It’s time for Betfred Challenge Cup Round 2 this weekend, with the 20 Betfred Championship clubs entering the competition.
The magic of the cup will be encapsulated as the remaining community clubs face second tier opposition, with the winners receiving the biggest prize of all – a ticket into the Third Round, and some with a chance to face a Betfred Super League team.
The action will kick off this Saturday when Sheffield Eagles host Whitehaven at the Steel City Stadium (KO 2.30pm) live on BBC iPlayer and Red Button.
The Eagles enjoyed a promising and hard-fought 11-4 victory over their opponents in the opening round of the Championship last Sunday.
A win for either side will see them face Warrington Wolves in Round 3 with the visitors hoping they can earn another crack at the Wolves following their defeat to the 2025 Challenge Cup finalists last season.
The second all-Championship tie is Doncaster versus Newcastle Thunder.
Waterhead will have the pleasure of hosting neighbours Rochdale Hornets on Sunday - a tie which will be shown live on The Sportsman (K.O. 1.30pm).
Interestingly, Waterhead and Rochdale have just one previous Challenge Cup meeting, which dates all the way back to the inaugural Challenge Cup competition in 1896/1897. Rochdale were 63-3 victors that day in Round 1.
This time, they will meet in Round 2, 129 years later.
For many of the clubs, it will be their first time facing this weekend’s opposition in Challenge Cup.
Oldham will welcome Orrell St James to Boundary Park, Wigan St Judes meet with Barrow Raiders on home soil and St Judes’ nearest and dearest Ince Rose Bridge are at home to Swinton Lions.
St Helens based Blackbrook will take on Workington Town, with the winner ironically guaranteed a glamour tie with the Super League Saints.
Thatto Heath and Widnes Vikings lock horns at Crusader Park, with just seven miles separating the two sides.
Thatto Heath have hosted their fair share of cup ties against Championship opposition in recent years, including Featherstone Rovers, Halifax Panthers and North Wales Crusaders, with a capacity crowd expected.
They beat North Wales 16-14 back in the 2019 Challenge Cup, but will there be any cup upsets on the cards in 2026?
There’s plenty of Challenge Cup action taking place in Yorkshire this weekend. A delicious derby is on the cards as Stanningley prepare to clash with Hunslet.
Heworth are at home to Keighley, Mirfield Spartans will have a go against Goole Vikings and Halifax welcome London Chargers.
Meanwhile, Batley Bulldogs will be put to the test by Hunslet ARLFC, and down the road Dewsbury will be entertained by West Hull.
The Bulldogs came up against amateurs Hunslet in the 2023 competition, where they ran out comfortable 80-6 winners.
The Rams have also previously met with West Hull three times in Challenge Cup history.
Then, there's a clash in the capital when London Broncos host southern counterparts Wests Warriors.
It’s a tie the Warriors will be relishing and is certain to draw another bumper crowd at Richmond Athletic Ground.
Also down south, Salford travel to face Hammersmith Hills Hoists.
Bedford Tigers have a 400-mile round trip as they head to Colwyn Bay in Round 2 to take on North Wales Crusaders.
The final community club, Aberavon Fighting Irish, are on the road again in the Second Round, and will pay a visit to Midlands Hurricanes.
At present, Lock Lane are the only community club with a guaranteed a tie against champions Hull KR.
Betfred Challenge Cup Round 2 fixtures:
Saturday 24 January
Stanningley v Hunslet (K.O. 1.30pm)
Heworth v Keighley Cougars (K.O. 1.30pm)
Ince Rose Bridge v Swinton Lions (K.O. 2pm)
Wigan St Judes v Barrow Raiders (K.O. 2pm)
Hammersmith Hills Hoists v Salford RLFC (K.O. 2.30pm)
Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven (K.O. 2.30pm) – BBC iPlayer and Red Button
Sunday 25 January
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Widnes Vikings (K.O. 1pm)
Waterhead v Rochdale Hornets (K.O. 1.30pm) - The Sportsman
Blackbrook v Workington Town (K.O. 2pm)
Dewsbury Rams v West Hull (K.O. 2pm)
Batley Bulldogs v Hunslet ARLFC (K.O. 2pm)
London Broncos v Wests Warriors (K.O. 2pm)
North Wales Crusaders v Bedford Tigers (K.O. 2.30pm)
Oldham v Orrell St James (K.O. 3pm)
Mirfield Spartans v Goole Vikings (K.O. 3pm)
Doncaster v Newcastle Thunder (K.O. 3pm)
Halifax Panthers v London Chargers (K.O. 3pm)
Midlands Hurricanes v Aberavon Fighting Irish (K.O. 5pm)
Betfred Challenge Cup Round 3 draw (ties to be played on the weekend of February 6-8):
Ince Rose Bridge OR Swinton Lions vs Wakefield Trinity
Thatto Heath OR Widnes Vikings vs Leeds Rhinos
Wigan St Judes OR Barrow Raiders vs York Knights
Batley Bulldogs OR Hunslet ARLFC vs Catalans Dragons
North Wales Crusaders OR Bedford Tigers vs Leigh Leopards
Lock Lane vs Hull KR
Blackbrook OR Workington Town vs St Helens
Waterhead OR Rochdale Hornets vs Wigan Warriors
London Broncos OR Wests Warriors vs Bradford Bulls
Sheffield Eagles OR Whitehaven vs Warrington Wolves
Hammersmith Hills Hoists OR Salford RLFC vs Hull FC
Stanningley OR Hunslet vs Huddersfield Giants
Doncaster OR Newcastle Thunder vs Castleford Tigers
Halifax Panthers OR London Chargers vs Mirfield Spartans OR Goole Vikings
Oldham OR Orrell St James vs Dewsbury Rams OR West Hull
Heworth OR Keighley Cougars vs Midlands Hurricanes / Aberavon Fighting Irish
Betfred Challenge Cup 2026 key dates:
Second Round (Championship clubs enter) – Jan 24-25
Third Round (Super League clubs enter) – Feb 6-8
Fourth Round (last 16) – March 14-15
Quarter Finals – April 11-12
Semi Finals – May 9/10
Final – Saturday May 30
It's Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 30 May 2026. Book your tickets here today and enjoy our early bird prices!
