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The 2022 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup, was the 121st edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It started on 15 January 2022 and ended, with the final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28 May.

St Helens were the defending champions going into 2022, but they were eliminated in the semi-final by Wigan Warriors, who went on to win the Final, by narrowly defeating Huddersfield Giants 16-14.

Background

The competition started on 14 January and concluded with the final on 28 May. Traditionally the Challenge Cup final is held at Wembley Stadium in London. Due to scheduling conflicts between Wembley and the RFL due to a BBC request to play the final earlier in the year in May, it was announced that the 2022 Challenge Cup Final would be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The RFL stated that the final would return to Wembley in 2023. The RFL 1895 Cup would also be played for alongside the Challenge Cup.

All professional RFL member clubs were invited to participate as well as a number of invited amateur teams including teams representing the British Armed forces and police forces. This year it was announced that the Super League's Toulouse Olympique, who are not members of the RFL but are invited to take part in the Challenge Cup, had declined their invitation and would not participate. Newly formed Cornwall R.L.F.C. who played in RFL League 1 also decided not to enter the competition.

St Helens were the defending champions going into 2022, however, they were eliminated in the semi final, narrowly losing to Wigan Warriors 18–20.

A new television deal with the BBC came into effect this year, with coverage of more matches of later rounds as well as providing digital coverage of earlier rounds. The Sportsman continued its involvement in streaming games that started in 2021 and the RFL streamed some matches on its own streaming service, Our League. Premier Sports also broadcast a number of cup game as part of the broadcast deal signed with the RFL in October 2021.

Format and dates

First round

The draw for the first round was made at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and ties were played over the weekend of 14–16 January 2022.

Second round

The draw for the second round was made at the same time at the first. Ties were played over the weekend of 29–30 January 2022. This round sees sides from the League 1 enter.

Challenge Cup round 2 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
York Acorn	28–10	Wests Warriors	29 January 2022, 13:30	Thanet Road	A. Johnson	250
British Army	0010–14	Royal Navy	29 January 2022, 14:00	Aldershot Military Stadium	M. Lynn	500
Hunslet Club Parkside	22–12	Stanningley	29 January 2022, 14:00	Hillidge Road	M. Clayton	550
West Hull	16–18	Rochdale Mayfield	29 January 2022, 14:00	West Hull Community Park	A. Sweet	400
Leigh Miners Rangers	08–40	North Wales Crusaders	29 January 2022, 14:30	Twist Lane	K. Moore	—
Pilkington Recs	10–32	Siddal	29 January 2022, 14:30	Ruskin Drive	M. Mannifield	300
London Skolars	40–22	London Chargers	29 January 2022, 15:30	New River Stadium	M. Rossleigh	280
Rochdale Hornets	36–16	Midlands Hurricanes	30 January 2022, 13:00	Spotland Stadium	L. Rush	688
Doncaster	24–60	Thornhill	30 January 2022, 15:00	Keepmoat Stadium	L. Bland	618
Hunslet	22–60	Keighley Cougars	30 January 2022, 15:00	South Leeds Stadium	C. Worsley	637
West Wales Raiders	00–96	Swinton Lions	30 January 2022, 15:00	Stebonheath Park	J. Jones	312
Oldham	12–22	Lock Lane	30 January 2022, 18:00	Whitebank Stadium	B. Milligan	361
Source:

Third round

The draw for the third round was made on 1 February. Ties were played over the weekend of 12–13 February 2022.

Challenge Cup round 3 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Rochdale Mayfield	00–20	Doncaster	12 February 2022, 14:00	Mayfield Sports Centre, Rochdale	B. Milligan	420
Lock Lane	12–28	Rochdale Hornets	12 February 2022, 14:30	Lock Lane Sports Centre, Castleford	M. Mannifield	500
London Skolars	06–28	Hunslet Club Parkside	12 February 2022, 15:30	New River Stadium	J. Jones	130
Royal Navy	22–80	York Acorn	12 February 2022, 16:00	United Services Recreation Ground	M. Rossleigh	300
Hunslet	30–40	Siddal	13 February 2022, 13:00	South Leeds Stadium	A. Sweet	651
Swinton Lions	14–20	North Wales Crusaders	13 February 2022, 15:00	Heywood Road	L. Rush	516
Source:

Fourth round

The draw for the fourth round was made at the same time at the third. Ties were played over the weekend of 26–28 February 2022. This round saw sides from the Championship enter.

