The Group Stage of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup continues with the second round this weekend (April 11/12) as teams continue to fight for their place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 30 May.
Kicking off the weekend are debutants, Catalans Dragons, who feature in the competition for the first time in 2026. The Dragons will be looking to make their mark in the competition, playing all of their games on English soil.
Another side starting their campaign this weekend is London Broncos, who face Leigh Leopards on Sunday (12 April).
The Broncos finished unbeaten as League Leaders in the Northern Championship in 2025 - their inaugural season in the league.
This weekend, they face Leigh, who they previously met in a close fought battle back in 2023 during the National Championship Final, where the Leopards just got the edge:
“We’ve worked really hard since then and we’ve been challenged in different ways,” said London Broncos’ Polly Roberts, who steps into a new role as Club Captain this season.
“We’ve also been training a lot harder, we’ve got new facilities, new branding, new owners – everything is just moving in the right direction, and I think them beating us in the final adds a little bit more motivation for us to beat them this weekend.”
After their successes in the Northern Championship last season, the Broncos are convinced they can take it one step further this year, having made it to the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals in 2025:
“We’re super confident and hopefully we can finish on a high and at the top, that’s our end goal this season.”
Fellow Northern Championship team Cardiff Demons will also play this weekend, travelling up North to face Wigan Warriors at the Edge Hall Road Community Stadium (12 April).
The Demons have made it to the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals for the past three years and will be hoping they can finally make it that one step further this year.
York Valkyrie and Barrow Raiders will also meet this weekend, playing their only game of the group stages.
Despite finding great success in the Betfred Women’s Super League, the Valkyrie are yet to find their feet in the Challenge Cup, making it to the final just once and leaving runners-up.
This year they’ll be looking to change that statistic and make it all the way to Wembley Stadium on Saturday 30 May.
Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Group Stage fixtures:
Group A
Sunday 12 April
Huddersfield Giants v Catalans Dragons (KO 1pm, Laund Hill)
Group B
Sunday 12 April
London Broncos v Leigh Leopards (KO 2pm, The Hazelwood Centre)
Group C
Saturday 11 April
Wigan Warriors v Cardiff Demons (KO 2pm, Edge Hall Road Community Stadium)
Group D
Saturday 11 April
York Valkyrie v Barrow Raiders (KO 2pm, LNER Community Stadium)
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: Mediapac Sports Photography
