Challenge Cup Rounds One and Two drawn with major matches made

The draws for Round One and Round Two of the Challenge Cup have been made with some bumper ties pulled from the hat for the sport’s oldest competition.

It’s a competition that is packed full of some of the sport’s most iconic moments ranging across all the decades with recent history including the golden point drama of the 2023 final, and older history including the infamous Watersplash game.

The format of the competition with its staggered entry for clubs from certain divisions does somewhat rule out any of the biggest giant killings in Round One but there were still plenty of massive names in the draw tonight.

Round One of the competition will feature the sport’s best amateur teams, however, the Round Two draw will also be made and that incorporates all Championship and League One sides, barring Toulouse Olympique.

Super League sides will join in Round Three with that draw at a later date. Below are the results of the Round One and Round Two Draws.

Challenge Cup draw throws up tasty ties

There was some Super League presence at the draw in former Hull FC star and now Goole Vikings head coach Scott Taylor and Championship Player of the Year Max Jowitt conducting the draw, which was held in Goole to celebrate the Vikings joining League One.

The first name out of the hat was West Hull who were drawn against Edinburgh Eagles, whilst the fifth team drawn were Longhorns, hailing from Ireland which highlighted how wide-ranging the competition is in 2025.

There was also a Welsh side represented with Aberavon Fighting Irish drawn against Blackbrook, James Roby’s amateur club. One of the ties of the round would then come out with the British Army drawn against the RAF.

Goole head coach Scott Taylor had helped Jowitt draw Round One but given his team’s involvement in Round Two he was swapped out for Man of Steel Mikey Lewis.

After Lewis’ amateur side West Hull were the first side drawn in Round One, he would pick out GB Police or York Acorn to face London Chargers or Oulton Raiders in the first tie of Round Two.

One of the biggest ties of the draw, at least for those present at the draw, would come with Goole Vikings drawn away to London Broncos with League One’s newest side given the chance to launch a major upset.

Round One Draws

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 2025 @Betfred #ChallengeCup Round 1 Draw! pic.twitter.com/ZGGohiLyzc

— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) December 2, 2024

Round Two Draws

GB Police / York Acorn vs London Chargers / Oulton Raiders

Halifax Panthers vs Thatto Heath / Orrell St James

Dewsbury Moor / Haresfinch vs Dewsbury Rams

Barrow Raiders vs Crosfields / Maryport

Mirfield / Royal Navy vs Workington Town

London Broncos vs Goole Vikings

Lock Lane / Doncaster Toll Bar vs Hunslet

Waterhead Warriors / Leigh Miners Rangers vs Featherstone Rovers

Eastern Rhinos  / Wests Warriors vs British Army / RAF

Whitehaven vs Swinton Lions

Stanley Rangers / Hunslet ARLFC vs West Hull / Edinburgh Eagles

Rochdale Hornets vs Widnes Vikings

Oldham vs Rochdale Mayfield / Telford Raiders

Keighley Cougars vs York Knights

Sheffield Eagles vs West Bowling / Wath Brow Hornets

Bradford Bulls vs Doncaster

Aberavon Fighting Irish / Blackbrook vs Longhorns / Ince Rose Bridge

Midlands Hurricanes vs Hammersmith Hills Hoists / Siddal

Cornwall vs North Wales Crusaders

Newcastle Thunder Batley Bulldogs