | 11 | League 1 |
| Round 4 | 30–31 March | 24 | 12 | 12* | Championship |
| Round 5 | 13–14 April | 16 | 12 | 4 | 2018 Super League Qualifiers top 4 |
| Round 6 | 9–12 May | 16 | 8 | 8 | 2018 Super League top 8 |
| Quarter-finals | 1–2 June | 8 | 8 | n/a | — |
| Semi-finals | 27 July | 4 | 4 | n/a | — |
| Final | 24 August | 2 | 2 | n/a | — |
| Source: ||||||
*Toulouse Olympique and Toronto Wolfpack declined to participate in the competition.

## Entry

Entry into the Cup is mandatory for the English and Welsh professional teams, but is by invitation for all other clubs, either professional or amateur. French side Toulouse declined to enter for 2019, after also declining to play in the 2018 competition. Canadian side Toronto Wolfpack also declined to enter for 2019, after both clubs were presented with a demand by the Rugby Football League (RFL) for roughly £750,000 (€830,000; C$1,226,000 approximately) as a bond insurance against reduced ticket sales, if either team reached the final.
In January 2019 it was revealed that defending champions, Catalans Dragons, had also been asked to pay a £500,000 (€553,000) bond to enter the competition. Catalans informed the RFL, that the club had no intention of paying, leading to the possibility, that for the first time ever, the competition would take place without the defending champions being in the tournament. However, after settling their dispute with the RFL, it was confirmed that they would be defending their title.
The first and second rounds of the competition are competed for solely by amateur teams, and for 2019, 51 British based teams are joined by Serbian side Red Star in the draw for the first round of the cup. Red Star's entry is on condition that they play away from home in the first and second rounds (assuming victory in the first round). The 51 amateur clubs are 47 British teams together with four teams representing the armed forces and the British police. This season will be the first since the 1990s, that no student sides will be playing in the competition.

## First round

The draw was made on 14 December 2018 at Headingley Rugby Stadium and was streamed live on the BBC Sport website. The home teams were drawn by Leeds Rhinos Women captain Lois Forsell and the away teams by Bradford Bulls coach John Kear. Ties are to be played over the weekend of 26/27 January 2019.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Bentley RLFC | 18–16 | British Army | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Scawthorpe Social Club | J. Stearne | |
| Bradford Dudley Hill | 0–16 | Milford | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Neil Hunt Memorial Ground | A. Moore | |
| Clock Face Miners | 0–24 | Siddal | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Clock Face Miners Recreation Club | C. Etchells | |
| Dewsbury Moor | 24–10 | Skirlaugh | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Heckmondwike Road | T. Arnold | |
| Distington | 48–0 | Torfaen Tigers | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Grass Rpoad | L. Rush | |
| Drighlington | 32–4 | All Golds | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Wakefield Road | D. Arnold | |
| East Leeds | 24–10 | Batley Boys | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Richmond Hill | A. Billington | |
| Hunslet Club Parkside | 16–30 | Thornhill Trojans | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Hillidge Road | G. Houston | |
| Hunslet Warriors | 16–28 | Featherstone Lions | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | The Oval | K. Moore | |
| Kells | 4–14 | Rochdale Mayfield | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Old Arrowthwaite | A. Sweet | |
| London Chargers | 6–34 | Wath Brow Hornets | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Clapham Common | L. Staveley | |
| Normanton Knights | 50–16 | Edinburgh Eagles | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Queen Elizabeth Drive | J. Jones | |
| Orrell St James | 12–30 | Underbank Rangers | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Bankes Avenue | T. Jones | |
| Ovenden | 22–20 | Woolston Rovers | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Four Fields | H. Neville | |
| Royal Navy | 12–42 | West Hull | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | US Sports Ground | S. Race | |
| Shaw Cross Sharks | 18–28 | Haydock | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Leeds Road | J Seymour | |
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | 32–6 | Stanningley | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Hattons Solicitors Crusader Park | E. McCarthy | |
| West Bowling | 42–12 | Hammersmith Hills Hoists | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Emsley Recreation Ground | J. Butterfield | |
| Wigan St Judes | 15–14 | Crosfields | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Keats Avenue | N. Woodward | |
| York Acorn | 42–4 | Beverley | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | Thanet Road | P. Parker | |
| Leigh East | 12–24 | Wigan St Patricks | 26 January 2019, 14:30 | Leigh Sports Village | S. Chromiak | |
| Leigh Miners Rangers | 22–10 | Oulton Raiders | 26 January 2019, 14:30 | Twist Lane | R. Dolan | |
| Wallsend Eagles | 18–44 | British Police | 26 January 2019, 14:30 | Benfield Sports Centre | S. Ellis | |
| North Herts Crusaders | 6–22 | Royal Air Force | 27 January 2019, 13:00 | King George V field, Hitchin | C. Astbury | |
| Lock Lane | 16–10 | Longhorns | 27 January 2019, 13:30 | Hicksons Arena | T. Crashley | |
| Millom | 38–10 | Red Star Belgrade | 27 January 2019, 13:30 | Coronation Field | B. Milligan | |
| Source: |||||||||

