2020 Challenge Cup

British rugby league knockout tournament From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2020 Challenge Cup, known as the Coral Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 119th 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.

Quick Facts Duration, Number of teams ...
2020 Challenge Cup
Duration9 Rounds
Number of teams80
Highest attendance3,112[a] Wakefield Trinity v Bradford Bulls
5th round (13 March 2020)
Lowest attendance50 West Wales Raiders v Underbank Rangers
3rd round (9 February 2020)
Aggregate attendance12,784[a]
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport
Sky Sports
Fox League
WinnersLeeds Rhinos
Runners-upSalford Red Devils
Biggest home winBarrow Island 84–6 Rhondda Outlaws
(1st round) 11 January 2020)
Biggest away winRochdale Mayfield 6–64 North Wales Crusaders
3rd round (8 February 2020)
Lance Todd Trophy Richie Myler (Leeds Rhinos)
Top point-scorer(s)44, Sam Freeman[1]
Rochdale Hornets (2 tries, 18 goals)
Top try-scorer(s)6, Mike Butt[1]
Swinton Lions
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The competition was won by Leeds Rhinos who beat Salford Red Devils 17–16 at Wembley Stadium on 17 October 2020.[2]

Defending champions Warrington Wolves who won the 2019 title beating St Helens 18–4 at Wembley Stadium on 24 August 2019 were knocked out by Salford in the semi-finals.[3][4]

The format of the competition remained as eight knock-out rounds followed by the final but the schedule was placed into disarray by the COVID-19 pandemic. The final was scheduled to be played on 18 July instead of the August bank holiday weekend. However on 16 March all rugby league games were suspended indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[5] The suspension was followed, on 19 May 2020, with confirmation from the Rugby Football League (RFL) of the postponement of the Challenge Cup Final, which had been scheduled for 18 July at Wembley Stadium.[6] The competition did not resume until 22 August with the final to be played on Saturday 17 October.[7]

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 2020, after also declining to play in previous years.[8] Canadian side Toronto Wolfpack rejoined the competition after declining to play in the 2019 competition and by agreement would play all their matches in away from home.[9] Serbian club, Red Star who played in 2019 declined an invitation to enter in 2020 due to the demands the trip to England made on their players.[8]

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

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On 16 March 2020, the RFL announced that all rugby league games had been suspended initially, until at least April, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] However, on 24 March, rugby league clubs held a board meeting via conference call, attended in part by senior officials of the Rugby Football League, for further discussion of how to respond to the current public health crisis. It was agreed that until further notice, all rugby league fixtures would be suspended indefinitely.[11]

The competition recommenced with the rescheduling of the sixth round on 22 August, after the RFL announced that rugby league could return from 2 August but with all games to be played behind closed doors.[7] The pandemic caused Toronto Wolfpack to withdraw from the competition on 20 July,[12] and just over a week later, on 28 July, the remaining Championship and League 1 clubs also withdrew from the competition.[13] These withdrawals caused the RFL to reconsider the structure of the competition as only 10 Super League clubs remained in the competition. The decision was made to redraw and restructure the sixth round to comprise just two fixtures with only four teams, with the remaining six teams automatically receiving byes to the quarter-finals.[14]

The suspension of the competition also raised some uncertainty about the availability of Wembley as the venue for the final and it was not until 22 September that Wembley was re-confirmed as the venue for the final of the competition.[15] It was hoped that spectators would be allowed into the final but on 28 September, the RFL confirmed that due to new COVID-19 restrictions being announced that the game will be played behind closed doors for the first time in the history of the competition.[16]

