The Wheelchair Challenge Cup is a wheelchair rugby league competition organised by the Rugby Football League.
History
The Wheelchair Challenge Cup was established in 2015.[1] Originally the tournament was played using a knockout format. Halifax defeated Medway Dragons 120–40 in the opening round of the 2015 competition[2] and went on to win the final against Mersey Storm[3][4] before completing the double by winning the league championship.[5] Another double followed for Halifax in 2016 which included a 92–48 win over Leeds Rhinos in the cup final. Leeds had scored over 100 points their previous two rounds but faced a Halifax side who had not lost a match since June 2015.[6][7] Halifax repeated the double again in the 2017 season with a 110–48 cup final win over Leeds that included 15 tries by Jack Brown.[8] Other notable matches included a 160–0 win for Leeds over Argonauts in the opening round and the first all-Scottish match in the competition between Dundee Dragons and Glasgow Panthers in the quarter-finals.[9]
In 2018, a plate competition was introduced which was intended to reduce the number of one-sided fixtures being played. The two plate finalists qualified for the quarter-finals of the cup though the finals of both competitions were played on the same day.[10] Hereford Harriers defeated North Wales Crusaders for the plate and Halifax won the cup competition for the fourth time by defeating Dundee Dragons 62–18 in the final.[11] In 2019, the plate was replaced by Challenge Trophy played as a separate competition competition for teams outside of the Super League. Leeds Rhinos won 74–46 against Argonauts to win the cup for the first time.[12]
In the draw for the 2020 cup, which contained only six teams, two were given byes to the semi-final,[13] but following the cancellation of the 2020 competition a new format was introduced in 2021 with the teams playing in a round-robin tournament.[14] The top two teams qualified for the final which was a repeat of the 2019 final with Leeds retaining the title with a 60–26 victory.[15] The following year it was the top four from the round-robin stage that qualified for the semi-finals. French team, Catalans Dragons, made their début in the competition, but lost in the final to Leeds who claimed the cup for the third time.[16][17] The 2023 competition saw the top two teams advance to the final. Catalans and Leeds were both unbeaten in the qualifiers and drew 4–4 against each other to set up a rematch in the final which Catalans won 66–20 to add the Challenge Cup to their French Championship and Coupe de France titles.[18][19][20]
From 2024, the Challenge Cup reverted to a straight knockout format, like the running game, for the five Super League sides, Catalans Dragons, and the Challenge Trophy finalists.[21][22] Hereford Harriers and Edinburgh Giants, who qualified through the Challenge Trophy, were both knocked out in the quarter-finals.[23] Catalans Dragons retained the title with a 81–18 win over Wigan Warriors in the final.[24]
Results
2015
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Round One | | | Quarter-finals | | | Semi-finals | | | Final |
|
| | | | |
|
| Halifax | 120 |
| | |
| Medway Dragons | 40 | | | |
| | |
| | Halifax | W |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | Halifax | W |
| | | | |
| | | | Leyland Warriors | | | |
| | | | |
| Leyland Warriors | 120 | | |
| | |
| Gravesend Dynamite | 22 | | | Halifax | W |
| | | | | |
| | | | Mersey Storm | |
| | | |
| | |
|
| Mersey Storm | W |
| | |
| Leeds Rhinos | | | |
| | | | | | |
Sources:[a][2][3][4][25]
2016
| Round 1 | | | Quarter-finals | | | Semi-finals | | | Final | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Halifax | 24 | | | |
| Gravesend Dynamite | 102 | | | Gravesend Dynamite | 0 | |
| Hereford Harriers | 32 | | | | | | Halifax | 84 | |
| | | | | | Bradford Bulls | 35 | |
| | | | Hull F.C. | 52 | | | | |
| Bradford Bulls | 72 | | | Bradford Bulls | 62 | |
| Dundee Dragons | 34 | | | | Halifax | 92 | |
| | | | | | | Leeds Rhinos | 48 | |
| | | | Leeds Rhinos | 144 | | | | |
| Glasgow Panthers | 66 | | | Glasgow Panthers | 4 | |
| Keighley Cougars | 18 | | | | | | Leeds Rhinos | 104 | |
| | | | | | Medway Dragons | 48 | |
| | | | Medway Dragons | 48 | | |
| Folkestone Spitfires | 124 | | | Folkestone Spitfires | 26 | |
| Dartford Vipers | 4 | | |
Sources:[26][3][27][28]
2017
Sources:[b][8][29][30]
2018
| Quarter-finals | | Semi-finals | | Final |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|
| Dundee Dragons | 46 |
| |
| Medway Dragons | 10 | |
| Dundee Dragons | 24 |
| |
| | St Helens | 0 | |
| Hereford Harriers | 42 |
| | |
| St Helens | 44 | |
| Dundee Dragons | 18 |
| |
| | Halifax | 62 |
| Leyland Warriors | 24 |
| | |
| Halifax | 92 | |
| Halifax | 68 |
| |
| | Leeds Rhinos | 42 | |
| Argonauts | |
| |
| Leeds Rhinos | | |
|
Sources:[c][d][10][11][32][33][34][35]
2019
| Round One | | Semi-finals | | Final |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| 30 June | | | | | |
|
| Argonauts | 104 |
| 21 July |
| St Helens | 4 | |
| Argonauts | 78 |
| 30 June |
| | North Wales Crusaders | 27 | |
| North Wales Crusaders | 64 |