Challenge Cup round 4 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
North Wales Crusaders	30–80	Hunslet	26 February 2022; 14:00	Paton Field	M. Smaill	452
Batley Bulldogs	66–60	Royal Navy	27 February 2022; 13:00	Mount Pleasant	L. Rush	1,271
Doncaster	00–60	Whitehaven	27 February 2022; 14:00	Keepmoat Stadium	M. Rossleigh	544
Hunslet Club Parkside	20–40	Sheffield Eagles	27 February 2022; 14:00	South Leeds Stadium	B. Milligan	450
Workington Town	26–12	Dewsbury Rams	27 February 2022; 14:00	Derwent Park	B. Thaler	872
Halifax Panthers	16–29	Featherstone Rovers	27 February 2022; 15:00	The Mbi Shay	M. Griffiths	1,625
London Broncos	08–34	Bradford Bulls	27 February 2022; 15:00	Plough Lane	N. Bennett	551
Rochdale Hornets	12–38	Barrow Raiders	27 February 2022; 15:00	Spotland Stadium	C. Worsley	515
York City Knights	42–13	Newcastle Thunder	27 February 2022; 15:00	York Community Stadium	S. Mikalauskas	1,221
Leigh Centurions	38–40	Widnes Vikings	28 February 2022; 19:45	Leigh Sports Village	J. Child	2,567
Source:

Fifth round

The draw for the fifth round was made on 28 February at the conclusion of the tie between Leigh and Widnes. Ties were played over the weekend of 12–14 March 2022.

Challenge Cup round 5 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
North Wales Crusaders	30–50	Sheffield Eagles	12 March 2022, 13:30	Eirias Stadium	L. Rush	330
Barrow Raiders	32–18	Workington Town	13 March 2022, 13:00	Craven Park	B. Thaler	1,825
Batley Bulldogs	20–54	Featherstone Rovers	13 March 2022, 15:00	Mount Pleasant	J. Vella	1,003
Whitehaven	38–12	York City Knights	13 March 2022, 15:00	Recreation Ground	A. Moore	798
Bradford Bulls	16–20	Leigh Centurions	14 March 2022, 19:45	Odsal Stadium	M. Griffiths	1,221
Source:

Sixth round

The draw for the sixth round was made on 14 March 2022, at Elland Road, Leeds. Ties were played over the weekend of 25–27 March 2022.

Challenge Cup round 6 fixtures

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Wigan Warriors	20–00	Salford Red Devils	25 March 2022, 19:35	DW Stadium	R. Hicks	6,005
Sheffield Eagles	12–58	Hull FC	26 March 2022, 14:00	Post Office Road	J. Child	1,039
Whitehaven	04–46	St Helens		Recreation Ground	T. Grant	4,869
Catalans Dragons	27–14	Featherstone Rovers	26 March 2022, 14:30	Stade Gilbert Brutus	C. Kendall	3,624
Hull KR	24–18	Leigh Centurions	26 March 2022, 15:00	Craven Park	A. Moore	3,088
Leeds Rhinos	16–40	Castleford Tigers	26 March 2022, 16:30	Headingley	L. Moore	5,122
Warrington Wolves	12–16	Wakefield Trinity	27 March 2022, 14:00	Halliwell Jones Stadium	J. Smith	2,627
Barrow Raiders	16–30	Huddersfield Giants	27 March 2022, 16:30	Craven Park	M. Griffiths	3,135
Source:

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made during the half-time broadcast of the sixth-round match between Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers. The draw was hosted by Tanya Arnold, and the teams were drawn by Robbie Hunter-Paul, and John Kear. Ties were played over the weekend of 8–10 April 2022.

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Hull KR	34–10	Castleford Tigers	8 April 2022, 19:45	Hull College Craven Park	R. Hicks
Catalans Dragons	20–36	St Helens	9 April 2022, 14:30	Stade Gilbert Brutus	C. Kendall	8,624
Huddersfield Giants	24–16	Hull FC	9 April 2022, 17:00	John Smiths Stadium	L. Moore	3,637
Wakefield Trinity	06–36	Wigan Warriors	10 April 2022, 14:30	Be Well Support Stadium	J. Child	3,756
Source:

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made on 10 April. The ties were both played at Elland Road, Leeds on 7 May. They formed a triple-header with the final of the 2022 Women's Challenge Cup.

Team 1	Score	Team 2	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Wigan Warriors	20–18	St Helens	7 May 2022, 14:30	Elland Road	J. Child	22,141
Huddersfield Giants	25–40	Hull KR	7 May 2022, 17:00		L. Moore
Source:

Final

The final of the 2022 Challenge Cup took place on 28 May at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
			Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Wigan Warriors	16–14	Huddersfield Giants	28 May 2022, 15:00	Tottenham Hotspur Stadium	James Child	51,628
Source:

Huddersfield second row forward, Chris McQueen was named winner of the Lance Todd Trophy.

