The group stage of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup kicks off this weekend (April 4/5) with 11 teams set to battle it out as they look to book their place at the iconic Wembley Stadium on Saturday 30 May.
Wigan Warriors made history last season when they lifted the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup trophy in what was their first ever Women’s Challenge Cup Final. This year, they’re hoping to make it back-to-back successes as they approach another exciting year.
“It’s the start of another big season for us” said Wigan’s Georgia Wilson, who co-captained the 2025 Challenge Cup Final alongside Vicky Molyneux.
“Winning all four trophies last year was a huge achievement for us, but we know that every other team now is going to be after us and we’ve got to work just that little bit harder than last year to try and do the same again.”
The Warriors will travel to face Featherstone Rovers in the opening round on Saturday (4 April). The inaugural winners of the cup, Rovers will be looking to make their mark in 2026 as they also make their return to the Betfred Women’s Super League.
Looking to pick up where they left off are 2025 finalists St Helens, the cup’s most successful side. Saints will be looking to avenge their final loss which put an end to their historic run with the trophy. In their first round, they travel to Laund Hill to face off against Huddersfield Giants (5 April), a team which are still looking for their first spot in the final.
Also facing off this weekend are Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos (4 April). 2025 marked the first year since 2021 that the Rhinos haven’t made it to a Women’s Challenge Cup Final, a statistic they are fighting to change in 2026.
The group fixtures will take place across the next three weekends (April 4/5, 11/12 and 18/19), as all 11 teams begin their journey in the 2026 Women’s Challenge Cup and battle for a place in the 2026 Women’s Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 30 May at Wembley Stadium.
For now, the Warriors are the club to beat, and they are confident they have what it takes to repeat their 2025 successes:
“It just means so much to all the girls, but the girls who have been there from the start and the rest of the girls that have come through the pathway, they once had a dream to pull on a Wigan shirt, but never did they think they would play at Wembley - it’s such a special place.”
“It’s such a special trophy to get and hopefully we can do it again, I know how much it would mean to the girls and to the club.”
Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Group Stage fixtures:
Group A
Sunday 5 April
Huddersfield Giants v St Helens
Sunday 12 April
Huddersfield Giants v Catalans Dragons
Sunday 19 April
St Helens v Catalans Dragons
Group B
Saturday 4 April
Leigh Leopards v Leeds Rhinos
Sunday 12 April
London Broncos v Leigh Leopards
Sunday 19 April
Leeds Rhinos v London Broncos
Group C
Saturday 4 April
Featherstone Rovers v Wigan Warriors
Saturday 11 April
Wigan Warriors v Cardiff Demons
Saturday 18 April
Cardiff Demons v Featherstone Rovers
Group D
Saturday 11 April
York Valkyrie v Barrow Raiders
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!
