Challenge Cup






















































Challenge Cup

Current season or competition:
2018 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup logo
Sport Rugby league
Instituted 1896
Inaugural season 1896–97
Number of teams 100+
Countries
 England
 Wales
 Scotland
 Canada
 France
Winners
Catalanscolours.svg Catalans (1st title) (2018)
Most titles
Wigancolours.svg Wigan (19 titles)
Website Challenge Cup
Broadcast partner
Sky Sports
BBC
Fox League
Related competition
Super League
Championship
League 1
National Conference League

The Challenge Cup (also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup due to sponsorship by Ladbrokes) is a knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League,[1] held annually since 1896, with the exception of 1915–1919 and 1939–1940. It involves amateur, semi-professional and professional clubs.


The final of the Challenge Cup at Wembley Stadium, London, is one of the most prestigious matches in world rugby league[2] and is broadcast around the world. "Abide with Me", sung before the game, has become a rugby league anthem.


The current holders of the Challenge Cup are Catalans who defeated Warrington 20–14 on 25 August 2018 at Wembley Stadium, winning the competition for the first time.


Wigan are the most successful club in the history of the competition, winning the Cup a record 19 times.




Contents






  • 1 History


  • 2 Format


  • 3 Venues


  • 4 Trophy


  • 5 Awards


  • 6 Sponsorship


  • 7 Challenge Cup Finals


    • 7.1 Winners


    • 7.2 The Double


    • 7.3 The Treble


    • 7.4 All Four Cups




  • 8 Media coverage


    • 8.1 International




  • 9 See also


  • 10 References


  • 11 External links





History


The clubs that formed the Northern Union had long been playing in local knock-out cup competitions under the auspices of the Rugby Football Union. However, the rugby union authorities refused to sanction a nationwide tournament, fearing that this would inevitably lead to professionalism. After the schism of 1895, the northern clubs were free to go-ahead, and they instigated the Northern Rugby Football Union Challenge Cup. In 1896 Fattorini's of Bradford were commissioned to manufacture the Challenge Cup at a cost of just £60. Fattorini's also supplied three-guineas winners' medals then valued at thirty shillings (£1.50).


The first competition was held during the 1896–97 season (the second season of the new game), and 52 clubs entered to compete for the trophy. The first final was held at Headingley in Leeds, on 24 April 1897. Batley defeated St. Helens 10–3[3] in front of a crowd of 13,492 (see picture). The St Helens side did not play in a standardised team jersey.


The competition was later interrupted by the Great War, although it was held in 1915, when the season that had begun before the war was completed. It was then suspended until the end of hostilities. Initially, the final tie was held at one of the larger club grounds in the north, however, noting the excitement in Huddersfield that the town’s football team were playing at Wembley in the FA Cup Final and the increasing difficulty for any of the rugby league grounds to satisfy spectator demand to see the final tie, the rugby league authorities voted 13–10 to move to the recently built Wembley Stadium in London, aiming to emulate the FA Cup's success and to put the game on the national stage.[4]



The first final held at Wembley was in 1929 when Wigan beat Dewsbury 13–2 in front of a crowd of 41,500. At the start of the Second World War, rugby league suspended its season immediately, but the Challenge Cup took a single year’s break before restarting, on a limited basis and with the support of the authorities, as part of keeping up morale. The Challenge Cup finals, which took place in the game’s Northern heartland, got big crowds as the game raised money for prisoners of war and for Lord Beaverbrook’s armaments programme.




The first ever Challenge Cup Final, 1897: Batley(l) vs. St Helens(r)


In 1946, the Lance Todd Trophy was introduced and awarded to the man of the match. The first winner was Billy Stott of Wakefield Trinity the first winner of the trophy on the losing team was Frank Whitcombe of Bradford Northern in 1948. In itself, it is a prestigious trophy presented only at the Challenge Cup Final. The winner is selected by the members of the Rugby League Writers' Association present at the game and the trophy was presented at a celebratory dinner at the Willows, the home of Salford.


1954 saw the Challenge Cup final drawn and the replay set the record for a rugby league match attendance. The match was on 5 May and 102,569 was the official attendance at Odsal Stadium, although it is believed that up to 120,000 spectators were present to see Warrington defeat Halifax 8–4.


Wigan are well known for their successes in the Challenge Cup competition, having won more Challenge Cups than any other club with nineteen Challenge Cup final wins.


