Sheffield Eagles and Warrington Wolves will kick off the 2025 Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup this weekend.
The clubs were drawn together in the qualifying round for a new structure for the Cup in 2025 – with the winners of Sunday’s tie at the Ponds Fords International Sports Centre to face Edinburgh Giants in the quarter finals next month.
Sheffield, who won the Wheelchair Championship in 2024 (pictured above) and had their first England representative in Chris Haynes, joined Warrington and Edinburgh in making successful applications last autumn to join an expanded Betfred Wheelchair Super League, with the Eagles and the Giants preparing to enter the elite competition this season, and the Wolves given an additional 12 months before joining in 2026.
There has been a late and significant change to the draw for the Challenge Cup with Catalans Dragons, who have won the competition in each of the last two seasons, no longer taking part this year.
Their invitation has been withdrawn in response to a refusal by the French Federation to play any international fixtures against England until next autumn’s World Cup.
Halifax Panthers, who had been drawn to face the Catalans in the quarter finals, will now have a bye to the semi finals – which will be played on the weekend of May 17.
The 2025 Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final will be played at Robin Park in Wigan on Saturday June 14.
Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup 2025 – revised draw:
- Qualifying Round (April 26) – Sheffield Eagles v Warrington Wolves, Edinburgh Giants – Bye
- Quarter Finals: May 3 - Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos; May 10 - Wigan Warriors v London Roosters, Sheffield or Warrington v Edinburgh, Halifax Panthers – Bye.
- Semi Finals (May 17)
- Final (Robin Park Sports Centre, Wigan, Saturday June 14)