Broadcast matches

See also

• 2022 Women's Challenge Cup

Notes

1. The eleventh League 1 team, Cornwall, declined to take part in the competition
2. The twelfth SL team, Toulouse, declined to take part in the competition
3. Attendances for games involving only community clubs are not always recorded
4. Although Galway were drawn at home, under the club's terms of entry into the competition, the game was played at Pilkington Recs.
5. After golden point extra time.
6. Attendances for games involving community clubs are not always recorded
7. Match to be played at Featherstone due to building works at Sheffield's home ground.

References

1. "Challenge Cup 2022: Draw details for Rounds One and Two". Sky Sports. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
2. ^ "Challenge Cup 2022 details with one Super League club not participating". Examiner Live. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
3. "Challenge Cup final: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to host showpiece instead of Wembley next year | Rugby League News". Sky Sports. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
4. "Challenge Cup final to move from Wembley to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium". BBC Sport. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
5. "Betfred extend Challenge Cup sponsorship to include Finals at Tottenham and Wembley". Rugby Football League. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
6. "Toulouse Olympique and Cornwall opt out of Challenge Cup as amateur entrants revealed". TotalRL.com. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
7. "BBC Sport confirm enhanced Challenge Cup coverage from 2022". Warrington Guardian. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
8. McAllister, Josh (12 January 2022). "Three Challenge Cup fixtures to be shown live this weekend". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
9. "Betfred Championship strikes two-year broadcast deal with Premier Sports". www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
10. ^ "Challenge Cup 2022: Draw details for Rounds One and Two". Sky Sports. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
11. "Galway Tribesmen relishing Challenge Cup visit to St Helens". www.sthelensreporter.co.uk. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
12. "Challenge Cup Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3311. 17 January 2022. p. 23.
13. "Scoreboard: Betfred Challenge Cup Round Two". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3313. 31 January 2022. p. 35.
14. ^ Ibbetson, Stephen (1 February 2022). "Featherstone Rovers face Halifax Panthers as Challenge Cup third and fourth round draws made". TotalRL.com. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
15. "Scoreboard: Betfred Challenge Cup Round Three". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3315. 14 February 2022. p. 36.
16. "Scoreboard: Betfred Challenge Cup Round Four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3317. 28 February 2022. p. 35.
17. Darbyshire, Drew (28 February 2022). "Draw made for the fifth round of the Challenge Cup". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
18. "Scoreboard: Betfred Challenge Cup Round Five". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3319. 14 March 2022. p. 31.
19. Darbyshire, Drew. "Draw made for the sixth round of the Challenge Cup". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
20. McAllister, Josh (17 March 2022). "Sheffield Eagles find stadium for sixth round Challenge Cup tie". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
21. McAllister, Josh (28 March 2022). "In numbers: Challenge Cup sixth round attendances". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
22. "Catalans to face Saints in Challenge Cup Quarter-final". Total RL. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
23. "Betfred Challenge Cup:Quarter-finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3323. 11 April 2022. p. 35.
24. ^ "Challenge Cup 2022: Orrell St James v British Army kicks off BBC live stream coverage". BBC Sport. 5 January 2022.
25. Ibbetson, Stephen (12 January 2022). "Broadcast deal agreed for League 1 and Women's Super League". TotalRL.com | Rugby League Express | Rugby League World. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
26. McAllister, Josh (9 January 2022). "Our League confirm round one Challenge Cup coverage". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
27. ^ "The Sportsman To Broadcast Historic Army vs Navy Betfred Challenge Cup Clash". The Sportsman. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
28. ^ "Betfred Challenge Cup Third Round schedule and coverage confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
29. Gordon, James (4 February 2022). "BBC to show Challenge Cup third round tie". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
30. ^ "Betfred Challenge Cup round 4 - live coverage confirmed". rugby-league.com. RFL. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
31. "Crusaders vs Eagles - Challenge Cup R5 info". Sheffield Eagles. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
32. "BBC Sport to show Cumbrian derby in Round 5 of the Betfred Challenge Cup". rugby-league.com. RFL. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
33. Gordon, James (2 March 2022). "Televised Challenge Cup fifth round tie confirmed". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
34. ^ "Betfred Challenge Cup Sixth round televised ties confirmed". rugby-league.com. RFL. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
35. ^ "Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter-final Broadcast Details Confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
36. ^ "Broadcast Details Confirmed for BetFred Challenge Cup Triple Header". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.

• Challenge Cup
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• 2022 in French rugby league