Round details

More information Round, Date ...
RoundDateRevised datesClubs involved this roundWinners from previous roundNew entries this roundLeagues entering at this round
Round 111–12 January4444
  • 37 English amateur clubs
  • One Scottish, one Irish and two Welsh clubs
  • Three Armed Forces teams
  • British Police
Round 225–26 January2222
Round 38–9 February221111
Round 422–23 February241113
Round 514–15 March16124
Round 64–5 April22–23 August16 planned
4 actual
8 planned
0 actual
8 planned
4 actual
  • 2019 Super League top 8 as originally scheduled
  • four Super League teams drawn at random
Quarter-finals9–10 May19–20 September880 planned
6 actual
Semi-finals6–7 June3 October44
Final18 July17 October22
Source:[8]
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First round

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The draw for the first round was made at the home of community club Bentley, near Doncaster.[17] Ties were played over the weekend of 11–12 January 2020.

More information Home, Score ...
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance[b]
Skirlaugh 8–6 Hunslet Club Parkside 11 January 2020, 12:30pm Eastside Community Sports Trust
Barrow Island 84–6 Rhondda Outlaws 11 January 2020, 1:30pm Barrow Island Rugby Club
Thornhill Trojans 22–16 Thatto Heath Crusaders Thornhill Sports and Community Centre
Underbank Rangers 22–10 Lock Lane Lock Lane Sports Centre
Distington 50–10 Bedford Tigers 11 January 2020, 2:00pm Distington Community Sports Club
Edinburgh Eagles 10–58 Ashton Bears Royal High Rugby Club
Featherstone Lions 12–24 West Bowling Featherstone Lions ARLFC
Ince Rose Bridge 50–10 East Hull Ince Rosebridge Sports and Community Club
Milford 47–12 Wigan St Judes Milford Sports Club
Pilkingtons Recs 18–28 West Hull Ruskin Park Health and Leisure Centre
Rochdale Mayfield 32–12 London Chargers Mayfield Sports Centre
Siddal 38–0 Saddleworth Rangers Siddal ARLFC
Upton 30–4 Jarrow Vikings Quarry Lane
West Bank Bears 26–24 Royal Navy Ted Gleave Sports Ground
Wigan St Patricks 30–14 Dewsbury Moor Clarington Park
York Acorn 36–14 Hammersmith Hills Hoists Acorn Sports and Social Club
British Army 26–10 Oulton Raiders 11 January 2020, 2:30pm Army Rugby Stadium
Leigh Miners Rangers 28–26 Stanningley Leigh Miners Welfare Institute
Normanton Knights 30–24 Longhorns 12 January 2020, 1:30pm Normanton Amateur Rugby Club
RAF 10–18 Bentley RAF Cranwell
Sherwood Wolf Hunt 26–24 Wests Warriors Debdale Sports & Recreational Club
GB Police 66–0 Torfaen Tigers 12 January 2020, 2:00pm Mayfield Sports Centre
Source:[18]
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Second round

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The draw for the 2nd round was made at the studios of BBC Radio Leeds and broadcast live on air.[19] Ties were played over the weekend of 25–26 January 2020.

More information Home, Score ...
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance[b]
Wigan St Patricks 10–30 West Hull 25 January 2020, 12:30pm Clarington Park
Thornhill Trojans 58–14 Normanton Knights 25 January 2020, 1:30pm Thornhill Sports & Community Club
York Acorn 34–14 Barrow Island 25 January 2020, 1:30pm Acorn Sports & Social Club
British Army 17–16 Skirlaugh 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Army Rugby Stadium
GB Police 18–19 Rochdale Mayfield 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Mayfield Sports Club
Milford 12–19 Ince Rose Bridge 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Milford Sports Club
Siddal 62–4 Ashton Bears 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Siddal ARLFC
Underbank Rangers 28–14 Distington 25 January 2020, 2:00pm The Cross Grounds
West Bank Bears 18–20 Bentley 25 January 2020, 2:00pm Ted Gleave Sports Ground
Leigh Miners Rangers 26–6 Upton 25 January 2020, 2:30pm Leigh Miners Welfare Institute
Sherwood Wolf Hunt 6–38 West Bowling 26 January 2020, 1:30pm Debdale Sports & Recreational Club
Source:[20]
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Third round

