For Leeds Rhinos captain Hanna Butcher, this year’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final is more than just an occasion. It’s an opportunity to lead out her side at the iconic Wembley Stadium, and the culmination of years’ worth of hard work and determination to reach the grandest stage.
Speaking at last week’s Women’s Challenge Cup media event at Wembley, Butcher said: “It just feels a bit surreal at the minute.
“I still don’t I still don’t think I’ve got my head around the semi-final (win over Wigan Warriors), it was a really tough battle. But being pitch side today, what an experience – I can’t wait to be here with the girls.”
Reflecting on her side’s victory over Wigan, she added: “I think we were all emotionally and physically exhausted to be honest. The final whistle went and we were thinking ‘what do we do?’ – I think we did struggle to celebrate because Wigan had put up such a good fight against us.”
After starting out as a seven-year-old playing alongside boys at nearby Thornhill Trojans, Butcher quickly developed a love and passion for the game, before moving to Shaw Cross Sharks to turn out for the club’s all-girls side. A number of years out of the game followed, before she returned to Thornhill to play open age rugby, a spell which saw her receive the league’s Player of the Year award in 2015 and 2016.
Since signing for the Rhinos in 2018, the 32-year-old has become a stalwart at Headingley, winning both the Challenge Cup and Women’s Super League Grand Final twice, along with the League Leaders’ Shield. Despite all of this, the opportunity to play at Wembley provides an entirely new challenge.
Butcher explained: “I don’t think it’s going to seem real until I’m here with the girls and everybody gets to experience it. To be playing at Wembley is just so special.
“I think it’s the start of a new journey (for women’s rugby league); we’ve just been given such a great opportunity and I know the girls are going to put on a good show here.
“It definitely has been a journey and I wouldn’t have expected to be where I am now when I was seven!”
Standing in Leeds’ way of a Challenge Cup title are last year’s winners St Helens, who defeated the Rhinos 18-8 in the 2022 final.
She concluded: “I think it’s going to be a real battle against Saints; we’ve played them once already this season, we know what to expect and, to be honest, I think we’re going to have to up our game from the semi-final. There’s no doubt about that.”
Leeds Rhinos face St Helens in the 2023 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 12 August at Wembley Stadium as part of a triple-header finals day. Tickets are selling fast, with prices starting from only £20 Adults and £10 Under 16s. Click here to purchase yours now.
