2023 Women's Challenge Cup

{{Short description|Women's rugby league competition}}

{{Infobox Rugby football league challenge cup

|title = 2023 Women's Challenge Cup

|logo =

|alt = <|--Alt text for image-->

|caption =

|pixels =

|duration = Group stage plus three knockout rounds

|no_of_teams = 16

|highest_attendance =

|lowest_attendance =

|avg_attendance =

|TV = BBC Sport

|biggest_home_win = York Valkyrie 122–0 Hull KR
{{small|(7 May 2023)}}

|biggest_away_win = Castleford Tigers 0–106 St Helens
{{small|(7 May 2023)}}

|season = 2023

|season_champs =

|season_champ_name = Winners

|second_place =

|MVP =

|MVP_link = Player of the Match

|top_scorer =

|top_try_scorer =

|prevseason_link = 2022 Women's Challenge Cup

|prevseason_year = 2022

|nextseason_link = 2024 Women's Challenge Cup

|nextseason_year = 2024

}}

The 2023 Women's Challenge Cup (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2023 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 11th staging of the Rugby Football League's cup competition for women's rugby league clubs.

Format

The competition used the same format as in 2022 with four groups of four competing in a single round robin with group winners and runners-up advancing to the knockout rounds. The group stage draw took place on 12 January.{{cite news |title=Challenge Cup 2023: Draw details for women's and men's competitions as St Helens and Wigan Warriors defend titles |url=https://www.skysports.com/amp/rugby-league/news/12206/12785155/challenge-cup-2023-draw-details-for-womens-and-mens-competitions-as-st-helens-and-wigan-warriors-defend-titles |work=Sky Sports |date=12 January 2023}}

class="wikitable"

|+ Groups

width=25%| Group 1

!width=25%| Group 2

!width=25%| Group 3

!width=25%| Group 4

*Featherstone Rovers

|

|

|

Group stage

The fixture list for the group stage was published on 16 February 2023.{{cite web |title=Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup: Our League to stream Cardiff Demons versus Wigan Warriors |url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61417/betfred-womens-challenge-cup-our-league-to-stream-cardiff-demons-versus-wigan-warriors- |publisher=RFL |access-date=16 February 2023 |date=16 February 2023}}

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center"; cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%

|+ Challenge Cup group fixtures week 1

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=7%|Group

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Home

!rowspan=2 width=6%|Score

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Away

!colspan=3|Match Information

bgcolor="#cccccc"

!width=17%|Date and Time

!width=22%|Venue

!width=10%|Referee

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |1

| Salford Red Devils

| {{0|0}}8–22

| Featherstone Rovers

| 23 April, 12:00

| AJ Bell Stadium

| J. Pemberton

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Cardiff Demons

| 20–38

| Wigan Warriors

| 23 April, 14:00

| Cardiff University Sports Fields

| R. Apsee

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |2

| Leeds Rhinos

| 72–0{{0|0}}

| Bradford Bulls

| 23 April, 13:00

| Weetwood Sports Park

| F. Lincoln

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Oulton Raidettes

| {{0|0}}4–54

| Huddersfield Giants

| 23 April, 14:00

| Oulton Sports Pavilion

| M. Mckelvey

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |3

| London Broncos

| {{0|0}}0–76

| St Helens

| 22 April, 14:00

| The Rock, Roehampton

| H. Winnard

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Castleford Tigers

| {{0|0}}0–72

| Warrington Wolves

| 23 April, 14:00

| Mend-a-Hose Jungle

| A. Rhodes

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |4

| Barrow Raiders

| {{0|0}}4–44

| York Valkyrie

| 23 April, 14:00

| Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness

| J. Hughes

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Hull Kingston Rovers

| 16–38

| Leigh Leopards

| 23 April; 14:00

| Craven Park, Hull

| D. Frederick

bgcolor=#c1d8ff

! colspan=7 | Source:{{cite news |title=Women's Challenge Cup: Round-up |work=Rugby Leaguer & League Express |pages=24–25 |issue=3376 |date=24 April 2023}}

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center"; cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%

|+ Challenge Cup group fixtures week 2

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=7%|Group

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Home

!rowspan=2 width=6%|Score

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Away

!colspan=3|Match Information

bgcolor="#cccccc"

