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2024 Women's Challenge Cup

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

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox Rugby football league challenge cup

|title = 2024 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 =

|biggest_home_win = {{ubl|Huddersfield Giants 74–0 Hull KR|{{small|(16 March)}}|York Valkyrie 80–6 Featherstone Rovers|{{small|(6 April)}}|St Helens 74–0 Huddersfield Giants|{{small|(13 April)}}|York Valkyrie 74–0 Featherstone Rovers|{{small|(14 April)}}}}

|biggest_away_win = {{ubl|Hull KR 0–90 Leeds Rhinos|{{small|(24 March)}}}}

|season = 2024

|season_champs = St Helens

|season_champ_name = Winners

|second_place = Leeds Rhinos

|MVP =

|MVP_link = Player of the Match

|top_scorer =

|top_try_scorer =

|prevseason_link = 2023 Women's Challenge Cup

|prevseason_year = 2023

|nextseason_link = 2025 Women's Challenge Cup

|nextseason_year = 2025

}}

The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup (sponsored as the 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 12th staging of the Rugby Football League's cup competition for women's rugby league clubs. The final took place on 8 June 2024 as part of a triple-header at Wembley Stadium alongside the men's final, and the final of the 1895 Cup.{{cite web|title=Sheffield Eagles to join Super League heavyweights in 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup |url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62370/sheffield-eagles-to-join-super-league-heavyweights-in-2024-betfred-womens-challenge-cup |publisher=Rugby-League.com |date=22 December 2023 |access-date=23 December 2023}}

Format

The competition used the same format as in 2023 with four groups of four competing in a single round robin with group winners and runners-up advancing to the knockout rounds. The teams were announced on 22 December 2023 and the group stage draw took place on 10 January.

St Helens, winners in 2023, were in the top seed pool alongside Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, and York Valkyrie. The four remaining Super League teams were in pool two. The other pools consisted of teams from the regional leagues with pool three containing sides who took part in the 2023 Super League. Hull KR and 2023 Super League South grand finalists Cardiff Demons and London Broncos were in pool four with Sheffield Eagles who were making their debut in the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/challenge-cup-group-stage-draw-details-confirmed-amid-league-restructure-as-st-helens-target-four-peat |title=Challenge Cup group stage draw details confirmed amid league restructure as St Helens target four-peat |publisher=Love Rugby League |date=22 December 2023 |access-date=23 December 2023}}

class="wikitable"

|+ Seeding pots for group stage draw

width=25%| Pool 1

!width=25%| Pool 2

!width=25%| Pool 3

!width=25%| Pool 4

*Leeds Rhinos

|

|

|

The draw for the group stages and the quarter finals was made on 10 January.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62385/angela-powers-to-conduct-betfred-womens-challenge-cup-draw-this-wednesday |title=Angela Powers to conduct Betfred Women's Challenge Cup draw this Wednesday|publisher=RFL |date=8 January 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024}}{{cite news |title=Women's Challenge Cup: St Helens face Warrington, Bradford and London Broncos in trophy defence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/67935725 |access-date=10 January 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=10 January 2024}} Each of the four top-seeded teams had only one home game in the group stage.{{cite web |title=York Valkyrie learn 2024 Challenge Cup Group Stage opponents |url=https://www.yorkrlfc.com/post/york-valkyrie-learn-2024-challenge-cup-group-stage-opponents |publisher=York RLFC |access-date=10 January 2024 |language=en |date=10 January 2024}}

class="wikitable"

|+ Groups

width=25%| Group 1

!width=25%| Group 2

!width=25%| Group 3

!width=25%| Group 4

*Sheffield Eagles

|

|

|

When the group stage fixtures were announced on 24 January, it was also announced that Castleford Tigers had withdrawn from the competition and group 1 would, therefore, comprise only three clubs.{{cite news |title=Women's Challenge Cup: Castleford Tigers withdraw as opening fixtures announced |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/68083447 |access-date=24 January 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=24 January 2024}}

Group stage

Games were scheduled to take place in March and April.

