BBC Radio 5 Live to broadcast Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Quarter Final draw

The draw for the Quarter Finals of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live next Friday night, May 26, after their live coverage of the Betfred Super League fixture between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens.

The draw will be eagerly awaited by the eight quarter finalists in the knowledge that they are only two wins from Wembley, where the Final will be played before the Betfred Challenge Cup Final as part of an historic double-header on August 12 – with both matches to be shown by BBC Sport.

The Quarter Final draw will be conducted at Headingley by Paul Rowley, the Salford Red Devils head coach who will be with the BBC as their expert summariser for the Leeds-Saints clash.

It will be a huge night for Women’s Rugby League at Headingley, with Leeds facing St Helens in a Betfred Women’s Super League fixture before the men’s match – and both games being shown live on Sky Sports.

Leeds and Saints met in last year’s Final at Elland Road, where Saints retained the trophy they had won for the first time in 2021, and are two of the six teams who have already secured their Quarter Final places going into this weekend’s third and last round of group fixtures – although they still need to secure top spot in their groups which will guarantee a home draw in the last eight.

Leeds travel to Huddersfield Giants, while Saints are at home to Warrington Wolves – in each case, both teams have won their first two fixtures, so are playing off for top spot.

It is a similar story in Group 3, with Leigh Leopards hosting York Valkyrie and again, both teams already secure in the Quarter Finals, and playing for a home tie.

But the situation is more open in Group 1. Wigan Warriors have won their first two matches and will secure top spot if they beat Salford Red Devils at Robin Park, which would leave Featherstone Rovers battling with the Cup newcomers Cardiff Demons for the last Quarter Final place.

Featherstone have a proud history in the competition, stretching back to 2012 when they were the first winners, but they will make the long trip to South Wales expecting a tough test from a Cardiff team who claimed their first Cup win at Salford two weeks ago after competing strongly against Wigan in their opener – and who offered further evidence of their potential by beating Bradford and Salford in the RFL Women’s Nines qualifying competition in Warrington last weekend to earn the Wildcard place for June’s Finals Day.

London Broncos, the other Betfred Women’s Super League South team who have entered the Challenge Cup this year, have home advantage against Castleford Tigers in another intriguing fixture.

Tickets for the historic Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on August 12 (also including the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final) are on sale from £20 for adults and £10 for Under-16s Rugby League (rugby-league.com)

Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup fixtures – Sunday May 21

Group 1 – Wigan Warriors v Salford Red Devils (midday); Cardiff Demons v Featherstone Rovers (2pm)

Group 2 – Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos (2pm); Bradford Bulls v Oulton Raidettes (3pm)

Group 3 – Hull KR v Barrow Raiders (2pm); Leigh Leopards v York Valkyrie (2pm)

Group 4 – St Helens v Warrington Wolves (2pm); London Broncos v Castleford Tigers (3pm)