| | 17 August |
| Hereford Harriers | 51 | |
| Leeds Rhinos | 74 |
| |
| | Argonauts | 46 |
|
| 30 June | |
| |
| Leeds Rhinos | 62 |
| |
| | | Halifax | 48 | |
|
| |
| |
|
source:[36][37][38]
2021
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | | LEE | ARG | HAL | LEY | HUL | NWC |
1 | Leeds Rhinos | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 24 | +100 | 10 | | | 16–6 | 20–12 | 24–0 | 30–6 | 34–0 |
2 | Argonauts | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 84 | 52 | +32 | 7 | | | | 6–6 | 22–6 | 24–12 | 26–12 |
3 | Halifax Panthers | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 76 | 58 | +18 | 7 | | | | | 8–6 | 24–12 | 26–14 |
4 | Leyland Warriors | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 57 | 88 | −31 | 3 | | | | | | 16–16 | 29–18 |
5 | Hull F.C. | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 58 | 104 | −46 | 3 | | | | | | | 12–10 |
6 | North Wales Crusaders | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 54 | 127 | −73 | 0 | | | | | | | |
Source: [14]
| Final | |
| | | | |
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos | 60 | |
|
| 2 | Argonauts | 26 | |
2022
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | | LEE | CAT | WIG | HAL | LON | HUL | WAR |
1 | Leeds Rhinos | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 12 | +88 | 12 | | | 8–0 | 8–6 | 24–6 | 20–0 | 18–0 | 22–0 |
2 | Catalans Dragons | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 162 | 16 | +146 | 10 | | | | 20–4 | 42–0 | 30–4 | 30–0 | 40–0 |
3 | Wigan Warriors | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 97 | 42 | +55 | 8 | | | | | 11–2 | 10–6 | 36–6 | 30–0 |
4 | Halifax Panthers | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 72 | 83 | −11 | 6 | | | | | | 10–6 | 36–0 | 18–0 |
5 | London Roosters | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 80 | −34 | 4 | | | | | | | 10–6 | 20–4 |
6 | Hull F.C. | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 30 | 134 | −104 | 2 | | | | | | | | 18–4 |
7 | Warrington Wolves | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 148 | −140 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
Source: [16]
| Semi-finals | | | Final | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos | 36 | | |
|
| 4 | Halifax Panthers | 6 | |
| | Leeds Rhinos | 48 | |
| | |
| | | Catalans Dragons | 34 | |
| 2 | Catalans Dragons | 30 | |
| |
| 3 | Wigan Warriors | 6 | |
2023
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | | CAT | LEE | HUL | HAL | LON | WAR | WIG |
1 | Catalans Dragons | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | | | 4–4 | 16–0 | | 1–0 | | |
2 | Leeds Rhinos | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | | | | 12–4 | | | | |
3 | Hull F.C. | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | | | | | 8–4 | 8–4 | 12–2 | 16–0 |
4 | Halifax Panthers | 6 | — | — | 3+ | — | | | | | | | | |
5 | London Roosters | 6 | — | — | 3+ | — | | | | | | | | |
6 | Warrington Wolves | 6 | — | — | 3+ | — | | | | | | | | |
7 | Wigan Warriors | 6 | — | — | 3+ | — | | | | | | | | |
Source: [20][e]
| Final | |
| | | | |
| 1 | Catalans Dragons | 66 | |
|
| 2 | Leeds Rhinos | 20 | |
2024
Source:[38][23][39][40][41][42][24]
Finals
Results by club
Challenge Trophy
In 2018, the Rugby Football League introduced a Plate competition as part of the Challenge Cup.[10] It was planned to continue in 2019,[45] but was instead replaced by the inaugural Wheelchair Challenge Trophy.[46] The Challenge Trophy is played alongside the Challenge Cup, for teams outside the Super League. This was originally played as a separate competition,[47] but in 2024 it was announced that the two finalists would qualify to take part in the Challenge Cup.[22]
Results by club
Team | Winners | Runners-up |
Gravesend Dynamite | 4 | 0 |
Hereford Harriers | 2 | 0 |
Edinburgh Giants | 0 | 1 |
Hull | 0 | 1 |
Mersey Storm | 0 | 1 |
North Wales Crusaders | 0 | 1 |
Sheffield Eagles | 0 | 1 |
Warrington Wolves | 0 | 1 |
See also
Sports portal
Notes
- ^ Bracket is based on known results and therefore incomplete
- ^ Bracket is shown from the quarter-finals stage as reports giving round one results appear incomplete, but known results included: Dundee Dragons 86–4 Keighley Cougars, Leeds Rhinos 160–0 Argonauts, and Glasgow received a bye[9]
- ^ a b Dundee and Hereford qualified for the cup by reaching the final of the plate competition and because Dundee reached the final of the cup their place in the plate final was taken by North Wales Crusaders[31]
- ^ Dundee were awarded a 24-0 win in the semi-final as St Helens forfeited the match
- ^ Catalans and Leeds were joint top and Hull finished third, other teams are listed alphabetically as results given in the report are incomplete
References
- ^ a b "Wheelchair Rugby League 2015". www.rugby-league.com. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Dragons out browned by Halifax". www.rugby-league.com. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Challenge Cup round up". www.rugby-league.com. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "Season Review". Spider-Y. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016.