Until the 1993–94 season there were very few amateur clubs included in the cup, typically two. For part of the 1980s, and the 1992–93 season the cup was solely for professional clubs. The competition was then opened up to large numbers of amateur clubs as part of a deal between the Rugby Football League and British Amateur Rugby League Association over bridging the gap between the professional and amateur leagues.


The move to a summer season for rugby league in 1996 did not see the Challenge Cup moved, and it became instead essentially a pre-season tournament, with the first Summer Cup Final held earlier in the season, on 27 August at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.


In 1997, a Challenge Cup Plate took place for teams knocked out in the early rounds of the competition. The final took place at Wembley and was won by Hull Kingston Rovers who beat Hunslet 60–14.


The last cup final before Wembley's redevelopment saw the first appearance of a team from south of Watford, when the London Broncos were beaten by a record margin, 52–16 by Leeds.[2]


The redevelopment of Wembley Stadium led to the Cup Final utilising a variety of venues. The final is one of the biggest rugby league events of the year in Britain, along with the Super League Grand Final. The Challenge Cup final traditionally formed the end to the season, being played in late April or early May.


There was a belief that the Challenge Cup final taking place early in the season had led to a decline in the prestige of the cup,[5] so the timing of the competition was altered in 2005


On 26 August 2006 St. Helens scrum-half Sean Long became the first player in the history of the Challenge Cup to collect a third Lance Todd trophy following his man-of-the-match performance in the final against Huddersfield. His other Lance Todd trophy wins came in the 2001 and 2004 Challenge Cup Finals.


From 2009, the television rights to the Challenge Cup were sold to Australia's leading rugby league broadcaster, Channel Nine, as part of a new three-year contract.


On 25 August 2018, Catalans Dragons became the first non-English team to win the Challenge Cup as they defeated Warrington Wolves 20-14 at Wembley.



Format


The modern Challenge Cup has 8 rounds prior to the final. Teams are seeded, entering at different stages. The precise format has altered slightly from year to year, however the current format is as follows:[6][7]




  • First round: Amateur teams from around the United Kingdom are invited to participate. Most of the teams are English and affiliated to BARLA:


    • Flag of the British Army (1938-present).svg British Army


    • Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy


    • Air Force Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Air Force


    • Flag of the Metropolitan Police Service.svg Great Britain Police

    • University Champions


    • Student Rugby League Champions


    • Scotland Scottish National League Champions


    • Wales Welsh Premiership Champions

    • National Conference League

    • Winners of the four major regional BARLA leagues.


    • Serbia Red Star Belgrade




  • Second round: The twenty first round winners play again.


  • Third round: The fourteen League 1 clubs enter the draw with the ten winners from the second round.


  • Fourth round: The twelve Championship teams enter the draw with the twelve third round winners.


  • Fifth round: The bottom four Super League teams enter the draw with the twelve fourth round winners.


  • Sixth round: The top eight Super League teams enter the draw with the eight fifth round winners.


  • Quarter Finals: Last eight.


  • Semi Finals: Played at neutral venues.


  • Final: Played at Wembley Stadium, on the Saturday of the August bank holiday weekend until 2019; will be played in July from 2020 onwards.[8]



Venues




Since 1945 the final has been held at Wembley Stadium


During the first round right through to the quarter finals the cup is hosted at the stadium of the team who has been drawn at home. The semi finals are hosted at neutral venues so there is no advantage for the home team. In the event of a draw in the final a replay will be played at a neutral venue somewhere else. The final is played at Wembley traditionally and was first played there in 1928–29 season. Before, the final had been held in different neutral venues, including Leeds, Huddersfield, Manchester, Wigan, Salford and Rochdale. The first Challenge Cup final was held at Headingley, Leeds between Batley and St. Helens in front of a crowd of 13,492.



Trophy




NRFU Challenge Cup first presented 1896–97


The Challenge Cup trophy was designed by silversmiths Fattorini & Sons of Bradford in 1897.[4] The trophy stood 36 inches high manufactured of solid silver and stood on a black ebony base approximately 8 inches deep.


