Betfred Challenge Cup Draw Update

Draw numbers and details have today been confirmed for Monday’s draws for the First and Second Rounds of the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup. 

The 34 community clubs and teams in the First Round draw will be numbers 1 to 34, and the 21 Betfred Championship clubs who enter at the Second Round stage will be numbers 35 to 55. 

Each of the draws will be regionalised. 

The First Round is relatively simple – it will be split into three sections. The first comprises 12 teams based in Lancashire, Cumbria and Siddal as the westernmost team from Yorkshire – they will be numbered 1-12, and drawn to produce the first six ties. 

The second comprises 12 teams based in Yorkshire and the North East – they will be numbered 13-24, and drawn to produce another six ties. 

The third comprises 10 teams spread more widely around the UK – including Aberavon Fighting Irish, and the Broncos from Northern Ireland. They will be numbered 25-34, and drawn to produce another five ties. 

The Second Round draw will then be split into four sections. 

The first will involve the six First Round winners from the western section, and eight Championship clubs from west of the Pennines. The draw will be seeded to ensure that each of the six First Round winners plays a Championship club. After each tie is drawn, an additional ball will be drawn to determine home advantage. Two Championship clubs will be left undrawn, and will be forwarded to section four. 

The second section will involve the six First Round winners from the eastern section, and 10 Championship clubs from east of the Pennines. Again, this draw will be seeded to ensure that each of the six First Round winners plays a Championship club. After each tie is drawn, an additional ball will be drawn to determine home advantage. This time four Championship clubs will be left undrawn, and will be forwarded to section four. 

The third section will involve the five First Round winners from the national section, plus London Broncos, Midlands Hurricanes and North Wales Crusaders from the Championship. Again, this draw will be seeded – this time ensure that each of the three Championship clubs plays a First Round winner. After each tie is drawn, an additional ball will be drawn to determine home advantage. 

This time two First Round winners will be left undrawn, and will be forwarded to section four. 

Section four will begin with the two remaining First Round winners being drawn against two of the remaining six Championship clubs – again, with an additional ball being drawn to determine home advantage. 

Finally, the remaining four Championship clubs will be drawn against each other in the last two Second Round ties. As this draw is not seeded, there will be no need for an additional ball to determine home advantage. 

The draws will be hosted at the RFL’s Etihad Campus headquarters by broadcaster Ross Fiddes, and the balls will be drawn by two players who were Betfred Challenge Cup winners at Wembley Stadium in 2025 – the Wigan Warriors forward Mary Coleman, and James Batchelor of Hull KR. 

The draws will be published on RFL channels at 4pm. 

The First Round ties will be played on the weekend of January 10-11. 

The Second Round ties will be played on the weekend of January 24-25. 

The Betfred Super League clubs (other than Toulouse Olympique, who will not be involved) enter the competition at the Third Round stage, with ties to be played on the weekend of February 6-8.