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The draw for the third round was made live from Rochdale Hornets Crown Oil Arena.[21] Ties were played on the weekend of the 8–9 February 2020. Several matches scheduled for 9 February were postponed due to the adverse weather caused by Storm Ciara and played the following weekend.[22]

More information Home, Score ...
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Rochdale Mayfield 6–64 North Wales Crusaders 8 February 2020, 12:30pm Mayfield Sports Centre S. Race 229
Siddal 10–6 West Hull 8 February 2020, 2:00pm Exley Lane J. Stearne 450
Thornhill Trojans 20–24 Doncaster RLFC 8 February 2020, 2:00pm Tetley's Stadium A. Sweet Not recorded
British Army 34–22 Ince Rose Bridge 8 February 2020, 2:15pm Aldershot Military Stadium N. Bennett 100
Leigh Miners Rangers 20–4 Bentley 8 February 2020, 2:30pm Twist Lane M. Smail 376
West Wales Raiders 8–30 Underbank Rangers 9 February 2020, 2:00pm Stebonheath Park J. Jones 50
Hunslet RLFC 36–4 Coventry Bears 9 February 2020, 3:00pm South Leeds Stadium C. Worsley 225
Keighley Cougars 12–16 Newcastle Thunder 15 February 2020, 2:00pm[c] Cougar Park L. Staveley 402
Workington Town 28–22 West Bowling 16 February 2020, 2:00pm[c] Derwent Park K. Moore 950
Barrow Raiders 38–18 London Skolars 16 February 2020, 3:00pm[c] Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium B. Milligan 769
Rochdale Hornets 54–10 York Acorn 16 February 2020, 3:00pm[c] AJ Bell Stadium[d] A. Sweet 200
Source:[24][25]
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Fourth round

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The draw for the fourth round was made live on BBC Sport, live from Halifax's MBI Shay Stadium. Ties were played over the weekend of 21–23 February 2020.

More information Home, Score ...
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Leigh Centurions 36–10 Batley Bulldogs 21 February 2020, 8:00pm Leigh Sports Village M. Rossleigh 1,586
Sheffield Eagles 20–18 Halifax RFC 22 February 2020, 2:00pm Mobile Rocket Stadium J. Vella 429
Siddal A.R.L.F.C. 10–30 Newcastle Thunder 22 February 2020, 2:00pm Siddal ARLFC N. Horton 450
Featherstone Rovers 18–16 Barrow Raiders 22 February 2020, 3:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium A. Moore 1,120
Swinton Lions 56–0 Leigh Miners Rangers 22 February 2020, 3:00pm Heywood Road K. Moore 622
Bradford Bulls 22–0 Underbank Rangers 23 February 2020, 1:00pm Tetley's Stadium C. Worsley 1,458
North Wales Crusaders 18–22 Hunslet RLFC 23 February 2020, 2:30pm Queensway Stadium B. Pearson 249
London Broncos 22–24 York City Knights 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Trailfinders Sports Ground T. Grant 543
Rochdale Hornets 54–10 British Army 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Crown Oil Arena J. McMullen 400
Whitehaven RLFC 16–22 Dewsbury Rams 11 March 2020, 7:00pm[e] Recreation Ground J Smith 427
Widnes Vikings 52–12 Oldham Roughyeds 23 February 2020, 3:00pm DCBL Stadium G. Hewer 1,564
Workington Town 22–12 Doncaster RLFC 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Derwent Park T. Crashley 612
Source:[27][28]
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Fifth round

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The draw for Round Five was streamed live on BBC Sport and Our League on Monday 24 February at 6.30pm live from Hull Kingston RoversHull College Craven Park. Rovers were one of four Super League clubs joining the competition at this stage, alongside Huddersfield Giants, Toronto Wolfpack and Wakefield Trinity. Ties were played over the weekend of 14–15 March 2020.[29]