Tony Collins, the Rugby Football League's archivist, stated in 2007 that, "Fattorini's weren't given any particular commission, just told to come up with something prestigious".[4] The trophy cost £60.[4] The average wage in 1897 was around £2 per week which suggests an equivalent 2007 price of £16,000, although Collins says, "if you wanted something made of silver and with that level of craftsmanship these days, it would be far more expensive. In terms of its subsequent value, the RFL got a bargain."[4]


The trophy currently presented to the winners after the final is not the original which had to be withdrawn due to its delicate condition.[4] As well as the silver wearing thin, it had lost its fluted top and the players on each of the handles had been damaged.[4] The original Fattorini trophy was last presented at the 2001 Challenge Cup Final to St Helens captain Chris Joynt after his team had beaten Bradford.[9] The original trophy is now stored at the RFL's headquarters at Red Hall and only used for promotional appearances.[4]


The trophy used today was created by Jack Spencer (goldsmith) of Sheffield in 800 man-hours and is an almost exact replica of the Fattorini piece.[4][9] One improvement made with the new version is that the small shields displaying each winning team and captain are now the same size, whereas they had been getting smaller as space ran out on the original.[4] The new trophy's neck has been strengthened.[9] The second trophy was first presented to Wigan, winners of the 2002 Challenge Cup Final.[9]


The winners of the cup in looking after the trophy must "follow a certain code of practice," says Collins.[4] When not in a secure cabinet, the trophy must always be in the presence of someone.[4] When the trophy is taken out overnight, somebody must sleep in the same room and if taken in a car there must be two people in attendance.[4] Collins reveals that, "When it went down to France for some Catalans publicity photos, it even had its own seat on the plane."[4]



Awards



The Lance Todd Trophy, named in memory of Lance Todd, is awarded to the man-of-the-match in the Challenge Cup Final.[10] The winner is decided each year by those members of the Rugby League Writers' Association present at the match.[10]


The Trophy was first presented in 1946 to William "Billy" Stott of Wakefield Trinity.[10][11]



Sponsorship


The Challenge Cup has been sponsored since 1980, with the sponsor being able to determine the cup's sponsorship name. There have been six sponsors and Ladbrokes is the latest one.[12]











































Period
Sponsor
Name
1980–1985

State Express

State Express Challenge Cup
1985–2001

Silk Cut

Silk Cut Challenge Cup
2002–2003

Kellogg's Nutrigrain

Kellogg's Nutrigrain Challenge Cup
2004–2007

Powergen

Powergen Challenge Cup
2008–2012

Leeds Met Carnegie

Carnegie Challenge Cup
2013–2014

Tetley's

Tetley's Challenge Cup
2015–2018

Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup


Challenge Cup Finals




In total, 26 different clubs have won the Challenge Cup and 30 different teams have appeared in the final. Wigan Warriors hold the record for most wins with 19 and have appeared in 30 finals. In 2007, Catalans Dragons became the first non English team to reach the final but lost to St. Helens.

























