2023 will be another historic year for the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, with the Final being staged at Wembley Stadium in August for the first time – and the Our League cameras will capture another significant first when the competition kicks off next weekend, and Cardiff Demons play their first match in the competition against Wigan Warriors.
The Demons have led the rapid development of Women’s Rugby League in Wales and have won the Betfred Women’s Super League South in each of its first two seasons, 2021 and 2022.
They will be joined in the 2023 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup by London Broncos, the team they beat in last year’s Grand Final – and who have an equally attractive opening tie against St Helens, the Cup holders, which will be played at Rosslyn Park RUFC on Saturday April 22.
The competition will again begin on a round robin basis, with four groups of four and the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Quarter Finals.
The Final will be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday August 12 as the first part of a double header also including the Betfred Challenge Cup Final, with live coverage on BBC Sport.
The Broncos and the Saints, whose captain Jodie Cunningham makes no secret of her desire to play at Wembley as they aim to complete a hat-trick of Cup wins, are joined in Group Four by Warrington Wolves and 2019 finalists Castleford Tigers.
In Group One, Cardiff and Wigan are joined by Salford Red Devils and Featherstone Rovers – whose opening match will be played on Sunday August 23 at Salford Stadium with a 1pm kick-off, before the Red Devils’ Betfred Super League clash against Catalans Dragons.
The opening matches in Group Two, which will feature four teams from West Yorkshire and therefore six derby fixtures, involve the 2022 Cup finalists and Betfred Women’s Super League champions Leeds Rhinos hosting Bradford Bulls, and Oulton Raidettes from the Women’s Championship competition taking on Huddersfield Giants.
York Valkyrie will be strong favourites in Group Three but start with a tricky trip to Barrow Raiders , while Hull KR face Leigh Leopards.
Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Group stage round one ties:
Saturday 22 April
Group Four
- London Broncos v St Helens, Rosslyn Park FC, 2pm
Sunday 23 April
Group One
- Cardiff Demons v Wigan Warriors, Cardiff University, 2pm
- Salford Red Devils v Featherstone Rovers, Salford Stadium, 1pm
Group Two
- Oulton Raidettes v Huddersfield Giants, Raider Park, 2pm
- Leeds Rhinos v Bradford Bulls, Weetwood Sports Park, 1pm
Group Three
- Barrow Raiders v York Valkyrie, Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium, 2pm
- Hull KR v Leigh Leopards, Sewell Group Craven Park, 2pm
Group Four
- Castleford Tigers v Warrington Wolves, Mend-a-Hose Jungle, 2pm
The second round of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup group stage will be played on May 7 with the third round scheduled to take place on May 21 - details for the Quarter Finals will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Tickets for the 2023 Men’s and Women’s Challenge Cup finals at Wembley Stadium 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.