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

|+ Challenge Cup group stage, round one fixtures

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=5%|Gp

!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

| 1

| Sheffield Eagles

| 10–74

| York Valkyrie

| 17 March, 14:00

| Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |2

| Cardiff Demons

| 22–16

| Barrow Raiders

| 16 March, 14:00

| Cardiff University Sports Fields

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Salford Red Devils

| {{0|0}}0–68

| Wigan Warriors

| 17 March, 14:15

| Salford Community Pitches

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |3

| Bradford Bulls

| {{0|0}}4–52

| Warrington Wolves

| 16 March, 14:00

| Odsal Stadium

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| St Helens

| 64–0{{0|0}}

| London Broncos

| 16 March, 15:00

| Totally Wicked Stadium

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 |4

| Huddersfield Giants

| 74–0{{0|0}}

| Hull KR

| 16 March, 12:00

| Kirklees Stadium

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Leigh Leopards

| {{0|0}}4–52

| Leeds Rhinos

| 17 March, 12:00

| Twist Lane

|

|

style="background:#c1d8ff;"

! colspan=9 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62559/betfred-womens-challenge-cup-review-%7C-round-1 |title=Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Review {{!}} Round 1 |publisher=RFL |date=18 March 2024 |access-date=23 March 2024}}

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

|+ Challenge Cup group stage, round two fixtures

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=5%|Gp

!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

| 2

| Cardiff Demons

| 58–0{{0|0}}

| Salford Red Devils

| 23 March, 14:00

| Cardiff University Sports Fields

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| 3

| Bradford Bulls

| C–C

| St Helens

| colspan=4 |Match forfeited by Bradford Bulls. Awarded as a 48–0 win to St Helens.{{cite web |title=Saints Women's trip to Bradford cancelled |url=https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2024/03/22/saints-womens-trip-to-bradford-cancelled/ |website=St.Helens R.F.C. |access-date=22 March 2024 |date=22 March 2024}}

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 | 4

| Leigh Leopards

| {{0|0}}6–36

| Huddersfield Giants

| 23 March, 14:00

| Twist Lane

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Hull KR

| {{0|0}}0–90

| Leeds Rhinos

| 24 March, 14:00

| Craven Park

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| 1

| Featherstone Rovers

| 38–6{{0|0}}

| Sheffield Eagles

| 24 March, 12:00

| Post Office Road

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| 2

| Barrow Raiders

| 18–20

| Wigan Warriors

| 24 March, 14:00

| Craven Park

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| 3

| London Broncos

| {{0|0}}6–24

| Warrington Wolves

| 24 March, 15:30

| Rosslyn Park F.C.

|

|

style="background:#c1d8ff;"

! colspan=9 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62594/betfred-womens-challenge-cup-review-%7C-round-2 |title=Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Review {{!}} Round 2 |publisher=RFL |date=25 March 2024 |access-date=26 March 2024}}{{efn|For the Hull KR v Leeds match, BBC Sport and Hull KR gave the score as 0–90,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/scores-fixtures/2024-03-24 |title=Rugby League Scores & Fixtures: Sun 24 March |work=BBC Sport |date=24 March 2024 |access-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326130149/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/scores-fixtures/2024-03-24 |archive-date=26 March 2024 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://hullkr.co.uk/team/womens-team/fixtures |title=Women's Fixtures |publisher=Hull KR |access-date=26 March 2024}} as does the RFL "match centre", but the RFL review article gave the score as 0–92, noting this to equal the club record for Leeds (set in the 2022 Women's Challenge Cup). The description on the Leeds match report also initially stated the score to be 0–92 but was later amended to 0–90. The description credits all 13 goals to Enright – setting an individual club record total of 38 points (3 tries and 13 goals), but the score list of has only 12 goals by Enright and one by Whitehead.{{cite web|url=https://www.therhinos.co.uk/match-report/824 |title=Match Report: Hull KR 0 90 Leeds Rhinos |publisher=Leeds Rhinos |date=25 March 2024 |access-date=26 March 2024}}}}