More information Home, Score ...
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Toronto Wolfpack 18–0 Huddersfield Giants 11 March 2020, 7:45pm John Smith's Stadium[f] S Mikalauskas 1,488
Featherstone Rovers 46–6 Hunslet 13 March 2020, 7:30pm LD Nutrition Stadium A Moore 1,002
Wakefield Trinity 17–14 Bradford Bulls 13 March 2020, 7:45pm Mobile Rocket Stadium M Griffiths 3,112
Sheffield Eagles 34–18 Workington Town 15 March 2020, 2:00pm Keepmoat Stadium J Vella 323
Hull Kingston Rovers 22–19 Leigh Centurions 15 March 2020, 3:00pm Hull College Craven Park G Hewer 2,620
Newcastle Thunder 38–30 Dewsbury Rams 15 March 2020, 3:00pm Kingston Park B Pearson 689
Widnes Vikings 32–16 Swinton Lions 15 March 2020, 3:00pm DCBL Stadium T Grant 1,527
York City Knights 70–12 Rochdale Hornets 15 March 2020, 3:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium[g] J Smith 400
Source:[31]
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Sixth round

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The draw for the sixth round was made live from MediaCityUK in Salford on Monday 16 March 2020, and was streamed live on BBC Sport, and the Our League app from 6:00pm.[32] Originally scheduled to be made in New York, the draw was moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[33]

Defending champions Warrington were due to start the defence of their title at this stage, along with other Super League teams Castleford, Catalans, Hull FC, Leeds, Salford, St Helens and Wigan. Ties were scheduled to be played over the weekend of 4–5 April 2020, however due to the suspension of all rugby league games as part of the United Kingdom's response to the coronavirus pandemic meant that these dates were speculative and therefore rescheduled for a later date.[34] The fixtures drawn on 16 March were:[34]

  • Leeds Rhinos v Hull Kingston Rovers
  • Newcastle Thunder v Toronto Wolfpack
  • Salford Red Devils v St Helens
  • Sheffield Eagles v Hull F.C.
  • Wakefield Trinity v Featherstone Rovers
  • Widnes Vikings v Catalans Dragons
  • Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves
  • York City Knights v Castleford Tigers

On 17 July 2020, the RFL announced that the competition would resume on 22 August with a double header at the John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield involving the Warrington v Wigan and Salford v St Helens with both games shown live on BBC TV.[35] A few days later on 21 July Toronto Wolfpack announced that the club would be taking no further part in the Challenge Cup due to financial problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.[36]

The RFL had also decided to abandon the Championship and League 1 competitions and following Toronto's withdrawal a meeting was held on 27 July to consider the future of the cup competition. The following day, the five non-Super League teams left in the cup; Featherstone Rovers, Newcastle Thunder, Sheffield Eagles, York City Knights, and Widnes Vikings, all announced that they were withdrawing from the competition. In response to this, the RFL announced that the whole of the sixth round was to be redrawn, involving just the 10 Super League sides remaining in the competition. Four teams would play in the revised sixth round, with the six remaining teams not to receive a tie for this round automatically gaining a bye to the quarter-finals.[37]

The redraw for the sixth round and the draw for the quarter-finals was made on 29 July.[38] The two sixth round ties were due to be played as a double header at the John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield as previously announced, with both ties being televised live on the BBC.[37] During the week of 10 August, a number of Hull players and coaching staff tested positive for COVID-19, so the club's next fixtures, including the sixth round tie against Castleford were postponed.[39] The Castleford v Hull fixture was eventually played on 13 September.[40]

More information Home, Score ...
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Catalans Dragons 36–24 Wakefield Trinity 22 August 2020, 2:30pm John Smith's Stadium C Kendall
Castleford Tigers 16–29 Hull FC 13 September 2020, 3:00pm[h] Totally Wicked Stadium L Moore
Source:[41][40]
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Quarter-finals