- ^ "Ten-try hero helps Halifax make winning start to 2016 Wheelchair League". www.rugby-league.com. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos and Halifax to contest Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Club of the Week | Halifax WRL". www.rugby-league.com. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Brown scores 15 tries as Halifax win Wheelchair Challenge Cup". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ a b "All-Scottish tie tops bill in Wheelchair RL Challenge Cup quarter final draw". www.rugby-league.com. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Wheelchair RL boasts growth for 2018". www.rugby-league.com. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Halifax retain Wheelchair Challenge Cup title". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ a b Hall, Ben (19 August 2019). "Rhinos Wheelchair Rugby League team win Challenge Cup". Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "Wheelchair Cup and Trophy draws take place". www.rugby-league.com. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Leeds Rhinos and Argonauts to meet in Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Halliwell's Five Tries Inspire Leeds To Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Triumph". The Sportsman. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Leeds Rhinos to face Catalans Dragons in 2022 Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ a b Hall, Ben (June 26, 2022). "Rhinos slay Dragons to win third Wheelchair Challenge Cup in a row".
- ^ "Wheelchair Challenge Cup takes centre stage as Rugby League Inclusion Festival heads to Hull". www.rugby-league.com. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Catalans Dragons 66-20 Leeds Rhinos: French side clinch Wheelchair Challenge Cup final victory". Sky Sports.
- ^ a b "Leeds to face Catalans in 2023 Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Giants and Harriers join Dragons and Warriors in Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup". www.rugby-league.com. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Format and fixtures revealed for Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup". www.rugby-league.com. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup: Three sides through to the semi-finals; Hull FC or Catalans Dragons set to join them". www.rugby-league.com. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Catalans thrash Wigan to win Wheelchair Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Leyland progress at the expense of the Dynamite". www.rugby-league.com. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Halifax win 2016 Wheelchair RL Challenge Cup". www.rugby-league.com. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Challenge Cup 2016". Spider-Y. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos and Halifax to contest Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Wheelchair RL Challenge Cup semi-finals confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Leeds and Halifax reach Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Wheelchair Rugby Plate Cup Final 2018. 20 August 2018. Event occurs at 7:19. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Saints WRLC through to semi-final". St Helens R.F.C. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Wheelchair Rugby Challenge Cup Final 2018. 20 August 2018. Event occurs at 2:18. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Halifax V Leyland - Wheelchair Rugby League - Challenge Cup & League Fixture (2018). 31 July 2018. Event occurs at 4:34. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Wheelchair Rugby League: Highlights & Interview - Challenge Cup Semi Final 2018. 17 August 2018. Event occurs at 2:49. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Wheelchair Challenge Cup triumph for Leeds Rhinos". www.rugby-league.com. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ Crusaders v Argonauts semi final 21 July 2019. 21 July 2019. Event occurs at 1:25:09. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Match Centre". www.rugby-league.com.
- ^ "And there's more! It's the semi-finals of the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup on Saturday". www.rugby-league.com. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Dragons and Warriors through to the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Catalans and Wigan reach wheelchair cup final". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c722d5zwwero
- ^ "Wheelchair Challenge Cup final set for Huddersfield". www.rugby-league.com. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "University to host Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.hull.ac.uk. June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Give Wheelchair Rugby League a try at the 2019 Season Launch this weekend". www.rugby-league.com. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Hull FC Wheelchair Rugby League". Hull F.C. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Leeds to face Catalans in 2023 Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final". www.rugby-league.com. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Rugby League Challenge Trophy success leaves Gravesend Dynamite on a roll as they prepare for 10th season of wheelchair rugby action". Kent Online. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ Ltd, Go Media. "Wheelchair Trophy Final Report". Sheffield Eagles.
- ^ "What's on this week". Leeds Rhinos. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Hereford Harriers crowned Wheelchair Challenge Trophy champions". RFL. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
World Cup | |
---|
International | |
---|
National teams | |
---|
Domestic / Club Competitions | |
---|
Rugby league in Great Britain |
---|
Nations and regions | |
---|
Federations | |
---|
National teams | |
---|
Women's national teams | |
---|
Leagues | |
---|
Cups | |
---|
Former competitions | |
---|