Challenge Cup
The Rugby Football League Challenge Cup, commonly known just as the Challenge Cup is a knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, it is the world's oldest cup competition in either code of rugby. A concurrent Women's Challenge Cup and Wheelchair Challenge Cup have been held since 2012 and 2015 respectively.
| Current season or competition: 2024 Challenge Cup | |
The women's, men's, and wheelchair Challenge Cup trophies | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1896 |
| Inaugural season | 1896–97 |
| Number of teams | 71 (2023) |
| Country | England France Ireland Scotland Wales |
| Winners | Leigh Leopards (3rd title) (2024) |
| Most titles | Wigan Warriors (20 titles) |
| Website | Challenge Cup |
| Broadcast partner | BBC Fox League |
| Related competition | Super League Championship League One National Conference League |
The competition is open to all eligible clubs down to Tier 5. Some amateur clubs have to qualify to enter in Round One while others can apply through the RFL to enter.
The final is traditionally played at Wembley Stadium although it has been played at other venues Wembley is seen as the home of the competition. "Abide with Me", sung before the game, has become a rugby league anthem.
The current holders of the Challenge Cup are Leigh Leopards, winning the competition for the third time, beating Hull Kingston Rovers 17-16 in the 2023 Final on 12 August 2023 at Wembley Stadium. The 2023 final was also the first to feature the Women's Challenge Cup showpiece at Wembley on the same day.
Wigan are the most successful club in the history of the competition, winning the Cup a record 20 times.