Wheelchair Challenge Cup

Wheelchair rugby league competition From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Wheelchair Challenge Cup is a wheelchair rugby league competition organised by the Rugby Football League.

SportWheelchair rugby league
Instituted2015[1]
Inaugural season2015
Country England
 France
 Scotland
 Wales
Quick facts Sport, Instituted ...
Wheelchair Challenge Cup
The women's, men's, and wheelchair Challenge Cup trophies
SportWheelchair rugby league
Instituted2015[1]
Inaugural season2015
Country England
 France
 Scotland
 Wales
Winners Halifax Panthers (2025)
Most titles Halifax Panthers (5 titles)
Broadcast partnerBBC Red Button
(final only)
Related competitionRFL Wheelchair Super League
Close

History

The Wheelchair Challenge Cup was established in 2015.[1] Originally the tournament was played using a knockout format. Halifax defeated Medway Dragons 120–40 in the opening round of the 2015 competition[2] and went on to win the final against Mersey Storm[3][4] before completing the double by winning the league championship.[5] Another double followed for Halifax in 2016 which included a 92–48 win over Leeds Rhinos in the cup final. Leeds had scored over 100 points their previous two rounds but faced a Halifax side who had not lost a match since June 2015.[6][7] Halifax repeated the double again in the 2017 season with a 110–48 cup final win over Leeds that included 15 tries by Jack Brown.[8] Other notable matches included a 160–0 win for Leeds over Argonauts in the opening round and the first all-Scottish match in the competition between Dundee Dragons and Glasgow Panthers in the quarter-finals.[9]

In 2018, a plate competition was introduced which was intended to reduce the number of one-sided fixtures being played. The two plate finalists qualified for the quarter-finals of the cup though the finals of both competitions were played on the same day.[10] Hereford Harriers defeated North Wales Crusaders for the plate and Halifax won the cup competition for the fourth time by defeating Dundee Dragons 62–18 in the final.[11] In 2019, the plate was replaced by Challenge Trophy played as a separate competition for teams outside of the Super League. Leeds Rhinos won 74–46 against Argonauts to win the cup for the first time.[12]

In the draw for the 2020 cup, which contained only six teams, two were given byes to the semi-final,[13] but following the cancellation of the 2020 competition a new format was introduced in 2021 with the teams playing in a round-robin tournament.[14] The top two teams qualified for the final which was a repeat of the 2019 final with Leeds retaining the title with a 60–26 victory.[15] The following year it was the top four from the round-robin stage that qualified for the semi-finals. French team, Catalans Dragons, made their début in the competition, but lost in the final to Leeds who claimed the cup for the third time.[16][17] The 2023 competition saw the top two teams advance to the final. Catalans and Leeds were both unbeaten in the qualifiers and drew 4–4 against each other to set up a rematch in the final which Catalans won 66–20 to add the Challenge Cup to their French Championship and Coupe de France titles.[18][19][20]

From 2024, the Challenge Cup reverted to a straight knockout format, like the running game, for the five Super League sides, Catalans Dragons, and the Challenge Trophy finalists.[21][22] Hereford Harriers and Edinburgh Giants, who qualified through the Challenge Trophy, were both knocked out in the quarter-finals.[23] Catalans Dragons retained the title with an 81–18 win over Wigan Warriors in the final.[24] In 2025, the invitation for Catalans Dragons to take part was withdrawn by the Rugby Football League due to a dispute with the French Federation over international fixtures between England and France.[25]

Results

2015

Round OneQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
Halifax 120
Medway Dragons 40
Halifax W
Halifax W
Leyland Warriors
Leyland Warriors 120
Gravesend Dynamite 22 Halifax W
Mersey Storm
Mersey Storm W
Leeds Rhinos

Sources:[a][2][3][4][26]

