The draw for the opening rounds of the men´s and women´s 2023 Challenge Cups was made on Thursday night at Wembley Stadium, the venue for the final of both competitions in a double header in seven months’ time.
The balls were drawn by Kai Pearce-Paul from holders, Wigan Warriors and Eboni Partington from the Women´s cup holders, St Helens.
The draws were made as follows.
The Men´s draw for the first round consisted of 36 community clubs and theeighteen winners would then be joined in the second round by twenty more clubs comprising amateur sides from the Premier League of the National Championship and ten sides from Championship One.
Men´s Draw
Round 1 – 11/12 February
Fryston Warriors v Thornhill Trojans
Featherstone Lions v Great Britain Police
Skirlaugh v Wests Warriors
Hull Dockers v Rhondda Outlaws
London Chargers v North Herts Crusaders
Doncaster Toll Bar v RAF
Hammersmith Hills Hoists v Dublin City Exiles
Brentwood Eels v Bedford Tigers
Stanningley v Milford
Royal Navy v Barrow Island
West Bowling v Waterhead
Westgate Common v Crosfields
British Army v Ashton Bears
Edinburgh Eagles v Saddleworth Rangers
Wigan St Pats v Ince Rose Bridge
Distington v Orrell St James
Heworth v Oulton Raiders
Jarrow Vikings v Myton Warriors
Round 2 – 25/26 February
Jarrow Vikings/Myton Warriors v Leigh Miners Rangers
Skirlaugh/Wests Warriors v London Chargers/North Herts Crusaders
Hull Dockers/Rhondda Outlaws v Midlands Hurricanes
British Army/Ashton Bears v Dewsbury Rams
Fryston Warriors/Thornhull Trojans v Stanningley/Milford
Workington Town v Wigan St Pats/Ince Rose Bridge
Rochdale Hornets v London Skolars
Distington/Orrell St James v Hammersmith Hills Hoists/Dublin City Exiles
Cornwall v Rochdale Mayfield
Hunslet v Heworth/Oulton Raiders
Siddal v West Hull
Brentwood Eels/Bedford Tigers v Wash Brow Hornets
North Wales Crusaders v Royal Navy/Barrow Island
Doncaster Toll Bar/RAF v York Acorn
Lock Lane v West Bowling/Waterhead
Featherstone Lions/GB Police v Westgate Common/Crosfields
Hunslet v Pilkington Recs
Doncaster v Oldham
Edinburgh Eagles/Saddleworth Rangers v Thatto Heath Crusaders
The Women´s competition will start with a pool phase with four groups of four sides from inside and outside the Women´s Superleague.
Women´s Pool Draw – Starts 23rd April
Pool 1 – Featherstone Rovers, Salford Red Devils, Cardiff Demons, Wigan Warriors
Pool 2 – Huddersfield Giants, Bradford Bulls, Oulton Raidettes, Leeds Rhinos
Pool 3 – Warrington Wolves, Castleford Tigers, London Broncos, St Helens
Pool 4 – Barrow Raiders, Leigh Leopards, Hull KR, York Valkyrie