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

|+ Challenge Cup group stage, round three fixtures

bgcolor="#c1d8ff"

!rowspan=2 width=5%|Gp

!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

| 1

| York Valkyrie

| 80–6{{0|0}}

| Featherstone Rovers

| 6 April, 13:00

| York St John Sports Park

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| 3

| Warrington Wolves

| {{0|0}}6–58

| St Helens

| 7 April, 11:00

| Dallam Playing Fields

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 | 4

| Leeds Rhinos

| 54–10

| Huddersfield Giants

| 7 April, 12:00

| West Park RUFC

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Hull KR

| {{0|0}}0–46

| Leigh Leopards

| 7 April, 14:00

| Craven Park

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| rowspan=2 | 2

| Wigan Warriors

| 44–4{{0|0}}

| Cardiff Demons

| 7 April, 14:00

| Robin Park Arena

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Salford Red Devils

| {{0|0}}0–46

| Barrow Raiders

| 7 April, 14:00

| Salford Community Pitches

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| 3

| London Broncos

| 48–0{{0|0}}

| Bradford Bulls

| 7 April, 15:30

| Rosslyn Park F.C.

|

|

style="background:#c1d8ff;"

! colspan=9 | Source:{{cite news |title=Round Up: Women's Challenge Cup - Group Stage |work=Rugby Leaguer & League Express |pp=24–25 |issue=3425 |date=8 April 2024}}

=Standings=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main

|winpoints=2

|start_date=16 March

|for_against_style=points

|style=WDL

|title=Group 1

|team1=YOR|team2=FEV|team3=SHF

|update=complete

|source={{cite news |title=Betfred Women's Challenge Cup - Tables |work=Rugby Leaguer & League Express |pp=34 |issue=3425 |date=8 April 2024}}

|win_FEV=1|draw_FEV=0|loss_FEV=1|gf_FEV=44|ga_FEV=86

|win_SHF=0|draw_SHF=0|loss_SHF=2|gf_SHF=16|ga_SHF=112

|win_YOR=2|draw_YOR=0|loss_YOR=0|gf_YOR=154|ga_YOR=16

|name_FEV={{league icon|featherstone|14}} Featherstone Rovers

|name_SHF={{league icon|sheffield|14}} Sheffield Eagles

|name_YOR={{league icon|york rlfc|14}} York Valkyrie

|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=16 March

|for_against_style=points

|style=WDL

|title=Group 2

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

|update=complete

|source=

|win_BAR=1|draw_BAR=0|loss_BAR=2|gf_BAR=80|ga_BAR=42

|win_CAR=2|draw_CAR=0|loss_CAR=1|gf_CAR=84|ga_CAR=60

|win_SAL=0|draw_SAL=0|loss_SAL=3|gf_SAL=0|ga_SAL=172

|win_WIG=3|draw_WIG=0|loss_WIG=0|gf_WIG=132|ga_WIG=22

|name_BAR={{league icon|barrow|14}} Barrow Raiders

|name_CAR={{league icon|Cardiff Demons|14}} Cardiff Demons

|name_SAL={{league icon|salford city|14}} Salford Red Devils

|name_WIG={{league icon|wigan|14}} 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=16 March

|for_against_style=points

|style=WDL

|title=Group 3

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

|update=complete

|source=

|win_BRA=0|draw_BRA=0|loss_BRA=3|gf_BRA=4|ga_BRA=148

|win_LON=1|draw_LON=0|loss_LON=2|gf_LON=54|ga_LON=88

|win_STH=3|draw_STH=0|loss_STH=0|gf_STH=170|ga_STH=6

|win_WAR=2|draw_WAR=0|loss_WAR=1|gf_WAR=82|ga_WAR=68

|name_BRA={{league icon|bradford|14}} Bradford Bulls

|name_LON={{league icon|London Broncos|14}} London Broncos

|name_STH={{league icon|st helens|14}} St Helens

|name_WAR={{league icon|warrington|14}} 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=16 March