2016

Round 1 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Halifax 24
Gravesend Dynamite 102 Gravesend Dynamite 0
Hereford Harriers 32 Halifax 84
Bradford Bulls 35
Hull F.C. 52
Bradford Bulls 72 Bradford Bulls 62
Dundee Dragons 34 Halifax 92
Leeds Rhinos 48
Leeds Rhinos 144
Glasgow Panthers 66 Glasgow Panthers 4
Keighley Cougars 18 Leeds Rhinos 104
Medway Dragons 48
Medway Dragons 48
Folkestone Spitfires 124 Folkestone Spitfires 26
Dartford Vipers 4

Sources:[27][3][28][29]

2017

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Leyland Warriors 28
 
 
 
 Halifax 58
 
 Halifax 72
 
 
 
 Dundee Dragons 12
 
 Dundee Dragons 58
 
 
 
 Glasgow Panthers 28
 
 Halifax 18
 
 
 
 Leeds Rhinos 62
 
 Leeds Rhinos 96
 
 
 
 Mersey Storm 40
 
 Leeds Rhinos 84
 
 
 
 Medway Dragons 66
 
 Medway Dragons 46
 
 
 North Wales Crusaders 36
 

Sources:[b][8][30][31]

2018

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 Dundee Dragons 46
 
 
 
 Medway Dragons 10
 
 Dundee Dragons 24
 
 
 
 St Helens 0
 
 Hereford Harriers 42
 
 
 
 St Helens 44
 
 Dundee Dragons 18
 
 
 
 Halifax 62
 
 Leyland Warriors 24
 
 
 
 Halifax 92
 
 Halifax 68
 
 
 
 Leeds Rhinos 42
 
 Argonauts
 
 
 Leeds Rhinos
 

Sources:[c][d][10][11][33][34][35][36]

2019

 
Round OneSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 30 June
 
 
 Argonauts 104
 
 21 July
 
 St Helens 4
 
 Argonauts 78
 
 30 June
 
 North Wales Crusaders 27
 
 North Wales Crusaders 64
 
 17 August
 
 Hereford Harriers 51
 
 Leeds Rhinos 74
 
 
 Argonauts 46
 
 
 30 June
 
 
 Leeds Rhinos 62
 
 
 Halifax 48
 
 
 
 

source:[37][38][39]

2021

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts LEE ARG HAL LEY HUL NWC
1 Leeds Rhinos 5 5 0 0 124 24 +100 10 16–6 20–12 24–0 30–6 34–0
2 Argonauts 5 3 1 1 84 52 +32 7 6–6 22–6 24–12 26–12
3 Halifax Panthers 5 3 1 1 76 58 +18 7 8–6 24–12 26–14
4 Leyland Warriors 5 1 1 3 57 88 −31 3 16–16 29–18
5 Hull F.C. 5 1 1 3 58 104 −46 3 12–10
6 North Wales Crusaders 5 0 0 5 54 127 −73 0
Close
Source: [14]
Final
   
1 Leeds Rhinos 60
2 Argonauts 26

2022

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts LEE CAT WIG HAL LON HUL WAR
1 Leeds Rhinos 6 6 0 0 100 12 +88 12 8–0 8–6 24–6 20–0 18–0 22–0
2 Catalans Dragons 6 5 0 1 162 16 +146 10 20–4 42–0 30–4 30–0 40–0
3 Wigan Warriors 6 4 0 2 97 42 +55 8 11–2 10–6 36–6 30–0
4 Halifax Panthers 6 3 0 3 72 83 −11 6 10–6 36–0 18–0
5 London Roosters 6 2 0 4 46 80 −34 4 10–6 20–4
6 Hull F.C. 6 1 0 5 30 134 −104 2 18–4
7 Warrington Wolves 6 0 0 6 8 148 −140 0
Close
Source: [16]
Semi-finals Final
      
