BBC confirm Challenge Cup First Round broadcast game

Ahead of the start of the 2025 Challenge Cup, the BBC have confirmed their broadcast pick for the First Round of the competition.

We might still be in 2024 but the Challenge Cup First Round gets underway in just three weeks with the revamped competition having a far earlier start date in 2025.

Rounds One, Two and Three will all take place before the Super League, Championship and League One seasons commence with teams mixing their early round games in with pre-season fixtures throughout January and early February.

Super League sides will enter in the third round, slated to be played on the weekend of the 8th and 9th of February – with Super League officially launching when Wigan Warriors host Leigh Leopards just days later on the 13th.

The ties for both the first and second rounds of the competition were made at the start of December with Championship Player of the Year Max Jowitt and Super League Man of Steel Mikey Lewis conducting the draws.

Of the 17 Round One fixtures, the BBC’s broadcast selection has now been confirmed.

2025 Challenge Cup First Round broadcast game confirmed by BBC

The fixture between National Conference League Premier Divison foes Waterhead Warriors and Leigh Miners Rangers has been selected for broadcast with the BBC to air the game.

That tie will not be broadcast on either BBC One or Two, as some of the later rounds will be, but instead shown on iPlayer, the BBC Sport app / online and also via the BBC red button.

It’s slated for Saturday, January 11th with a 12:30 pm kick-off meaning that we’re less than three weeks away from the first broadcast competitive fixture of the 2025 campaign.

It was also recently confirmed that the Challenge Cup second round fixture between Keighley Cougars and York Knights had been rearranged for February 2nd, with the game being moved back a week on account of York facing Hull KR in Amsterdam the week prior.

All of the first round fixtures can be seen below with ties featuring teams from each of the four home nations.

West Hull vs Edinburgh Eagles

London Chargers vs Oulton Raiders

Longhorns vs Ince Rose Bridge

Lock Lane vs Doncaster Toll Bar

Hammersmith Hills Hoists vs Siddal

Waterhead Warriors vs Leigh Miners Rangers

GB Police vs York Acorn

Aberavon Fighting Irish vs Blackbrook

Mirfield vs Royal Navy

Crosfields vs Maryport

British Army vs RAF

Stanley Rangers vs Hunslet ARLFC

West Bowling vs Wath Brow Hornets

Dewsbury Moor vs Haresfinch

Eastern Rhinos vs Wests Warriors

Rochdale Mayfield vs Telford Raiders

Thatto Heath vs Orrell St James

🗺️ The @Betfred #ChallengeCup First Round will see sides from across the UK and Ireland competing! pic.twitter.com/NbSpG7J4ck

— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) December 18, 2024