!width=17%|Date and Time

!width=22%|Venue

!width=10%|Referee

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |1

| Featherstone Rovers

| 10–12

| Wigan Warriors

| 7 May; 12:00

| Post Office Road

| C. Hughes

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Salford Red Devils

| {{0|0}}8–12

| Cardiff Demons

| 7 May; 13:00

| Moor Lane

| S. Houghton

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |2

| Bradford Bulls

| 12–32

| Huddersfield Giants

| 7 May; 14:00

| Horsfall Stadium

| M. Clayton

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Oulton Raidettes

| {{0|000}}0–48{{efn|Match forfeited by Oulton as they were unable to raise a team.{{cite news |title=Challenge Cup tie awarded to Leeds Rhinos after opponents fail to raise a team |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/challenge-cup-tie-awarded-to-leeds-rhinos-after-opponents-fail-to-raise-a-team-4129875 |access-date=5 May 2023 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=4 May 2023 |language=en}} Under the RFL operational rules the match is recorded as a 48–0 win to the non-forfeiting team.}}

| Leeds Rhinos

| colspan=3 {{n/a}}

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |3

| Castleford Tigers

| {{0|00}}0–106

| St Helens

| 7 May; 14:00

| Mend-a-Hose Jungle

| D. Geddes

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Warrington Wolves

| 64–10

| London Broncos

| 7 May; 14:00

| Victoria Park

| O. Ireland

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |4

| York Valkyrie

| 122–0{{0|00}}

| Hull Kingston Rovers

| 7 May; 12:00

| York Community Stadium

| B. Worsley

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Leigh Leopards

| 30–22

| Barrow Raiders

| 7 May; 14:00

| Twist Lane

| L. Flavell

bgcolor=#c1d8ff

! colspan=7 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61714/womens-challenge-cup-round-up-%7C-sunday-7-may |title=Women's Challenge Cup Round-up {{!}} Sunday 7 May |publisher=RFL |date=8 May 2023 |access-date=30 November 2023}}

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center"; cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%

|+ Challenge Cup group fixtures week 3

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=7%|Group

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Home

!rowspan=2 width=6%|Score

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Away

!colspan=3|Match Information

bgcolor="#cccccc"

!width=17%|Date and Time

!width=22%|Venue

!width=10%|Referee

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |1

| Cardiff Demons

| 36–18

| Featherstone Rovers

| 21 May; 14:00

| Cardiff University Sports Fields

| R. Apsee

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Wigan Warriors

| 60–0{{0|0}}

| Salford Red Devils

| 21 May; 14:00

| Robin Park

| S. Houghton

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |2

| Huddersfield Giants

| {{0|0}}0–54

| Leeds Rhinos

| 21 May; 14:00

| Laund Hill

| J. Covell-Wood

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Bradford Bulls

| 38–6{{0|0}}

| Oulton Raidettes

| 21 May; 17:15

| Odsal Stadium

| A. Rhodes

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |3

| London Broncos

| 40–4{{0|0}}

| Castleford Tigers

| 21 May; 14:00

| The Rock, Roehampton

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| St Helens

| 38–4{{0|0}}

| Warrington Wolves

| 21 May; 14:00

| Totally Wicked Stadium

| L. Flavell

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |4

| Hull Kingston Rovers

| 11–20

| Barrow Raiders

| 21 May; 14:00

| Craven Park, Hull

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Leigh Leopards

| {{0|0}}0–54

| York Valkyrie

| 21 May; 14:00

| Twist Lane

|

bgcolor=#c1d8ff

! colspan=7 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61750/cardiff-demons-join-big-guns-in-cup-quarter-final-draw |title=Cardiff Demons join big guns in Cup Quarter-Final draw |publisher=RFL |date=22 May 2023 |access-date=11 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/hull-kr-women-vs-barrow/59195 |title=Hull KR Women 11 – 20 Barrow |website=Sky Sports |access-date=11 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/bradford-vs-oulton-raidettes/59196 |title=Bradford 28 – 6 Oulton Raidettes |website=Sky Sports |access-date=11 January 2023}}