1 Leeds Rhinos 36
4 Halifax Panthers 6
Leeds Rhinos 48
Catalans Dragons 34
2 Catalans Dragons 30
3 Wigan Warriors 6

2023

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L Pts CAT LEE HUL HAL LON WAR WIG
1 Catalans Dragons 6 5 1 0 11 4–4 16–0 1–0
2 Leeds Rhinos 6 5 1 0 11 12–4
3 Hull F.C. 6 4 0 2 8 8–4 8–4 12–2 16–0
4 Halifax Panthers 6 — — 3+ —
5 London Roosters 6 — — 3+ —
6 Warrington Wolves 6 — — 3+ —
7 Wigan Warriors 6 — — 3+ —
Close
Source: [20][e]
Final
   
1 Catalans Dragons 66
2 Leeds Rhinos 20

2024

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 27 April
 
 
 Leeds Rhinos 86
 
 18 May
 
 Hereford Harriers 12
 
 Leeds Rhinos 30
 
 27 April
 
 Wigan Warriors 48
 
 Wigan Warriors 70
 
 1 June
 
 Halifax Panthers 32
 
 Wigan Warriors 18
 
 4 May
 
 Catalans Dragons 81
 
 London Roosters 108
 
 18 May
 
 Edinburgh Giants 4
 
 London Roosters 12
 
 11 May
 
 Catalans Dragons 74
 
 Hull FC 6
 
 
 Catalans Dragons 78
 

Source:[39][23][40][41][42][43][24]

2025

The 2025 competition was competed for by eight teams. It was originally scheduled to have nine teams participating but the invitation to French team, Catalans Dragons, was withdrawn by the RFL due to a dispute between the RFL and the French governing body, the FFR, over international matches before the England wheelchair team tour Australia at the end of 2025.[44]

Qualifying roundQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
Wigan Warriors46
London Roosters56
London Roosters30
Leeds Rhinos28
Hull FC44
Leeds Rhinos48
London Roosters24
Halifax Panthers46
Sheffield Eagles144
Warrington Wolves20
Sheffield Eagles78
Edinburgh Giants44
Edinburgh Giants
Bye
Sheffield Eagles18
Halifax Panthers100
Halifax Panthersw/o
Catalans Dragons[f]

Source:[45][46][47][48]

2025 Wheelchair Challenge Cup final
14 June 2025
14:00 BST (UTC+01:00)
More information Halifax Panthers, 46–24 ...
Halifax Panthers 46–24 London Roosters
Tries: Brown, Hawkins (2), Boardman, Calcott, O'Neill, Holt, Martin
Goals: Hawkins (7/9)
 1st: 30–16
2nd: 16–8
Report
 Tries: Coyd (2), King, Billington (2)
Goals: Coyd (2/5)
Close
Robin Park Arena, Wigan
Referees: M. Ball, R. Whiteley
Touch judges: O. Cruickshank, D. Butler
Player of the Match: Jack Brown (Halifax)
More information Halifax Panthers, Position ...
Team details
Halifax PanthersPositionLondon Roosters
NameNumberNumberName
Wayne Boardman1
Starter
5Lewis King
Rob Hawkins2
Starter
3Joe Coyd
Jack Brown11
Starter
1Mason Billington
Nathan Holmes6
Starter
6Matt Wass
Finlay O'Neill14
Starter
7Jack Linden
Joe Calcott5
Interchange
12Freya Levy
Jordan Holt8
Interchange
4Jason Owen
Tom Martin37
Interchange
11Casper Wass
Nathaniel Wright (not used)12
CS
18Jake Sawyer (not used)
Wayne Boardman
Coach
Tom Coyd
Close

2026

The 2026 competition will be competed for by sixteen teams using a straight knockout format. The draw was seeded to keep the Super League teams apart in the first round.[49]

First roundQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
Halifax Panthers99
Batley Bulldogs18
Halifax Panthers97
Hull FC58
Hull FC80
Gravesend Dynamite16
Halifax Panthers
London Roosters
London Roosters88
Wakefield Trinity20
London Roosters74
Sheffield Eagles22
Sheffield Eagles76
Midlands Hurricanes32
Castleford Tigers28
Bradford Bulls31
Bradford Bulls6
Wigan Warriors138
North Wales Crusaders13
Wigan Warriors64
Wigan Warriors
Leeds Rhinos
Rochdale Hornets10
Edinburgh Giants66
Edinburgh Giants6
Leeds Rhinos96
York Knights10
Leeds Rhinos182

