2022 Challenge Cup

The 2022 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup, will be the 121st edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It will start on 15 January 2022 and culminate with the final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28 May.[1]

2022 Challenge Cup
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport

Background

The competition will start on 15 January and conclude with the final on 28 May. Traditionally the Challenge Cup final is held at Wembley Stadium in London. Due to scheduling conflicts between Wembley and the RFL due to a BBC request to play the final earlier in the year in May, it was announced that the 2022 Challenge Cup Final would be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.[2] The RFL stated that the final would return to Wembley in 2023.[3] The RFL 1895 Cup would also be played alongside the Challenge Cup.[4]

All professional RFL member clubs are invited to participate as well as a number of invited amateur teams including teams representing the British Armed forces and police forces. This year it was announced that the Super League's Toulouse Olympique, whom are not members of the RFL but are invited to take part in the Challenge Cup, had declined their invitation and would not participate.[1] Newly formed Cornwall R.L.F.C. who will play in RFL League 1 also decided not to enter the competition.[5]

A new television deal with the BBC came into effect this year, with coverage of more matches of later rounds as well as providing digital coverage of earlier rounds.[6]

First round

The draw for the first round will be made at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and ties will be played over the weekend of 14–15 January 2022.

Notes

    References
    1. "Challenge Cup 2022 details with one Super League club not participating". Examiner Live. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
    2. "Challenge Cup final: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to host showpiece instead of Wembley next year | Rugby League News". Sky Sports. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
    3. "Challenge Cup final to move from Wembley to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium". BBC Sport. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
    4. "Betfred extend Challenge Cup sponsorship to include Finals at Tottenham and Wembley". Rugby Football League. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
    5. "Toulouse Olympique and Cornwall opt out of Challenge Cup as amateur entrants revealed". TotalRL.com. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
    6. "BBC Sport confirm enhanced Challenge Cup coverage from 2022". Warrington Guardian. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.