2006 Challenge Cup winner Jon Wilkin will join Kevin Brown to conduct the draw for the Fourth Round of the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup on Monday (9 February) evening.
The draw will take place at 6.40pm live on BBC Radio Manchester hosted by Gaz Drinkwater and Emily Brobyn.
Wilkin was an integral part of the St Helens team that triumphed in the 2006 Challenge Cup Final, where they defeated Huddersfield Giants 42–12 and went on to win a historic treble that season.
Former England international Brown played over 350 Super League games but missed out on winning a major trophy after coming close in two Challenge Cup Finals and one Super League Grand Final.
He began life with hometown club Wigan Warriors before progressing to the likes of Huddersfield Giants, Widnes Vikings and Warrington Wolves and ending with the Salford Red Devils with a loan spell at the then-named Leigh Centurions along the way.
Ball numbers will be confirmed following this weekend’s Third Round fixtures (Feb 6-8) with Fourth Round ties to be played on the weekend of March 14-15.
Listeners can choose one of the following options to hear the draw:
95.1 FM, 104.6 FM
- DAB radio
- BBC Radio Manchester online
- BBC Sounds app
- FM radio 95.1 or 104.6
Betfred Challenge Cup 2026 key dates:
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!