Source:[50][51][52][53]

Finals

More information Year, Winning team ...
List of finals
Year Winning team Score Losing team Venue Ref.
2015 Halifax ?–? Mersey Storm unknown [3][4]
2016 Halifax 92–48 Leeds Rhinos Huddersfield Sports Centre [27][54]
2017 Halifax 110–48 Leeds Rhinos [8]
2018 Halifax 62–18 Dundee Dragons Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Bradford [11]
2019 Leeds Rhinos 74–46 Argonauts English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [12]
2020 Tournament cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Leeds Rhinos 60–26 Argonauts English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [15]
2022 Leeds Rhinos 48–34 Catalans Dragons Allam Arena, Hull [17][55]
2023 Catalans Dragons 66–20 Leeds Rhinos English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [19]
2024 Catalans Dragons 81–18 Wigan Warriors [24]
2025 Halifax Panthers 46–24 London Roosters Robin Park Arena, Wigan [56]
Close

Results by club

More information Team, Winners ...
Team Winners Runners-up
Halifax Panthers 50
Leeds Rhinos 33
Catalans Dragons 21
Argonauts 02
Dundee Dragons 01
London Roosters 01
Mersey Storm 01
Wigan Warriors 01
Close

Challenge Trophy

In 2018, the Rugby Football League introduced a Plate competition as part of the Challenge Cup.[10] It was planned to continue in 2019,[57] but was instead replaced by the inaugural Wheelchair Challenge Trophy.[58] The Challenge Trophy is played alongside the Challenge Cup, for teams outside the Super League. This was originally played as a separate competition,[59] but in 2024 it was announced that the two finalists would qualify to take part in the Challenge Cup.[22]

More information Year, Winning team ...
List of finals
Year Winning team Score Losing team Venue Ref.
2018 Hereford Harriers 63–32 North Wales Crusaders[c] Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Bradford [11]
2019 Gravesend Dynamite 75–48 Hull FC English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [37]
2020 Tournament cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Gravesend Dynamite 19–12 Warrington Wolves Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, Warrigton
2022 Gravesend Dynamite 82–40 Mersey Storm Allam Arena, Hull [60]
2023 Gravesend Dynamite 88–8 Sheffield Eagles English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [61]
2024 Hereford Harriers 17–16 Edinburgh Giants National Basketball Performance Centre, Manchester [62][63]
2025 Castleford Tigers 4–0 North Wales Crusaders University of York, York [64]
Close

Results by club

More information Team, Winners ...
Team Winners Runners-up
Gravesend Dynamite 40
Hereford Harriers 20
Castleford Tigers 10
North Wales Crusaders 02
Edinburgh Giants 01
Hull 01
Mersey Storm 01
Sheffield Eagles 01
Warrington Wolves 01
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Bracket is based on known results and is therefore incomplete
  2. [b]
    Bracket is shown from the quarter-finals stage as reports giving round one results appear incomplete, but known results included: Dundee Dragons 86–4 Keighley Cougars, Leeds Rhinos 160–0 Argonauts, and Glasgow received a bye[9]
  3. [c]
    Dundee and Hereford qualified for the cup by reaching the final of the plate competition and because Dundee reached the final of the cup their place in the plate final was taken by North Wales Crusaders[32]
  4. [d]
    Dundee were awarded a 24-0 win in the semi-final as St Helens forfeited the match
  5. [e]
    Catalans and Leeds were joint top and Hull finished third, other teams are listed alphabetically as results given in the report are incomplete
  6. [f]
    The invitation for Catalans Dragons to participate was withdrawn due to a dispute between the RFL and the FFR[44]

References

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