The six instalment of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final will take place at the legendary Wembley Stadium this Saturday when 2021 winners Featherstone Rovers meet with fellow Betfred Championship side York Knights – in the closing game of Rugby League’s Wembley Finals Day.
The 2025 Final, which will follow the earlier Betfred Women’s and Men’s Challenge Cup Finals, provides a unique opportunity for each set of players and their club’s supporters to experience Wembley, and potentially, celebrate success under the stadium's famous arch.
Both sides earned their place in the final after emphatic wins in the semis – with Featherstone securing their Wembley return with a 40-14 victory against Oldham at Boundary Park, while the Knights beat a strong Bradford Bulls outfit 28-20 at the LNER Community Stadium.
Saturday will also see a repeat of the 2021 1895 Cup Final, where Featherstone defeated York 41-34 in a thrilling points fest.
Only five players remain from those 2021 sides – Gareth Gale and Josh Hardcastle for Featherstone and Ben Jones-Bishop and Jack Teanby for York. Will Jubb also featured back then for the York team but will now pull on a Featherstone shirt this time round.
Fev are aiming to become the first club to win the competition twice – with the previous five finals having had five different winners (Sheffield, Featherstone, Leigh, Halifax and Wakefield).
On the other hand, York will be aiming to make history by winning at Wembley for the first time ever. In addition to their 2021 loss against Featherstone, the original York club lost to Halifax in the 1931 Challenge Cup Final which was their only previous appearance at the National Stadium.
Featherstone reached back-to-back 1895 Cup Finals in 2021 and 2022, although the 2022 Final was played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and they were beaten 16-30 by Leigh (then Centurions).
The West Yorkshire club have also won the Challenge Cup a total of three times in their history.
Saturday’s finalists have already met once in Round 7 the Championship this season. A pulsating contest between Featherstone and York unfolded at the Millennium Stadium, where in a game of two halves, the Knights built up a 16-point lead with tries from Joe Brown and two from Ben Jones-Bishop.
But the Rovers quickly took control of the second half and fought back by scoring 24 unanswered points, before the Knights were able to respond with a try from Liam Harris.
There was a chance for York to snatch it at the death, but they couldn’t quite capitalise, and Fev went on to pull off a sensational victory.
Could there be another blistering battle on the cards?
Featherstone’s Caleb Aekins and Jayden Hatton are the leading try scorers in the 2025 1895 Cup competition, with York captain Liam Harris the Championship’s top points scorer in 2025.
Let’s not forget that the Rovers also have playmaker Ben Reynolds in their side, who is a skilled individual and someone who certainly knows his way to a final victory.
Reynolds went back-to-back with Leigh in 2022 and 2023, winning the 1895 Cup, before lifting the Challenge Cup trophy the following year.
His halfback partner, Ryan Hampshire, was part of the wider 2024 Wigan Warriors squad who became Challenge Cup winners for a record 21st time last year. This was the same for him in 2013.
He is yet to feature at Wembley himself, however, so will be relishing the opportunity that awaits.
Can Fev's heroic halfback combination guide the Rovers to glory on the big stage?
Meanwhile, Ben Jones-Bishop of York is still seeking his first ever Wembley win, despite appearing on the hallowed turf four times throughout his career.
It would be the final piece of the jigsaw for the decorated 'BJB', as well as his teammate and veteran Paul McShane, who tasted defeat in the 2021 Challenge Cup Final with Castleford Tigers against St Helens.
And while the five players from the 2021 Final return to the national stadium, there will be a number of players in either side eagerly anticipating their first ever Wembley appearance too.
SATURDAY'S SQUAD NEWS:
Featherstone Rovers 21-man squad: Caleb Aekins, Derrell Olpherts, Jayden Hatton, Gareth Gale, Ben Reynolds, Gadwin Springer, Will Jubb, Jimmy Beckett, Brad Day, Danny Addy, Connor Jones, Sitaleki Akauola, King Vuniyayawa, Clay Webb, Josh Hardcastle, Jordan Williams, Calum Turner, Connor Wynne, Bailey O’Connor, Jack Arnold, Ryan Hampshire
York Knights 21-man squad: Joe Brown, Kieran Buchanan, Joe Law, Ata Higano, Liam Harris, Jack Martin, Paul McShane, Brenden Santi, Jesse Dee, Connor Bailey, Jordan Thompson, Taylor Pemberton, Jacob Gannon, Ukuma Ta’ai, Sam Cook, Oli Field, Conor Fitzsimmons, Harvey Reynolds, Kieran Hudson, Scott Galeano, Toa Mata’afa
It's a tie between two in-form teams that boast a blend of vital experience and lively youth. Fev have won their last three league matches, while York have won their last four.
But who will want it more on Saturday night?
Will Featherstone, the most appeared team in the 1895 Cup Final, regain their hands on the trophy, or will there be a another new winner in 2025?
Featherstone will take on York Knights in the 2025 AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final (K.O. 5.45pm). This year's 1895 Cup Final will be streamed LIVE and FREE on SuperLeague+. Details can be found here.
Anything can happen in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup!
It's Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 June. Be at Wembley for both the Men's and Women's Challenge Cup Finals, as well as the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final, and purchase your tickets here!