|for_against_style=points

|style=WDL

|title=Group 4

|team1=LEE|team2=HUD|team3=LEI|team4=HKR

|update=complete

|source=

|win_HUD=2|draw_HUD=0|loss_HUD=1|gf_HUD=120|ga_HUD=60

|win_HKR=0|draw_HKR=0|loss_HKR=3|gf_HKR=0|ga_HKR=210

|win_LEE=3|draw_LEE=0|loss_LEE=0|gf_LEE=196|ga_LEE=14

|win_LEI=1|draw_LEI=0|loss_LEI=2|gf_LEI=56|ga_LEI=88

|name_HUD={{league icon|huddersfield|14}} Huddersfield Giants

|name_HKR={{league icon|hull kr|14}} Hull KR

|name_LEE={{league icon|leeds|14}} Leeds Rhinos

|name_LEI={{league icon|leigh|14}} Leigh Leopards

|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 Merseyside, on 10 January following the draw for the group stage.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62389/betfred-womens-challenge-cup-draws-for-group-stage-and-quarter-finals- |title=Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup: Draws for group stage and quarter-finals |publisher=RFL |date=10 January 2024 |access-date=11 January 2024}}

Ties were played over the weekend of 13/14 April.

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

| Leeds Rhinos

| 70–10

| Warrington Wolves

| 13 April, 12:00

| Headingley

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| St Helens

| 74–0{{0|0}}

| Huddersfield Giants

| 13 April, 12:00

| Crusaders Park, Thatto Heath

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Wigan Warriors

| 44–4{{0|0}}

| Cardiff Demons

| 13 April, 14:00

| Leigh Miners Rangers

|

|

bgcolor=#f5faff

| York Valkyrie

| 70–0{{0|0}}

| Featherstone Rovers

| 14 April, 14:00

| York Community Stadium

|

|

style="background:#c1d8ff;"

! colspan=8 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62647/mens-and-womens-quarter-finals-review-&-semi-finals-confirmed-%7C-betfred-challenge-cup- |title=Men's and Women’s Quarter-Finals Review & Semi-Finals confirmed {{!}} Betfred Challenge Cup |publisher=RFL |date=14 April 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024}}

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made during the half time break at the men's quarter-final between St Helens and Warrington. The matches were played on 18 and 19 May, as part of double headers alongside the men's semi finals.

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%|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

| St Helens

| 32–2{{0|0}}

| York Valkyrie

| 18 May, 11:15am

| Eco Power Stadium

| A. Belafonte

| 11,163{{efn|name=attendance| attendance combined for both the men's, and women's game}}

bgcolor=#f5faff

| Wigan Warriors

| 20–34

| Leeds Rhinos

| 19 May, 12:30pm

| Totally Wicked Stadium

| A. Williams

| {{efn|name=attendance}}

style="background:#c1d8ff;"

! colspan=8 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62755/wembley-finalists-confirmed-for-june-8 |title=Wembley Finalists confirmed for June 8 |publisher=RFL |date=19 May 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024}}

Final

{{main|2024 Women's Challenge Cup final}}

The final was played as part of a triple header, alongside the Men's Final, and the 2024 RFL 1895 Cup final.

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

| St Helens

| 22–0{{0|0}}

| Leeds Rhinos

| 8 June 2024

| Wembley Stadium

| Aaron Moore

| 9,608{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/2025-challenge-cup-finals-day-date-venue-ticket-information-revealed-by-rfl |title=2025 Challenge Cup finals day date, venue & ticket information revealed by RFL |website=Love Rugby League |date=9 June 2024 |access-date=12 May 2025}}

bgcolor=#c1d8ff

! colspan=7 | Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cxwwpzx7mylo |title=Saints beat Leeds to retain Women's Challenge Cup |work=BBC Sport |date=8 June 2024 |access-date=9 June 2024}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Women's Challenge Cup}}

{{2024 in rugby league}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Challenge Cup}}

Category:2024 in English rugby league

Category:2024 in Welsh rugby league

Category:2024 in women's rugby league

2024

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