The 2024 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 123rd edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league, run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It began over the weekend of 13–14 January 2024, and ended with the final, at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 June.[1]
The cup was won by Wigan Warriors who beat Warrington Wolves 18–8 before a 64,000 crowd at Wembley.[2]
Wigan's Bevan French was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy.[3]
Leigh Leopards were the defending champions, having won the 2023 Final, defeating Hull Kingston Rovers 17–16 in extra time.[4] They were eliminated in the quarter finals, losing 16–24 to Hull KR.[5]
The competition started on 13 January, and concluded with the final on 8 June.
The Championship and League One clubs joined the tournament in round 3. Rounds 4 and 5 reduced the lower league clubs to four before the Super League clubs enter in round 6.
Toulouse Olympique of the Championship are not full members of the RFL and although invited to take part have declined as in previous years.
The draw for the first round was made by Josh Charnley on 5 December 2023. Ties were played over the weekend of 13 and 14 January 2024.[6]
The draws for the third and fourth rounds were made live on the BBC Sport website on 29 January. The draw took place at Widnes Vikings' DCBL Stadium. Hosted by broadcaster Tanya Arnold, the draw was made by brothers Mike and Steve O'Neill, both of whom played for Widnes in the club's 1983–84 Challenge Cup final victory.
The fifth round draw was conducted on BBC Radio Leeds on 25 February.[11]
The sixth round draw was made on 11 March on BBC Sportsday. The draw was conducted by Iestyn Harris.[13] The ties were played over the weekend of 22–24 March.
The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 25 March.[15] The ties will be played 12–14 April.
The draw for the semi-finals was made on 14 April, during half time in the match between St Helens and Warrington. The ties were played on 18 and 19 May as part of a double header, alongside the women's semi finals.
The tie was played on 8 June as part of a triple header, alongside the women's final, and the 1895 Cup final. Following the death of Rob Burrow on 2 June, the RFL announced that kick-off for the final would be put back from 3pm to 3:07pm to honour Rob and the number seven shirt he wore. Rob's death was also commemorated with a minute's silence before kick-off and with a minute's applause during the seventh minute of the game.[16]