Cardiff Demons versus Wigan Warriors – the clash between the Women’s Super League South champions and their ambitious northern counterparts – will be streamed live on Our League when the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup gets underway in April.
The competition begins on the weekend of 22/23 April with a group stage to determine the quarter finalists. 16 teams – 12 from the Betfred Women’s Super League, two from the Championship and two from the Women’s Super League South – have been drawn into four groups of four, with the top two from each progressing to the quarter-final stage.
Cup holders St Helens get the competition underway on Saturday 22 April when they visit Group 4 rivals London Broncos, with Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves in Group 4 action the following day at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle.
Cardiff and Wigan go head-to-head on Sunday 23 April (KO 2pm) at Cardiff University, with their Group 1 counterparts Salford Red Devils and Featherstone Rovers also in action that day. Group 2 sees Oulton Raidettes against Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos entertaining Bradford Bulls, while in Group 3 Barrow Raiders are at home to York Valkyrie and Hull KR play Leigh Leopards.
RFL Head of Development, Thomas Brindle, who is also the Wales Women’s side head coach, said: “I’m delighted to be able to confirm Our League coverage of the opening round of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup in what is another landmark year for the competition with Wembley Stadium hosting the final for the first time on 12 August. We’ll be confirming additional Our League coverage in due course.
“The first Women’s Challenge Cup final was played 10 years ago at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury. It’s been a long-time goal to get the Women’s final on the same day as the Men’s, and our strategic and commercial partners BBC, IMG, Betfred and RL Commercial have been enormously supportive. For two of the 16 sides beginning their Challenge Cup quest in April, Saturday 12 August will be a day to remember for a long time.”
Tickets for the 2023 cup finals at Wembley Stadium, including the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, are on sale now via the RFL website. Fans can take advantage of an Early Bird offer of 25% OFF all tickets, with prices starting from only £15 Adults and £7.50 for Under 16s.
Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup group fixtures in full
Saturday 22 April
Group 4
London Broncos v St Helens, Rosslyn Park FC, 2pm
Sunday 23 April
Group 1
Cardiff Demons v Wigan Warriors, Cardiff University Llanrumney, 2pm
Salford Red Devils v Featherstone Rovers, Salford Stadium, 1pm
Group 2
Oulton Raidettes v Huddersfield Giants, Raider Park, 2pm
Leeds Rhinos v Bradford Bulls, Weetwood Sports Park, 1pm
Group 3
Barrow Raiders v York Valkyrie, Craven Park, 2pm (TBC)
Hull KR v Leigh Leopards, Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium, 2pm
Group 4
Castleford Tigers v Warrington Wolves, Mend-a-Hose Jungle, 2pm
Sunday 7 May
Group 1
Salford Red Devils v Cardiff Demons, Salford Stadium, 1pm
Featherstone Rovers v Wigan Warriors, Millennium Stadium, 2pm
Group 2
Oulton Raidettes v Leeds Rhinos, Raider Park, 2pm
Bradford Bulls v Huddersfield Giants, Horsfall Stadium, 2pm
Group 3
Leigh Leopards v Barrow Raiders, Leigh Miners, 2pm
York Valkyrie v Hull KR, LNER Community Stadium, 2pm
Group 4
Warrington Wolves v London Broncos, Victoria Park, 2pm
Castleford Tigers v St Helens, Mend-a-Hose Jungle, 2pm
Sunday 21 May
Group 1
Cardiff Demons v Featherstone Rovers, Cardiff University Llanrumney, 2pm
Wigan Warriors v Salford Red Devils, Robin Park, 2pm
Group 2
Bradford Bulls v Oulton Raidettes, Odsal, 5.15pm
Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos, Laund Hill, 2pm
Group 3
Leigh Leopards v York Valkyrie, Leigh Miners, 2pm
Hull KR v Barrow Raiders, Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium, 2pm
Group 4
St Helens v Warrington Wolves, Totally Wicked Stadium, 2pm
London Broncos v Castleford Tigers, Rosslyn Park FC, 2pm