## Second round

The draw was made on 28 January 2019 at Wigan St Patricks and was streamed live on the BBC Sport website. The home teams were drawn by Leigh Centurions captain Mickey Higham and the away teams by Wigan Warriors halfback George Williams. Ties are to be played over the weekend of 9–10 February 2019.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Distington | 14–6 | Royal Air Force | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Grass Road | D. Arnold | |
| Drighlington | 16–20 | Wigan St Judes | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Wakefield Road | S. Chromiak | |
| East Leeds | 16–20 | Dewsbury Moor | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Richmond Hill | A. Gill | |
| Milford | 22–28 | Lock Lane | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Milford Sports Club | A. Moore | |
| Millom | 0–26 | Siddal | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Coronation Field | A. Billington | |
| Normanton Knights | 22–32 | Haydock | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Queen Elizabeth Drive | P. Parker | |
| Ovenden | 18–38 | West Bowling | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Four Fields | T. Arnold | |
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | 36–6 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Close Street | N. Horton | |
| Thornhill Trojans | 20–30 | Rochdale Mayfield | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Overthorpe Park | J. Jones | |
| Underbank Rangers | 26–30 | Featherstone Lions | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Dunford Road | E. McCarthy | |
| Wath Brow Hornets | 8–9 | York Acorn | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | Trumpet Road | C. Etchells | |
| West Hull | 36–0 | Bentley | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | West Hull Community Park | J. Turner | |
| Wigan St Patricks | 28–20 | British Police | 10 February 2019, 14:30 | Clarington Park | T. Jones | |
| Source: |||||||||

## Third round

The draw for the third round was made at St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry on 11 February and shown live on the BBC Sport website. The draw was made by Coventry born athletes Kare Adenegan and David Moorcroft. During the draw ball number six (Haydock) was announced wrongly as number nine (Lock Lane) and vice versa. The RFL later confirmed that the draw would be as the balls drawn and not as they were announced.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Doncaster | 38–16 | Coventry Bears | 8 March 2019, 19:45 | Keepmoat Stadium | N. Bennett | 381 |
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | 30–24 | Rochdale Mayfield | 9 March 2019, 14:00 | Close Street | P. Marklove | 350 (est) |
| Wigan St Judes | 4–24 | Lock Lane | 9 March 2019, 14:00 | Keats Avenue | C. Smith | 300 (est) |
| York Acorn | 10–20 | Featherstone Lions | 9 March 2019, 14:00 | Thanet Road | J. Stearne | 385 |
| Newcastle Thunder | 48–0 | West Wales Raiders | 9 March 2019, 14:30 | Kingston Park | L. Staveley | 329 |
| Hunslet | 56–10 | West Bowling | 9 March 2019, 15:00 | South Leeds Stadium | M. Smaill | 399 |
| London Skolars | 18–31 | North Wales Crusaders | 10 March 2019, 14:00 | New River Stadium | B. Pearson | 170 |
| West Hull | 26–10 | Dewsbury Moor | 10 March 2019, 14:30 | West Hull Community Park | A. Sweet | 92 |
| Keighley Cougars | 28–14 | Distington | 10 March 2019, 15:00 | Cougar Park | S. Race | 508 |
| Oldham | 80–10 | Haydock | 10 March 2019, 15:00 | Vestacare Stadium | A. Moore | 508 |
| Whitehaven | 74–4 | Wigan St Patricks | 10 March 2019, 15:00 | Recreation Ground | C. Worsley | 464 |
| Workington Town | 22–0 | Siddal | 17 March 2019, 15:00 | Derwent Park | B. Pearson | 355 |
| Source: |||||||||