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Year Winners Score Runner–up
1896–97
Batley colours.svgBatley
10–3
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1897–98
Batley colours.svgBatley
7–0
Bradford F.C.
1898–99
Oldhamcolours.svgOldham
19–9
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
1899–1900
Swintoncolours.svgSwinton
16–8
Redscolours.svg Salford
1900–01
Batley colours.svgBatley
6–0
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1901–02 Broughton Rangers 25–0
Redscolours.svg Salford
1902–03
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
7–0
Redscolours.svg Salford
1903–04
Faxcolours.svgHalifax
8–3
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1904–05
Wolvescolours.svgWarrington
6–0
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
1905–06 Bradford F.C. 5–0
Redscolours.svg Salford
1906–07
Wolvescolours.svgWarrington
17–3
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
1907–08
Hunsletcolours.svgHunslet
14–0
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1908–09
Wcatscolours.svgWakefield Trinity
17–0
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1909–10
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
7–7
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
Replay
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
26–12
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1910–11 Broughton Rangers 4–0
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1911–12
Ramscolours.svgDewsbury
8–5
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
1912–13
Giantscolours.svgHuddersfield
9–5
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1913–14
Hullcolours.svgHull F.C.
6–0
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity
1914–15
Giantscolours.svgHuddersfield
37–3
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1919–20
Giantscolours.svgHuddersfield
21–10
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1920–21
Leigh colours.svgLeigh
13–0
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1921–22
Rochdale colours.svgRochdale Hornets
10–9
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1922–23
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
28–3
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1923–24
Wigancolours.svgWigan
21–4
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
1924–25
Oldhamcolours.svgOldham
16–3
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
1925–26
Swintoncolours.svgSwinton
9–3
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
1926–27
Oldhamcolours.svgOldham
26–7
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
1927–28
Swintoncolours.svgSwinton
5–3
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1928–29
Wigancolours.svgWigan
13–2
Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury
1929–30
Widnes colours.svgWidnes
10–3
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1930–31
Faxcolours.svgHalifax
22–8
Balmain colours.svg York
1931–32
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
11–8
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
1932–33
Giantscolours.svgHuddersfield
21–17
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1933–34
Hunsletcolours.svgHunslet
11–5
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
1934–35
Castleford colours.svgCastleford
11–8
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
1935–36
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
18–2
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1936–37
Widnes colours.svgWidnes
18–5
Cougscolours.svg Keighley
1937–38
Redscolours.svgSalford
7–4
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
1938–39
Faxcolours.svgHalifax
20–3
Redscolours.svg Salford
1940–41
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
19–2
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1941–42
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
15–10
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1942–43
Ramscolours.svgDewsbury
16–15
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1943–44
Bullscolours.svgBradford Northern
8–3
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1944–45
Giantscolours.svgHuddersfield
13–9
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Northern
1945–46
Wcatscolours.svgWakefield Trinity
13–12
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1946–47
Bullscolours.svgBradford Northern
8–4
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1947–48
Wigancolours.svgWigan
8–3
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Northern
1948–49
Bullscolours.svgBradford Northern
12–0
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1949–50
Wolvescolours.svgWarrington
19–0
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
1950–51
Wigancolours.svgWigan
10–0
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
1951–52
Workingtoncolours.svgWorkington Town
18–10
Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers
1952–53
Giantscolours.svgHuddersfield
15–10
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1953–54
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
4–4
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
Replay
Wolvescolours.svgWarrington
8–4
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1954–55
Barrowcolours.svgBarrow
21–12
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town
1955–56
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
13–2
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1956–57
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
9–7
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
1957–58
Wigancolours.svgWigan
13–9
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town
1958–59
Wigancolours.svgWigan
30–13
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1959–60
Wcatscolours.svgWakefield Trinity
38–5
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1960–61
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
12–6
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1961–62
Wcatscolours.svgWakefield Trinity
12–6
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
1962–63
Wcatscolours.svgWakefield Trinity
25–10
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1963–64
Widnes colours.svgWidnes
13–5
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
1964–65
Wigancolours.svgWigan
20–16
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
1965–66
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
21–2
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1966–67
Fevcolours.svgFeatherstone Rovers
17–12
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
1967–68
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
11–10
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity
1968–69
Castleford colours.svgCastleford
11–6
Redscolours.svg Salford
1969–70
Castleford colours.svgCastleford
7–2
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1970–71
Leigh colours.svgLeigh
24–7
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1971–72
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
16–13
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1972–73
Fevcolours.svgFeatherstone Rovers
33–14
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Northern
1973–74
Wolvescolours.svgWarrington
24 –9
Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers
1974–75
Widnes colours.svgWidnes
14–7
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1975–76
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
20–5
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
1976–77
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
16–7
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
1977–78
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
14–12
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1978–79
Widnes colours.svgWidnes
12–3
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity
1979–80
HKRcolours.svgHull Kingston Rovers
10–5
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1980–81
Widnes colours.svgWidnes
18–9
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
1981–82
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
14–14
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
Replay
Hullcolours.svgHull F.C.
18–9
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
1982–83
Fevcolours.svgFeatherstone Rovers
14–12
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1983–84
Widnes colours.svgWidnes
19–6
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1984–85
Wigancolours.svgWigan
28–24
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
1985–86
Castleford colours.svgCastleford
15–14
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
1986–87
Faxcolours.svgHalifax
19–18
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1987–88
Wigancolours.svgWigan
32–12
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1988–89
Wigancolours.svgWigan
27–0
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1989–90
Wigancolours.svgWigan
36–14
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1990–91
Wigancolours.svgWigan
13–8
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1991–92
Wigancolours.svgWigan
28–12
Castleford colours.svg Castleford
1992–93
Wigancolours.svgWigan
20–14
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
1993–94
Wigancolours.svgWigan
26–16
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1994–95
Wigancolours.svgWigan
30–10
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1996
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
40–32
Bullscolours.svg Bradford
1997
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
32–22
Bullscolours.svg Bradford
1998
Sheffeagles colours.svgSheffield Eagles
17–8
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1999
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
52– 16
Broncoscolours.png London Broncos
2000
Bullscolours.svgBradford
24–18
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2001
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
13–6
Bullscolours.svg Bradford
2002
Wigancolours.svgWigan
21–12
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2003
Bullscolours.svgBradford
22–20
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2004
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
32–16
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
2005
Hullcolours.svgHull F.C.
25–24
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2006
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
42–12
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
2007
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
30–8
Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons
2008
Saintscolours.svgSt. Helens
28–16
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
2009
Wolvescolours.svgWarrington
25–16
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
2010
Wolvescolours.svgWarrington
30–6
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2011
Wigancolours.svgWigan
28–18
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2012
Wolvescolours.svgWarrington
35–18
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
2013
Wigancolours.svgWigan
16–0
Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
2014
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
23–10
Castleford colours.svg Castleford
2015
Rhinoscolours.svgLeeds
50–0
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
2016
Hullcolours.svgHull F.C.
12–10
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
2017
Hullcolours.svgHull F.C.
18–14
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
2018
Catalanscolours.svgCatalans Dragons
20-14
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington


Winners


Clubs ordered by number of wins, then by number of runners-up appearances, then by how recently they last won a final, then finally by how recently they last made a runners-up appearance. Only the aggregate winner/loser for the years during the Second World War has been counted.



























































































































































































































































































Club
Wins
Last win
Runners-up
Last final lost
Total finals
1
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
19 2013 13 2017 32
2
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
13 2015 12 2012 25
3
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
12 2008 9 2002 21
4
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
8 2012 9 2018 17
5
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
7 1984 6 1993 13
6
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
6 1953 4 2009 10
7
Hullcolours.svg Hull
5 2017 12 2013 17
8
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
5 1987 7 1988 12
9
Bullscolours.svg Bradford
5 2003 6 2001 11
10
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield
5 1963 3 1979 8
11
Castleford colours.svg Castleford
4 1986 2 2014 6
12
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
3 1927 4 1926 7
13
Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers
3 1983 2 1974 5
14
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
3 1928 2 1932 5
15
Batley colours.svg Batley
3 1901 0 3
16
Hunsletcolours.svgHunslet §
2 1934 2 1965 4
17
Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury
2 1943 1 1929 3
18
Leigh colours.svg Leigh
2 1971 0 2
19 Broughton Rangers 2 1911 0 2
20
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
1 1980 6 2015 7
21
Redscolours.svg Salford
1 1938 6 1969 7
22
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
1 1955 4 1967 5
23
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town
1 1952 2 1958 3
24
Catalanscolours.svgCatalans Dragons
1 2018 1 2007 2
25
Bradford F.C. §
1 1906 1 1898 2
26
Sheffeagles colours.svgSheffield Eagles
1 1998 0 1
27
Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets
1 1922 0 1
28
Broncoscolours.png London Broncos
0 1 1999 1
29
Cougscolours.svg Keighley
0 1 1937 1
30
Balmain colours.svgYork §
0 1 1931 1


  • GOLD Denotes current holders

  • § Denotes club now defunct



The Double



In Rugby League, the term 'the Double' is referring to the achievement of a club that wins the European Super League and Challenge Cup in the same season. To date, this has been achieved by ten different clubs.






































































Club
Wins
Winning Years
1
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
7 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 (All Four Cups), 2013
2
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
3 1965–66, 1996, 2006
3
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
2 1912–13, 1914–15 (All Four Cups)
4
Barrowcolours.svg Broughton Rangers
1 1901–02
5
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1 1902–03
6
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
1 1907–08 (All Four Cups)
7
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
1 1927–28 (All Four Cups)
8
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington
1 1953–54
9
Bullscolours.svg Bradford
1 2003
10
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1 2015 (Treble Winners)


The Treble



The Treble refers to the team who wins all three domestic honours on offer during the season; Grand Final, League Leaders' Shield and Challenge Cup. To date seven teams have won the treble, only Bradford, St. Helens and Leeds have won the treble in the Super League era.




















































Club
Wins
Winning years
1
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
3 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95
2
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
2 1912–13, 1914–15
3
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
2 1965–66, 2006
4
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
1 1907–08
5
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
1 1927–28
6
Bullscolours.svg Bradford
1 2003
7
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
1 2015