=Standings=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main

|winpoints=2

|start_date=23 April 2023

|for_against_style=points

|style=WDL

|title=Group 1

|team1=WIG|team2=CAR|team3=FEV|team4=SAL

|update=complete

|source=

|win_CAR=2|draw_CAR=0|loss_CAR=1|gf_CAR=68|ga_CAR=64

|win_FEV=1|draw_FEV=0|loss_FEV=2|gf_FEV=50|ga_FEV=56

|win_SAL=0|draw_SAL=0|loss_SAL=3|gf_SAL=16|ga_SAL=94

|win_WIG=3|draw_WIG=0|loss_WIG=0|gf_WIG=110|ga_WIG=30

|name_CAR={{leagueicon|cardiff demons|16}} Cardiff Demons

|name_FEV={{leagueicon|featherstone|16}} Featherstone Rovers

|name_SAL={{leagueicon|salford city|16}} Salford Red Devils

|name_WIG={{leagueicon|wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors

|result1=KO

|result2=KO

|res_col_header=Q

|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to knock-out stages

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main

|winpoints=2

|start_date=23 April 2023

|for_against_style=points

|style=WDL

|title=Group 2

|team1=LEE|team2=HUD|team3=BRA|team4=OUL

|update=complete

|source=

|win_BRA=1|draw_BRA=0|loss_BRA=2|gf_BRA=50|ga_BRA=110

|win_HUD=2|draw_HUD=0|loss_HUD=1|gf_HUD=86|ga_HUD=70

|win_LEE=3|draw_LEE=0|loss_LEE=0|gf_LEE=174|ga_LEE=0

|win_OUL=0|draw_OUL=0|loss_OUL=3|gf_OUL=10|ga_OUL=140

|name_BRA={{leagueicon|bradford|16}} Bradford Bulls

|name_HUD={{leagueicon|huddersfield|16}} Huddersfield Giants

|name_LEE={{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos

|name_OUL={{league icon|Oulton|16}} Oulton Raidettes

|result1=KO

|result2=KO

|res_col_header=Q

|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to knock-out stages

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main

|winpoints=2

|start_date=22 April 2023

|for_against_style=points

|style=WDL

|title=Group 3

|team1=STH|team2=WAR|team3=LON|team4=CAS

|update=complete

|source=

|win_CAS=0|draw_CAS=0|loss_CAS=3|gf_CAS=4|ga_CAS=218

|win_LON=1|draw_LON=0|loss_LON=2|gf_LON=50|ga_LON=144

|win_STH=3|draw_STH=0|loss_STH=0|gf_STH=220|ga_STH=4

|win_WAR=2|draw_WAR=0|loss_WAR=1|gf_WAR=140|ga_WAR=48

|name_CAS={{leagueicon|castleford|16}} Castleford Tigers

|name_LON={{leagueicon|london broncos|16}} London Broncos

|name_STH={{leagueicon|st helens|16}} St Helens

|name_WAR={{leagueicon|warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves

|result1=KO

|result2=KO

|res_col_header=Q

|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to knock-out stages

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main

|winpoints=2

|start_date=23 April 2023

|for_against_style=points

|style=WDL

|title=Group 4

|team1=YOR|team2=LEI|team3=BAR|team4=HKR

|update=complete

|source=

|win_BAR=1|draw_BAR=0|loss_BAR=2|gf_BAR=46|ga_BAR=85

|win_HKR=0|draw_HKR=0|loss_HKR=3|gf_HKR=27|ga_HKR=180

|win_LEI=2|draw_LEI=0|loss_LEI=1|gf_LEI=68|ga_LEI=96

|win_YOR=3|draw_YOR=0|loss_YOR=0|gf_YOR=224|ga_YOR=4

|name_BAR={{leagueicon|barrow|16}} Barrow Raiders

|name_HKR={{leagueicon|hull kr|16}} Hull Kingston Rovers

|name_LEI={{leagueicon|leigh|16}} Leigh Leopards

|name_YOR={{leagueicon|york rlfc|16}} York Valkyrie

|result1=KO

|result2=KO

|res_col_header=Q

|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to knock-out stages

}}

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Radio Five, on 26 May.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61743/bbc-radio-5-live-to-broadcast-betfred-womens-challenge-cup-quarter-final-draw |title=BBC Radio 5 Live to broadcast Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Final draw |publisher=RFL |date=19 May 2023 |access-date=30 November 2023}} Ties took place over the weekend of 17–18 June.

