Dates, venues and kick-off times for all next weekend’s Betfred Challenge Cup Round Four ties can now be confirmed following this week’s RFL Board meeting.
The Board met to consider the various options open to the two remaining community clubs in the competition – Hunslet ARLFC and Rochdale Mayfield – who had both been drawn at home to Betfred Championship sides Batley Bulldogs and Newcastle Thunder respectively.
Hunslet ARLFC will play their home tie at the Bulldogs’ Fox’s Biscuits Stadium on Sunday 2 April (KO 2pm), after their home ground was deemed unsuitable for a Challenge Cup tie against professional opposition and logistical barriers stood in the way of efforts to play the match at nearby South Leeds Stadium. Admission at Batley is free for under 16s and just £10 for everybody else.
Rochdale Mayfield will, however, entertain Newcastle Thunder at the Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday 1 April (KO 1pm), the ground having previously hosted a Challenge Cup tie against professional opposition in 2016.
The RFL Board also approved another switch of venue: Midlands Hurricanes’ Betfred Challenge Cup Fourth Round home tie against Bradford Bulls will be played at Odsal Stadium on Sunday 2 April (KO 3pm), because of specific issues affecting the capacity of the Hurricanes’ new ground in Birmingham.
Round Four Fixtures
Saturday 1 April
Keighley Cougars v North Wales Crusaders, 3pm
London Broncos v Doncaster – 3pm (Rosslyn Park)
Rochdale Mayfield v Newcastle Thunder, 1pm
Sunday 2 April
Dewsbury Rams v Widnes Vikings, 3pm – live on The Sportsman
Halifax Panthers v Barrow Raiders, 3pm
Hunslet ARLFC v Batley Bulldogs, 2pm (Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Batley)
Midlands Hurricanes v Bradford Bulls, 3pm (Odsal Stadium, Bradford)
York Knights v Sheffield Eagles, 12.30pm – live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online
Fifth Round (ties to be played 22/23 April
Halifax Panthers or Barrow Raiders v Midlands Hurricanes or Bradford Bulls
Hunslet ARLFC or Batley Bulldogs v Keighley Cougars or North Wales Crusaders
London Broncos or Doncaster v Dewsbury Rams or Widnes Vikings
York Knights or Sheffield Eagles v Rochdale Mayfield or Newcastle Thunder
Betfred Super League sides enter the competition at Round Six (19-21 May).
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.