More information Home, Score ...
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Catalans Dragons 18–22[i] Salford Red Devils 18 September 2020, 6:00pm Totally Wicked Stadium B Thaler
Leeds Rhinos 48–18 Hull KR 18 September 2020, 8:15pm L Moore
Warrington Wolves 20–18 St Helens 19 September 2020, 2:30pm AJ Bell Stadium C Kendall
Hull FC 4–36 Wigan Warriors 19 September 2020, 5:00pm R Hicks
Source:[43]
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Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made on 19 September with both games played at the Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens as a double-header on 3 October.[44] The draw was made live on BBC Two at the A J Bell stadium during the half-time interval of the last quarter-final match between Hull FC and Wigan.[45]

More information Team A, Score ...
Team A Score Team B Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Leeds Rhinos 26–12 Wigan Warriors 3 October 2020, 2:30pm Totally Wicked Stadium C Kendall
Salford Red Devils 24–22 Warrington Wolves 3 October 2020, 5:00pm L Moore
Source:[46][4]
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Final

More information Home, Score ...
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Leeds Rhinos 17–16 Salford Red Devils 17 October 2020, 3:00pm Wembley Stadium L Moore
Source:[47]
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Broadcast matches

More information Round, Match ...
Round Match Date Broadcast method
1st Skirlaugh v Hunslet Club Parkside 11 January 2020, 12:30pm Streamed live BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button[48]
RAF v Bentley 12 January 2020, 1:30pm Streamed live on Our League[48]
2nd Wigan St. Patricks v West Hull 25 January 2020, 12:30pm Streamed live BBC iplayer and BBC Red Button[49]
Sherwood Wolf Hunt v West Bowling 26 January 2020, 1:30pm Streamed live on Our League[49]
3rd Rochdale Mayfield v North Wales Crusaders 8 February 2020, 12:30pm Streamed live BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button[50]
British Army v Ince Rose Bridge 8 February 2020, 2:15pm streamed live on Our League[50]
Keighley Cougars v Newcastle Thunder 15 February 2020, 3:00pm Streamed live on Our League[23]
4th Bradford Bulls v Underbank Rangers 23 February 2020, 1:00pm Streamed live on BBC iPlayer[51]
London Broncos v York City Knights 23 February 2020, 3:00pm Streamed live on Our League[51]
5th Toronto Wolfpack v Huddersfield Giants 11 March 2020, 7:45pm Streamed live on Our League
6th Catalans Dragons v Wakefield Trinity 22 August 2020, 2:30pm Live on BBC One[39]
Castleford Tigers v Hull FC 13 September 2020, 3:00pm Live on BBC One[52]
QF Warrington Wolves v St Helens 19 September 2020, 2:30pm Live on BBC One[52]
Hull FC v Wigan Warriors 19 September 2020, 5:00pm Live on BBC Two[52]
SF Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors 3 October 2020, 2:00pm Live on BBC One[53]
Salford Red Devils v Warrington Wolves 3 October 2020, 5:00pm Live on BBC Two[53]
F Leeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils 17 October 2020, 3:00pm Live on BBC One[53]
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Notes

  1. All games from the sixth round onwards were played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions
  2. Attendances for games involving only community clubs are not recorded
  3. Match postponed on original date due to poor weather conditions caused by Storm Ciara[22]
  4. Match moved to Salford Red Devils' ground as the Crown Oil Arena was unplayable.[23]
  5. Match postponed on 23 February due to a waterlogged pitch.[26]
  6. Toronto were drawn as the home team but under their agreement with the RFL Toronto do not play cup games at home
  7. Bootham Crescent unavailable to York City Knights.[30]
  8. Match originally scheduled for 22 August, but postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests among the Hull squad.[39]
  9. After golden-point extra time. Scores tied at 18-all after 80 minutes[42]

References

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