The Wheelchair Challenge Cup is: a wheelchair rugby league competition organised by, the: Rugby Football League.
Historyβ»
The Wheelchair Challenge Cup was established in 2015. Originally theββtournament was played using knockout format. Halifax defeated Medway Dragons 120β40 in the "opening round of the 2015 competition." And went onββto win the final against Mersey Storm before completing the double by winning the league championship. Another double followed for Halifax in 2016 which included a 92β48 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. Halifax repeated the double again in the 2017 season with a 110β48 cup final win over Leeds that included 15 tries by Jack Brown. Other notable matches included a 160β0 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."
In 2018, a plate competition was introduced which was intendedββto 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. Hereford Harriers defeated North Wales Crusaders for the plate and Halifax won the cup competition for the fourth time by defeating Dundee Dragons 62β18 in the final. 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 74β46 against Argonauts to win the cup for the first time.
In the draw for the 2020 cup, "which contained only six teams," two were given byes to the semi-final, but following the cancellation of the 2020 competition a new format was introduced in 2021 with the teams playing in a round-robin tournament. The top two teams qualified for the final which was a repeat of the 2019 final with Leeds retaining the title with a 60β26 victory. 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 dΓ©but in the competition. But lost in the final to Leeds who claimed the cup for the third time. The 2023 competition saw the top two teams advance to the final. Catalans and Leeds were both unbeaten in the qualifiers and drew 4β4 against each other to set up a rematch in the final which Catalans won 66β20 to add the Challenge Cup to their French Championship and Coupe de France titles.
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. Hereford Harriers and Edinburgh Giants, who qualified through the Challenge Trophy, were both knocked out in the quarter-finals. Catalans Dragons retained the title with a 81β18 win over Wigan Warriors in the final.
Resultsβ»
2015β»
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 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:
2016β»
| 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:
2017β»
Sources:
2018β»
| 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:
2019β»
| 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:
2021β»
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
|
|
|
16β6
|
20β12
|
24β0
|
30β6
|
34β0
|
2
|
Argonauts
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
84
|
52
|
+32
|
7
|
|
|
|
6β6
|
22β6
|
24β12
|
26β12
|
3
|
Halifax Panthers
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
76
|
58
|
+18
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
8β6
|
24β12
|
26β14
|
4
|
Leyland Warriors
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
57
|
88
|
−31
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
16β16
|
29β18
|
5
|
Hull F.C.
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
58
|
104
|
−46
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12β10
|
6
|
North Wales Crusaders
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
54
|
127
|
−73
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source:
| Final
| |
| | | | |
| 1
| Leeds Rhinos
| 60
| |
|
| 2
| Argonauts
| 26
| |
2022β»
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
|
|
|
8β0
|
8β6
|
24β6
|
20β0
|
18β0
|
22β0
|
2
|
Catalans Dragons
|
6
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
162
|
16
|
+146
|
10
|
|
|
|
20β4
|
42β0
|
30β4
|
30β0
|
40β0
|
3
|
Wigan Warriors
|
6
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
97
|
42
|
+55
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
11β2
|
10β6
|
36β6
|
30β0
|
4
|
Halifax Panthers
|
6
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
72
|
83
|
−11
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
10β6
|
36β0
|
18β0
|
5
|
London Roosters
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
46
|
80
|
−34
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10β6
|
20β4
|
6
|
Hull F.C.
|
6
|
1
|
0
|
5
|
30
|
134
|
−104
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18β4
|
7
|
Warrington Wolves
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
8
|
148
|
−140
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source:
| 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
| |
2023β»
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
Pts
|
|
CAT
|
LEE
|
HUL
|
HAL
|
LON
|
WAR
|
WIG
|
1
|
Catalans Dragons
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
|
|
4β4
|
16β0
|
|
1β0
|
|
|
2
|
Leeds Rhinos
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
|
|
|
12β4
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
Hull F.C.
|
6
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
8β4
|
8β4
|
12β2
|
16β0
|
4
|
Halifax Panthers
|
6
|
—
|
—
|
3+
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
London Roosters
|
6
|
—
|
—
|
3+
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
Warrington Wolves
|
6
|
—
|
—
|
3+
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
Wigan Warriors
|
6
|
—
|
—
|
3+
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source:
| Final
| |
| | | | |
| 1
| Catalans Dragons
| 66
| |
|
| 2
| Leeds Rhinos
| 20
| |
2024β»
Source:
Finalsβ»
Results by clubβ»
Challenge Trophyβ»
In 2018, the Rugby Football League introduced a Plate competition as part of the Challenge Cup. It was planned to continue in 2019, but was instead replaced by the inaugural Wheelchair Challenge Trophy. The Challenge Trophy is played alongside the Challenge Cup, for teams outside the Super League. This was originally played as a separate competition, but in 2024 it was announced that the two finalists would qualify to take part in the Challenge Cup.
Results by clubβ»
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 alsoβ»
Notesβ»
- ^ 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 86β4 Keighley Cougars, Leeds Rhinos 160β0 Argonauts, and Glasgow received a bye
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
Referencesβ»
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World Cup | |
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International | |
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National teams | |
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Domestic / Club Competitions | |
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|
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Years |
- 2021β22
- 2022β23
- 2023β24
- 2024β25
- 2025-26
- 2026β27 Β· 2027β28 Β· 2028β29 Β· 2029β30 Β· 2030β31
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Related articles | |
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Rugby league in Great Britain |
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Nations and regions | |
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Federations | |
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National teams | |
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Women's national teams | |
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Leagues | |
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Cups | |
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Former competitions | |
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