## Fourth round

The draw for the fourth round was made at Odsal Stadium, home of the Bradford Bulls on 12 March and shown live on the BBC Sport website. The draw was made by former Bradford player Robbie Hunter-Paul and Simon Foster, son of former player Trevor Foster.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Featherstone Rovers | 38–14 | Swinton Lions | 30 March 2019, 14:00 | LD Nutrition Stadium | L. Moore | 691 |
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | 16–14 | North Wales Crusaders | 30 March 2019, 14:30 | Crusader Park | J. McMullen | 737 |
| Featherstone Lions | 6–46 | Doncaster | 31 March 2019, 14:00 | LD Nutrition Stadium | A. Sweet | not recorded |
| Keighley Cougars | 12–14 | Bradford Bulls | 31 March 2019, 14:45 | Cougar Park | M. Griffiths | 1,881 |
| Barrow Raiders | 16–32 | York City Knights | 31 March 2019, 15:00 | Craven Park | G. Hewer | 898 |
| Batley Bulldogs | 62–6 | Lock Lane | 31 March 2019, 15:00 | The Fox's Biscuit Stadium | N. Bennett | 501 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 32–6 | West Hull | 31 March 2019, 15:00 | Tetley's Stadium | C. Worsley | 366 |
| Hunslet | 24–28 | Halifax | 31 March 2019, 15:00 | South Leeds Stadium | B. Pearson | 731 |
| Oldham | 14–54 | Widnes Vikings | 31 March 2019, 15:00 | Bower Fold | J. Smith | 1,247 |
| Sheffield Eagles | 12–34 | Leigh Centurions | 31 March 2019, 15:00 | Olympic Legacy Park | G. Dolan | 596 |
| Whitehaven | 21–22 | Rochdale Hornets | 31 March 2019, 15:00 | Recreation Ground | M. Rossleigh | 889 |
| Workington Town | 21–20 | Newcastle Thunder | 31 March 2019, 15:00 | Derwent Park | T. Crashley | 590 |
| Source: |||||||

## Fifth round

The fifth round ties were drawn on 1 April and shown live on BBC Sport. The home teams were drawn by Linzi Prescott (widow of Steve Prescott) and the away teams by Martin Offiah. Ties will be played over the weekend of 11–14 April.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Halifax | 24–16 | London Broncos | 11 April 2019, 19:30 | The Shay | T. Grant | 722 |
| Hull Kingston Rovers | 14–10 | Leigh Centurions | 11 April 2019, 19:30 | KCOM Craven Park | L. Moore | 2,188 |
| Leeds Rhinos | 78–6 | Workington Town | 12 April 2019, 19:45 | Emerald Headingley | M. Griffiths | 4,197 |
| Salford Red Devils | 76–6 | Rochdale Hornets | 12 April 2019, 19:45 | AJ Bell Stadium | G. Dolan | 1,101 |
| Widnes Vikings | 44–12 | York City Knights | 13 April 2019, 19:30 | Select Security Stadium | J. Smith | 2,229 |
| Bradford Bulls | 27–26 | Featherstone Rovers | 14 April 2019, 15:00 | Odsal Stadium | M.Rossleigh | 1,691 |
| Doncaster | 16–12 | Batley Bulldogs | 14 April 2019, 15:00 | Keepmoat Stadium | B. Pearson | 539 |
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | 10–36 | Dewsbury Rams | 14 April 2019, 15:00 | Crusader Park | C. Worsley | 1,000 (est) |
| Source: |||||||||

