Men's Challenge Cup : 2025

The 2024 Challenge Cup summary can be seen by clicking here. 

Sixty nine teams played seven rounds of matches to decide the winner of the Challenge Cup for 2025. We take up the matches from round five. With Wigan being upset 22-26 by Hull FC, the in form Hull KR was favourite to go all the way.

Quarter finals: The matches were close although the local Hull derby was less so. Remarkably the other three encounters all ended 20-12. With the probelms besetting Salford, the Catalan Dragons were not impressive in their win. KR retained its favourites tag.

Semi finals: KR dealt with not too impressive Dragons while Warrington Wolves prevailed over the Leigh Leopards 21-14. In form Hull KR had been to eight finals, only winning in 1980. Warrington had made twenty finals, winning nine. Their last winning success was a recent 2019.

Final: Over 63,000 fans packed into Wembley Stadium to witness the event. The weather didn't play its part, with wind and rain featuring. Warrington led at half time 6-2 and continued to do so until three minutes remained, when KR scored and took out the match.

There was an issue as to whether the KR try was legitimate. Apparently, a defender must ground the ball with his hand or push it out of bounds to stop it being 'alive' but he only did so with his torso. An attacking player can score using the torso. I'm surprised there is a different rule for the attacker as opposed to the defender. Still, the rules are the rules and they were applied correctly. 

Hull KR have a great side in 2025 but the Challenge Cup trophy almost slipped through their fingers. The Wolves haven't been consistent but have a good side that could have taken the match. Sometimes, the margins in sport are tiny. 

The highlights are below.

Women's Challenge Cup : 2025

For history on the women's Challenge Cup, simply click here. You may want to read that first. 

The 2025 edition was divided into four pools of three teams. Eight of the twelve sides progressed to the semi finals. St Helens have dominated this tournament, winning the the last four finals. Leeds have lost the last three finals to Saints so between those two clubs a likely winner would emerge. Would they make it a fourth final together.

Quarter finals: These went as expected due to the lack of depth in the UK women's game and the best players are not spread around. Only the Leeds v Huddrsfield match having anything like a competitive scoreline.

Semi finals: The big guns assembled for the shoot out. Saints battled past York to secure yet another finals berth but Wigan looked ominous in comfortably despatching a well regarded Leeds outfit.

Final: St Helens may have hoped for a fifth consecutive trophy but Wigan were having none of that. The all Lancs final was decisively won by Wigan 42-6, having led 18-0 at the break. Wigan's first final and victory showed there is a new force in the UK's women's game. 

Highlights can be seen below.

1895 Cup History & 2025 Competition

Teams below the top division struggle to make their mark in the Challenge Cup (think FA Cup in football) so in addition a cup for second and third division sides was devised. The Championship Cup commenced in 2003 to coincide with national second and third divisions being established. 

In 2019, it became the 1895 Cup so named to acknowledge the year rugby league was formed. Some Australians think the sport started in 1908 when they took up the code. Big country syndrome. Anyway, the 1895 Cup has been played six times, five of the finals listed below. 

2025: The box below shows the last three rounds of the tournament in 2025. The Featherstone Rovers were convincing in getting to their third final while York fought their way to their second appearance.

The all Yorkshire final was a tight affair with neither side scoring a try. It was decided in golden point extra time where the first team that scores wins and the game ends. As is usually the case it was a drop goal that determined the winner. York won their first cup after missing out in the 2021 final while Featherstone now has a one win - two loss cup final record. 

Highlights can be viewed below.