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center"; cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%

|+ Challenge Cup quarter-final fixtures

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Home

!rowspan=2 width=6%|Score

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Away

!colspan=4|Match Information

bgcolor="#cccccc"

!width=17%|Date and Time

!width=22%|Venue

!width=10%|Referee

!width=7%|Attendance

bgcolor=#f5faff

| {{leagueicon|Leeds|12}} Leeds Rhinos

| 54–0{{0|0}}

| {{leagueicon|Leigh|12}} Leigh Leopards

| 17 June, 13:00

| Headingley Stadium

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| {{leagueicon|Wigan|12}} Wigan Warriors

| 46–10

| {{leagueicon|Huddersfield|12}} Huddersfield Giants

| 18 June, 11:30

| Robin Park Arena

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| {{leagueicon|st Helens|12}} St Helens

| 36–0{{0|0}}

| {{leagueicon|Warrington|12}} Warrington Wolves

| 18 June, 12:30

| Totally Wicked Stadium

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| {{leagueicon|York RLFC|12}} York Valkyrie

| 54–0{{0|0}}

| {{leagueicon|Cardiff demons|12}} Cardiff Demons

| 18 June, 14:00

| York Community Stadium

|

|

bgcolor=#c1d8ff

! colspan=7 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61852/betfred-womens-challenge-cup-quarter-finals-round-up |title=Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Finals Round-Up |publisher=RFL |date=19 June 2023 |access-date=11 January 2023}}

Semi-finals

Ties took place over the weekend of 22–23 July, each being part of a double header with one of the men's semi-finals; St Helens v York was played with the Leigh v St Helens men's game and Wigan v Leeds was played with the Hull KR v Wigan men's game. Both of the women's matches were broadcast live on the BBC Sport website.{{cite web |title=Venues and broadcast details confirmed for Betfred Challenge Cup Semi-Finals |url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61851/venues-and-broadcast-details-confirmed-for-betfred-challenge-cup-semi-finals |website=www.rugby-league.com |publisher=RFL |access-date=19 June 2023 |date=19 June 2023}}

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center"; cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%

|+ Challenge Cup semi-final fixtures

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Team A

!rowspan=2 width=6%|Score

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Team B

!colspan=4|Match Information

bgcolor="#cccccc"

!width=17%|Date and Time

!width=22%|Venue

!width=10%|Referee

!width=7%|Attendance

bgcolor=#f5faff

| {{Leagueicon|st Helens|12}} St Helens

| 17–16

| {{Leagueicon|York rlfc|13}} York Valkyrie

| 22 July, 11:45

| Halliwell Jones Stadium

| A. Belafonte

| 12,113{{efn|attendance combined for both the women's and the men's games.}}

bgcolor=#f5faff

| {{Leagueicon|Wigan|12}} Wigan Warriors

| {{0|0}}4–16

| {{Leagueicon|Leeds|12}} Leeds Rhinos

| 23 July, 14:15

| Headingley

| E. Burrow

| 10,926{{efn|attendance combined for both the women's and the men's games.}}

bgcolor=#c1d8ff

! colspan=7 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62026/betfred-womens-challenge-cup-final-preview |title=Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Final Preview |publisher=RFL |date=10 August 2023 |access-date=11 January 2023}}

Final

{{main|2023 Women's Challenge Cup final}}

On 12 August 2022, the RFL announced that the Women's Challenge Cup Final would make its Wembley debut, and be played as a double header with the men's final. The final was played on 12 August 2023.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/62518840 | title=Challenge Cup final to return to Wembley in 2023 | work=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2022}}

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center"; cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%

|+ Challenge Cup Final

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Team 1

!rowspan=2 width=6%|Score

!rowspan=2 width=19%|Team 2

!colspan=4|Match Information

bgcolor="#cccccc"

!width=17%|Date and Time

!width=22%|Venue

!width=10%|Referee

!width=7%|Attendance

bgcolor=#f5faff

| {{Leagueicon|Leeds|12}} Leeds Rhinos

| 8–22

| {{Leagueicon|st Helens|12}} St Helens

| 12 August 2023, 12:00

| Wembley Stadium

| J. Vella

|

bgcolor=#c1d8ff

! colspan=7 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/66463498 |title=Women's Challenge Cup final: Leeds Rhinos 8-22 St Helens - Saints win third title in first-ever Wembley final |work=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2023 |access-date=11 January 2023}}

Broadcast matches

class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;"

! Round

! Match

! Date

! Broadcast method

Final

| Leeds Rhinos v St Helens

| 12 August 2023

| Broadcast live on BBC Two

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Women's Challenge Cup}}

{{2023 in rugby league}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Challenge Cup}}

Category:2023 in English rugby league

Category:2023 in women's rugby league

2023

rugby league