## Sixth round

The draw for the sixth round was made on 15 April 2019. Originally planned to be shown live on the BBC News Channel, the coverage was displaced due to ongoing coverage of the Notre-Dame de Paris fire and instead was restricted to live streaming on the BBC Sport website. The home teams were drawn by Paul Sculthorpe and the away teams by Jon Wilkin. Ties will be played over the weekend of 10–12 May.
Broadcasts of matches changed from on-line only to mainstream TV at this stage, with BBC and Sky Sports each televising two ties. BBC One will show the first competitive meeting of West Yorkshire rivals Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos on Saturday 11 May. On Sunday 12 May, BBC One will show the repeat of the 2018 Super League Grand Final between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves. Sky Sports will show two all-Super League ties; Hull F.C. v Castleford Tigers on Friday 10 May, and Huddersfield Giants v St. Helens on Sunday 12 May.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Hull F.C. | 28–12 | Castleford Tigers | 10 May 2019, 19:35 | KCOM Stadium | Robert Hicks | 6,230 |
| Wakefield Trinity | 26–6 | Widnes Vikings | 10 May 2019, 19:45 | The Mobile Rocket Stadium | Gareth Hewer | 3,055 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 6–34 | Halifax | 10 May 2019, 20:00 | Tetley's Stadium | Mark Griffiths | 1,207 |
| Salford Red Devils | 18–32 | Hull KR | 11 May 2019, 14:00 | AJ Bell Stadium | Chris Kendall | 1,842 |
| Bradford Bulls | 24–22 | Leeds Rhinos | 11 May 2019, 14:30 | Odsal Stadium | Ben Thaler | 10,258 |
| Catalans Dragons | 62–6 | Doncaster | 11 May 2019, 15:00 | Stade Gilbert Brutus | Liam Moore | 3,466 |
| Warrington Wolves | 26–24 | Wigan Warriors | 12 May 2019, 14:15 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | James Child | 7,086 |
| Huddersfield Giants | 16–22 | St. Helens | 12 May 2019, 18:05 | John Smiths Stadium | Scott Mikalauskus | 3,533 |
| Source: |||||||||

## Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter finals was made on 12 May live on BBC1, directly after the televised sixth-round tie between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves, with Ellery Hanley and Jonathan Davies conducting the draw. The ties will be played 30 May – 2 June.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Hull F.C. | 51–8 | Catalans Dragons | 30 May 2019, 19:35 | KCOM Stadium | Ben Thaler | 4,832 |
| Hull KR | 22–28 | Warrington Wolves | 31 May 2019, 19:35 | KCOM Craven Park | Robert Hicks | 3,311 |
| St. Helens | 48–10 | Wakefield Trinity | 1 June 2019, 15:15 | Totally Wicked Stadium | Chris Kendall | 6,453 |
| Bradford Bulls | 16–20 | Halifax | 2 June 2019, 14:45 | Odsal Stadium | Scott Mikalauskus | 6,591 |
| Source: |||||||||

## Semi-finals

| Team A | Score | Team B | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Team A | Score | Team B | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Warrington Wolves | 22–14 | Hull F.C. | 27 July 2019, 14:00 | University of Bolton Stadium | Robert Hicks | 24,364 |
| St Helens | 26–2 | Halifax | 27 July 2019, 16:30 | University of Bolton Stadium | Chris Kendall | 24,364 |
| Source: |||||||||

## Final

| Team A | Score | Team B | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Team A | Score | Team B | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Warrington Wolves | 18–4 | St Helens | 24 August 2019 15:00 (UTC+1) | Wembley Stadium | Robert Hicks | 62,717 |

