
Wigan Warriors will begin their Betfred Challenge Cup defence on the road at either Sheffield Eagles, West Bowling or Cutsyke Raiders.
Betfred Challenge Cup holders Wigan Warriors are in line to start their defence with a trip to Sheffield Eagles, the team who famously beat them in the greatest Wembley upset in the 1998 Final.
That was one of the highlights of a new-look draw for the Third Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup, with the 12 Super League clubs joining the competition at an earlier stage in 2025 – and seeded to play against one of the 20 Second Round winners.
The draw included a record number of 66 teams following the significant disruption to last weekend’s First Round ties. That means Sheffield are still waiting to discover their opponents in the Second Round, and they will have to beat the winner of Saturday’s rearranged tie between West Bowling and Cutsyke Raiders to earn their shot at Wigan.
The draw featured a number of other intriguing ties, including a mouthwatering tie at home to Castleford Tigers for the winners of the Second Round tie between Bradford Bulls and Doncaster.
Betfred Challenge Cup Round Three Fixtures:
- London Broncos or Goole Vikings v Wakefield Trinity
- GB Police/York Acorn or London Chargers/Oulton Raiders v Hull FC
- Bradford Bulls or Doncaster RLFC v Castleford Tigers
- Lock Lane/Doncaster Toll Bar or Hunslet RLFC v Huddersfield Giants
- Wests Warriors or British Army/RAF v Leeds Rhinos
- Halifax Panthers or Thatto Heath Crusaders/Orrell St James v Catalans Dragons
- Stanley Rangers/Hunslet ARLFC or West Hull/Edinburgh Eagles v St Helens
- Mirfield/Royal Navy or Workington Town v Leigh Leopards
- Midlands Hurricanes or Siddal v Salford Red Devils
- Whitehaven or Swinton Lions v Warrington Wolves
- Keighley Cougars or York Knights v Hull KR
- Sheffield Eagles or West Bowling/Cutsyke Raiders v Wigan Warriors
- Oldham RLFC or Rochdale Mayfield/Telford Raiders v Barrow Raiders or Crosfields/Maryport
- Newcastle Thunder or Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams or Haresfinch/Dewsbury Moor Maroons
- Cornwall or North Wales Crusaders v Rochdale Hornets or Widnes Vikings
- Waterhead Warriors/Leigh Miners Rangers or Featherstone v Blackbrook or Longhorns/Ince Rose Bridge
The Betfred Challenge Cup Round Three ties are to be played over the weekend of 7-9 February.
Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!