All Four Cups



Winning all Four Cups currently refers to winning the Super League, League Leaders' Shield, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge in one season. Not all of these cups were available in the past but have replaced other cups that could be won.














































Club
Wins
Winning years
1
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
1 1907–08
2
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
1 1914–15
3
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
1 1927–28
4
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
1 1994–95
5
Bullscolours.svg Bradford
1 2003–04
6
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1 2006–07


Media coverage


The BBC first covered the final of this competition when Wigan beat Bradford Northern in 1948. At that time though the only TV transmitter was in London, so fans up North never got to see it. It was another four years before another final was covered when Workington Town beat Featherstone Rovers in 1952. The cup final was not broadcast on TV again until the 1958 final between Wigan and Workington Town since when it has been shown every year. The inception of Grandstand also saw coverage of earlier rounds start to be shown during the 1960s with ITV "World of Sport" even showing games as well for a short period. The BBC has been the predominant broadcaster, showing every final live since 1958 (except the 1982 Final Replay shown as highlights). Eddie Waring was the first commentator for BBC coverage. When he retired, commentary was covered by Ray French and he continues to work for the BBC albeit in semi-retirement, with his last Challenge Cup Final in 2008. From 2009, the present day main commentator is Dave Woods. He usually commentates with Brian Noble, Jonathan Davies, Iestyn Harris or Ian Millward. Nowadays, the BBC continue to broadcast the tournament with Clare Balding hosting from 2006 to 2012 until her move to Channel 4 Racing. Mark Chapman was secondary host in 2012 when Balding was unavailable for the cup and international matches, and previous hosts for the BBC are John Inverdale and Steve Rider. The current main hosts (2018) are Mark Chapman and Super League Show presenter Tanya Arnold.


Sky Sports now have the rights for the early rounds with one match each round and two quarter finals; whilst BBC Sport show two sixth round matches, two quarter finals, both semi-finals and the final.



















Duration
Broadcaster
1958–2011

BBC Sport
2012–2016

BBC Sport (2 R6 matches, 2 Quarter finals, 2 Semi finals and Final only)
Sky Sports (1 R5 match, 1 R6 match, and 2 Quarter finals only)
2017–2020

BBC Sport


International


Internationally Super League is shown live by eight different broadcasters in eight different countries and regions.













































Country/ Region
Broadcaster
Middle East

OSN
North Africa

 France

beIn Sports

 New Zealand

Sky Sport

Māori Television

 United States

Fox Soccer Plus

 Brazil

BandSports

 Russia

NTV+
Eastern Europe

Sportklub

 Australia

Fox League

 Canada

Game TV and CBC Sports


See also




  • Amco Cup

  • British rugby league system

  • List of sports attendance figures

  • Super League

  • Women's Challenge Cup



References





  1. ^ RFL. "About the Competition". Rugby Football League. Archived from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-08..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ ab Demsteader, Christine (2000-10-01). "Rugby League's home from home". BBC Sport. UK: BBC. Retrieved 2009-12-04.


  3. ^ Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". Independent, The. Retrieved 25 September 2009.


  4. ^ abcdefghijklmn Julian Shea (22 August 2007). "Rugby league's precious metal". BBC. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 2009-07-23.


  5. ^
    Kelner, Simon (1997-05-04). "Saints go shining through the hype". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 2009-12-05.



  6. ^ http://www.thechallengecup.com/article/41755/clubs-hit-the-road-to


  7. ^ http://www.therfl.co.uk/rlnewera


  8. ^ "Wembley: Rugby League Challenge Cup final to move from August to July in 2020". BBC Sport. 13 November 2018.


  9. ^ abcd BBC (27 February 2004). "Profile: Challenge Cup Trophy". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-16.


  10. ^ abc RFL. "Lance Todd Trophy". Rugby Football League. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-08.


  11. ^ BBC Sport (2008-08-26). "Lance Todd Trophy winners". BBC. Retrieved 2009-05-08.


  12. ^ "Ladbrokes will continue sponsoring Challenge Cup - Slotsday". Slotsday. 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2017-08-22.




External links



  • The Challenge Cup at therfl.co.uk

  • Scores from Sky Sports

  • My Yorkshire – player Ken Dean talks about the record breaking 1954 final replay

  • The Challenge Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk












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