### Teams

| Warrington Wolves | Position | St Helens |
| 1 Stefan Ratchford | Fullback | 23 Lachlan Coote |
| 2 Tom Lineham | Wing | 2 Tommy Makinson |
| 3 Bryson Goodwin | Centre | 3 Kevin Naiqama |
| 18 Toby King | Centre | 4 Mark Percival |
| 5 Josh Charnley | Wing | 5 Regan Grace |
| 11 Ben Currie | Stand-off | 1 Jonny Lomax |
| 15 Declan Patton | Scrum-half | 6 Theo Fages |
| 8 Chris Hill | Prop | 8 Alex Walmsley |
| 9 Daryl Clark | Hooker | 9 James Roby |
| 10 Mike Cooper | Prop | 10 Luke Thompson |
| 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila | Second-row | 11 Zeb Taia |
| 12 Jack Hughes | Second-row | 17 Dominique Peyroux |
| 14 Jason Clark | Loose forward | 15 Morgan Knowles |
| 19 Sitaleki Akauola | interchange | 13 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook |
| 17 Joe Philbin | interchange | 16 Kyle Amor |
| 23 Matthew Davis | interchange | 20 Jack Ashworth |
| 22 Jake Mamo | interchange | 12 Joseph Paulo |
| Steve Price | Coach | Justin Holbrook |

## Broadcasts

The primary broadcast organisation for the competition was BBC Sport. As in 2018 the BBC streamed one tie from each of the first five rounds live on the BBC Sport website with two games from the 6th, 7th, 8th rounds and the final being broadcast live on BBC TV.
| Round | Match | Date | Broadcast method |
| 1st | Orrell St James v Underbank Rangers | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | streamed live on OurLeague |
| 1st | Royal Navy v West Hull | 26 January 2019, 14:00 | streamed live on British Forces Broadcasting |
| 1st | Millom v Red Star Belgrade | 27 January 2019, 13:30 | streamed live on BBC Sport |
| 2nd | Milford v Lock Lane | 9 February 2019, 14:00 | streamed live on BBC Sport |
| 2nd | Wigan St Patricks v British Police | 10 February 2019, 14:30 | streamed live on OurLeague |
| 3rd | Thatto Heath Crusaders v Rochdale Mayfield | 9 March 2019, 14:00 | streamed live on BBC Sport |
| 3rd | Oldham v Haydock | 10 March 2019, 15:00 | streamed live on OurLeague |
| 4th | Thatto Heath Crusaders v North Wales Crusaders | 30 March 2019, 14:30 | streamed live on OurLeague |
| 4th | Keighley Cougars v Bradford Bulls | 31 March 2019, 14:45 | streamed live on BBC Sport and BBC Red Button |
| 5th | Thatto Heath Crusaders v Dewsbury Rams | 14 April 2019, 15:00 | streamed live on BBC Sport |
| 6th | Hull FC v Castleford Tigers | 10 May 2019, 19:35 | live Sky Sports |
| 6th | Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos | 11 May 2019, 14:30 | live BBC One |
| 6th | Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors | 12 May 2019, 14:15 | live BBC One |
| 6th | Huddersfield Giants v St Helens | 12 May 2019, 18:05 | live Sky Sports |
| QF | Hull FC v Catalans Dragons | 30 May 2019, 19:35 | live Sky Sports |
| QF | Hull KR v Warrington Wolves | 31 May 2019, 19:35 | live Sky Sports |
| QF | St Helens v Wakefield Trinity | 1 June 2019, 15:15 | live BBC One |
| QF | Bradford Bulls v Halifax | 2 June 2019, 14:45 | live BBC Two |
| SF | Warrington Wolves v Hull FC | 27 July 2019, 14:00 | live BBC One |
| SF | St Helens v Halifax | 27 July 2019, 16:30 | live BBC Two |
| F | Warrington Wolves v St Helens | 24 August 2019, 15:00 | Live BBC One |