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2025 Women's Challenge Cup

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2025 Women's Challenge Cup
DurationGroup stage plus three knockout rounds
Number of teams12
WinnersWigan Warriors
Runners-upSt Helens
Biggest home winSt Helens 102–0 Warrington Wolves
(12 April)
Biggest away winSheffield Eagles 0–104 Leeds Rhinos
(12 April)
Top point-scorer(s)Ruby Walker (Leeds Rhinos) (36)
Top try-scorer(s)Ebony Stead (Leeds Rhinos) (5)

The 2025 Women's Challenge Cup (sponsored as the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 13th staging of the Rugby Football League's cup competition for women's rugby league clubs.

Format

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The competition used a slightly different format from 2024. Although the group stage plus knockout rounds format was retained, the number of teams in the competition was reduced from 16 to 12.

The group stage saw four groups of three competing in a single round robin with the group matches played over three consecutive weekends in April 2025. The group winners and runners-up advanced to the knockout rounds. The quarter-finals were played on the last weekend in April. The semi-finals were double headers with the semi-finals of the men's tournament on the weekend of 10/11 May 2025, and the final was played at Wembley Stadium, London on 7 June 2025 alongside the finals of the men's competition and the 1895 Cup.

St Helens, winners in 2024, were seeded together with Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and York Valkyrie. These four, pool 2, were in different groups in the group stage. The other eight teams formed pool 1 with two being drawn in each group.

Seeding pots for group stage draw
Pool 1 Pool 2

The draw for the group stages was made on 14 January.[1]

The groups were drawn as follows:[2]

Groups
Group A Group B Group C Group D

Standings

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 St Helens 2 2 0 0 156 0 +156 4 Advance to knock-out stages
2 Cardiff Demons 2 1 0 1 42 68 −26 2
3 Warrington Wolves 2 0 0 2 14 144 −130 0
Source: [3]

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 York Valkyrie 2 2 0 0 110 6 +104 4 Advance to knock-out stages
2 Huddersfield Giants 2 1 0 1 36 64 −28 2
3 Featherstone Rovers 2 0 0 2 14 90 −76 0
Source: [3]

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Leeds Rhinos 2 2 0 0 150 4 +146 4 Advance to knock-out stages
2 Leigh Leopards 2 1 0 1 52 46 +6 2
3 Sheffield Eagles 2 0 0 2 0 152 −152 0
Source: [3]

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Wigan Warriors 2 2 0 0 128 0 +128 4 Advance to knock-out stages
2 London Broncos 2 1 0 1 22 58 −36 2
3 Barrow Raiders 2 0 0 2 14 106 −92 0
Source: [3]

Fixtures and results

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Group stage

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The fixture list for the group stage was announced on 10 March 2025.[4]

Group stage: week one
Group Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
C Leeds Rhinos 46–4 Leigh Leopards 5 April, 13:00 Headingley Stadium S. Jenkinson
A Warrington Wolves 14–42 Cardiff Demons 6 April, 14:00 Victoria Park M. McKelvey
D Wigan Warriors 84–0 Barrow Raiders 6 April, 14:00 Robin Park A. Billington
B Huddersfield Giants 0–56 York Valkyrie 6 April, 15:00 Laund Hill A. Sweet
Source:[5]
Group stage: week two
Group Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
C Sheffield Eagles 0–104[a] Leeds Rhinos 12 April, 12:30 Steel City Stadium O. Salmon
A St Helens 102–0 Warrington Wolves 12 April, 15:30 Totally Wicked Stadium L. Bland
B York Valkyrie 54–6 Featherstone Rovers 13 April, 12:00 York Community Stadium A. Belafonte
D London Broncos 0–44 Wigan Warriors 13 April, 14;00 Chiswick Rugby Club Tyler Topping
Source:[7]
Group stage: week three
Group Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
B Featherstone Rovers 8–36 Huddersfield Giants 18 April, 20:00 Post Office Road N. Horton
A Cardiff Demons 0–54 St Helens 19 April, 14:30 Cardiff University L. Breheny
D Barrow Raiders 14–22 London Broncos 20 April, 12:00 Craven Park L. Seal
C Leigh Leopards 48–0[b] Sheffield Eagles —
Source:[9]

Quarter-finals

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The quarter-finals took place over the weekend of 26/27 April.[10]

Challenge Cup quarter-final fixtures
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
St Helens 78–0 London Broncos 26 April, 12:00 Totally Wicked Stadium F. Lincoln
Leeds Rhinos 38–18 Huddersfield Giants 27 April, 12:00 Headingley Stadium L. Seal
York Valkyrie 52–0 Leigh Leopards 27 April, 12:00 York Community Stadium S. Jenkinson
Wigan Warriors 96–0 Cardiff Demons 27 April, 13:00 Robin Park A. Billington
Source:[11]

Semi-finals

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The semi-finals were played over the weekend of 10/11 May and were double-headers with the men's semi-finals.[12] Both matches were broadcast live on the BBC iPlayer.[13]

Challenge Cup semi-final fixtures
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Leeds Rhinos 14–44 Wigan Warriors 10 May 2025, 12:00 York Community Stadium T. Jones 8,402
York Valkyrie 6–10 St Helens 11 May 2025, 13:45 Totally Wicked Stadium A. Williams 11,722
Source:

Final

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Main article: 2025 Women's Challenge Cup final

The final took place on Saturday 7 June 2025, as part of a triple header, alongside the Men's final, and the 1895 Cup final.

Challenge Cup Final
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
St Helens 6–42 Wigan Warriors 7 June; 11:45 Wembley Stadium A. Moore 8,810
Source:[14]

Notes

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  1. ^ The referee ended the match early, after 60 minutes, due to injuries suffered by Sheffield, which left them with only nine available players.[6]
  2. ^ Match forfeited by Sheffield Eagles. Awarded as a 48–0 win to Leigh Leopards.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Ibbetson, Stephen (8 January 2025). "Women's Challenge Cup format and teams revealed with draw date – Total Rugby League". Total RL. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Challenge Cup draw: Holders Wigan Warriors could face Sheffield Eagles in third round". BBC Sport. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Scoreboard: Week ending 20th April 2025". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3477. 21 April 2025. p. 30.
  4. ^ "Group Stage fixtures confirmed for Betfred Women's Challenge Cup". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Women's Challenge Cup – Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3475. 7 April 2025. p. 20.
  6. ^ McGhie, Keith (12 April 2025). "Leeds Rhinos earn record win as Challenge Cup match called off after 60 minutes – Total Rugby League". Total RL. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Women's Challenge Cup – Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3476. 14 April 2025. p. 23.
  8. ^ "Statement – Leigh Leopards v Sheffield Eagles, Betfred Women's Challenge Cup". RFL. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  9. ^ "Women's Challenge Cup – Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3477. 21 April 2025. p. 24.
  10. ^ "Three teams a step closer to Wembley Stadium following another weekend of Betfred Women's Challenge Cup action". RFL. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Women's Challenge Cup – Quarter Finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3478. 28 April 2025. pp. 24–25.
  12. ^ "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Semi-Finals confirmed". RFL. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Rugby League on TV | Listings | Challenge Cup | BBC". rugbyleagueontv. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Wigan thrash Saints to win first Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
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