This weekend is going to be special for Swinton Lions, with 2026 marking exactly 100 years since they last lifted the Challenge Cup trophy.
It’s regarded as one of the greatest moments in the history of Swinton as their heroes of 1926 recorded a tense 9-3 win over neighbours Oldham in the final at the Athletic Grounds in Rochdale.
Lions’ hooker Henry Blewer scored the match-winning try under the sticks, with Jack Evans captaining his side to victory.
This season will also see the club celebrate their 160th birthday.
To commemorate, the team’s 2026 colours are based on those worn during the 1926 final - a plain but striking navy blue shirt with Lion motif, white shorts, and blue and white hooped socks.
Swinton might have become better known in recent years for their famous royal blue shirt with a white chevron, but it was navy blue which served the club well for the first 94 years of its existence.
Current head coach, Paul Wood, is well versed in the club’s history – and he loves the Challenge Cup.
Wood made over 300 appearances for Super League’s Warrington Wolves between 2000-2014 and was a significant part of Warrington’s golden Challenge Cup period, winning two finals.
He also played briefly for the Lions in 2018.
“In their heyday Swinton Lions were one of the top teams like the Manchester United of rugby league,” Wood explained.
“There is a lot of history at this club. They were a really successful team in the 1960s and were winning Challenge Cups a 100 years ago.
“I’m reminded quite often that Swinton have won league titles more times than Warrington! There are only a few more clubs who have won the league Championship more times than Swinton have.
“The first thing I did when I got the coaching job was look at the history and go right back to where it all started.
“It’s quite amazing to see the success that this club has had over the years and in the last century.
“It's 100 years since the last Challenge Cup win, which is super significant. It'd be nice to try and get some glory days back, but it’s amazing that the club is still going how it is.
“The club was formed in 1866 when members of Swinton Cricket Club decided to take up rugby league in the winter to keep fit, and that was the birth of Swinton really!
“It’s pretty special when you look at the history and how it started, how it was founded, and then to where it is now. I think sometimes we forget about the Championship clubs, but they are some of the oldest clubs. They’ve put rugby league on the map and are part of rugby league’s DNA.
“Once upon a time, a lot of these clubs were the driving force for rugby league. They’ve got the sport to where it is today.
“It’s so important we get these clubs to evolve again. We need them to catch the Super League teams up, be competitive and try and get back flourishing.”
And this Sunday gives Swinton a chance to do just that and show themselves off in Round 3 of this year’s Challenge Cup competition.
The Championship sides are in the spotlight this weekend, with the Betfred Super League clubs ready and waiting. It’s an opportunity for the likes of the Lions to test themselves against the best and earn some deserved recognition.
Wood is a huge advocate for this in the early rounds, and his connection with the Challenge Cup is a strong one personally:
“It was always my childhood dream to win the Challenge Cup. I'm a Wigan lad and I was younger Wigan were going to Wembley every year and won it eight times on the bounce.
“I was brought up with the Challenge Cup. In Wigan, it was a religion – every single year you watched Wigan go down to Wembley. It was like an annual holiday, really, back then.
“One of my saddest days ever was when Sheffield beat them in 1998! But that just shows the magic of the cup!
“I was more or less in front of Martin Offiah when he scored that try. That was the best. I just remember walking up and going to my seat and just thinking, ‘wow, this is amazing’.
“I was playing rugby league at the time at amateur level and I just knew I wanted to play here one day. I always had that vision.
“It was always my dream to play there and after all those great experiences of watching Wigan, I knew I wanted to play at Wembley and win a Challenge Cup.
“I was very fortunate not just to do it once, but to do it twice, and be involved in a total of three cup journeys.
“I was injured in 2009 with a broken leg, so I missed that final. Warrington won the Challenge Cup three times in my career, but I couldn’t play in the first one.
“It was a really tough time because I've been at Warrington for 10 years and then they got to Wembley for the first time in nearly 20 years and I missed it! I was absolutely gutted but we managed to get there again.
“I just love the Challenge Cup. It’s a competition steeped in history and not many players get a chance to play in a final, never mind win it."
Swinton are relishing Sunday’s cup tie. After a hard-fought success against Ince Rose Bridge in Round 2, the Lions will welcome five-times Challenge Cup winners Wakefield Trinity to Heywood Road, and coincidentally, they are the same opponents that Swinton defeated in the semi-final of 1932, the last time they ever reached a Challenge Cup Final.
The sides last met in the 2024 Championship competition.
“These early rounds are great for the clubs," Wood said. "It’s a great experience for them and although most of the time the Championship teams end up getting beat, they are always upsets in the Challenge Cup.
“We played against Ince Rose Bridge in the previous round and they had us panicking. The magic of the Challenge Cup does exist.”
Indeed, Ince were leading 26-22 until the 68th minute, giving Swinton a genuine scare before eventually fitness became a crucial factor in the closing ten minutes.
The Lions went on to score four tries in 12 minutes to ensure a 26-44 victory and secure their spot in the next round.
“There’s always that chance that Championship clubs are going to beat a Super League team, even if it is a big ask.
“You have to remember they are playing against full-time athletes, but it's really good for the Championship lads to test themselves against Super League opposition.
“I believe that as a team you can get a lot out of it, even if you do come on the back of a heavy score-line sometimes. You can definitely learn from those experiences. They can be tough and physical lessons, but you can take a lot out of it.”
Everyone at Swinton is preparing to celebrate this weekend, with a bumper crowd expected on home soil.
“Everybody is looking forward to it. It’s going to be special. There’s a financial gain for us too – the crowd will be double than what we’re used to, and this really supports and helps the club out.
“For the players, it’s good for them and I know that they’re excited to challenge themselves against a Super League side.
“We’re a very young team and some of my lads have goals and aspirations to play Super League.
“It’s an opportunity for them to put themselves in the shop window, and as a club at Swinton, we want to help players progress and go all the way up to Super League. We support them in that because I think that’s what you play rugby for.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity that is for them.
“There’s some great fixtures this weekend. London and Bradford should be really good. North Wales are going to test themselves against Leigh and Rochdale will play Wigan, and that'll be two great crowds for them.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere on Sunday. Wakefield are travelling well at the minute - they had a great year last year and I can just see them continuing to build and build. It looks like there is a really good vibe around that club.
“And this is just really good for Swinton. We’ll get to see some good players in action on both teams and it’s just really important for us that we have this home fixture and we can test ourselves on the field.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Wood was full of positivity for the club's future:
“We’re looking forward to a competitive year, and we look forward to any challenge.
“We know we haven't got the fanciest resources, and we know we don't have the biggest finances, but everybody here at the club does an absolutely fantastic job.
“Steve Wild, Barry McGuinness, Andy Unwin and Jason Harborow – they do some great work and Damien Ridpath in the community as well.
“As a club we're trying to build and we’re hoping that we can give a good account of ourselves in 2026 for our anniversaries.”
“We’re a team full of grit and determination. One thing I love about Swinton is it's all very interconnected and we're all really tight knit.”
Tickets for Swinton's cup clash with Wakefield can be purchased here.
Tickets are priced at £20 adults, £16 concessions, £4 juniors (with free main stand transfer if required).
There's a special deal on corporate hospitality on Sunday; the deal includes a match ticket, two-course lunch and onsite parking at only £45 adults, £40 concessions and £25 juniors.
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!
Photo Credit: Mike Bent Photography
