
Rugby League is back this weekend and in big style with 26 games including Round One of the Challenge Cup and a number of Super League clubs making their pre-season bow, including last year’s Challenge Cup finalists Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves.
Warrington actually gets the action underway as they host Championship side Widnes Vikings tonight with Sam Burgess naming a team featuring all three new signings Oli Leyland, Dan Russell and Alfie Johnson.
After the weather decimated Round One of the Challenge Cup last week, there are still 14 of the 17 first round games to be played and 12 of those take place on Saturday.
The first of those 12 sees Waterhead Warriors take on Leigh Miners Rangers and that game is being broadcast on BBC iPlayer with kick-off slated for 12:30 pm.
As well as 11 other Challenge Cup ties on Saturday, there are six rugby league friendlies with Super League clubs involved in three of those games – including one in Spain.
Castleford Tigers round off their warm-weather training camp with a fixture against Valencia Hurracanes whilst Huddersfield Giants host Bradford Bulls. The other fixture sees Salford Red Devils face Barrow Raiders albeit Paul Rowley’s side is expected to be primarily academy and reserve team players.
Sunday brings about two more Challenge Cup ties, the latter of which between Thatto Heath and Orrell St James can be streamed on the Sportsman YouTube channel, and five more friendlies.
Bradford Bulls are in action again albeit with a different squad but the biggest game of the day sees Wigan Warriors head to Boundary Park to face last year’s League One winners Oldham.
Matt Peet has already stated that the likes of Tyler Dupree, Kruise Leeming and Sam Walters will play meaning there is plenty of star power on show.
Every rugby league game played this weekend
👊 Let’s try this again!
👇 Here are the rearranged @Betfred #ChallengeCup Round One fixtures set to take place this weekend…
— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) January 13, 2025
Listed below is every rugby league fixture involving clubs from the top three flights and Challenge Cup to be played this weekend.
Friday 17th January
Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings @ 7:30 pm
Saturday 18th January
Waterhead Warriors v Leigh Miners Rangers @ 12:30 pm (BBC iPlayer)
Rochdale Mayfield v Telford Raiders @ 1:30 pm
British Army v Royal Air Force @ 2 pm
Crosfields v Maryport @ 2 pm
Dewsbury Moor v Haresfinch @ 2 pm
Longhorns v Ince Rose Bridge @ 2 pm
Mirfield v Royal Navy @ 2 pm
Stanley Rangers v Hunslet ARLFC @ 2 pm
West Bowling v Cutsyke Raiders @ 2 pm
West Hull v Edinburgh Eagles @ 2 pm
Lock Lane v Doncaster Toll Bar @ 2:30 pm
London Chargers v Oulton Raiders @ 2:30 pm
Barrow Raiders v Salford Red Devils @ 2 pm
Batley Bulldogs v Midlands Hurricanes @ 2 pm
Valencia Hurracanes v Castleford Tigers @ 2 pm
Huddersfield Giants v Bradford Bulls @ 3 pm
North Wales Crusaders v London Broncos @ 3 pm
Featherstone Rovers v Dewsbury Rams @ 4 pm
Sunday 19th January
GB Police v York Acorn @ 1:30 pm
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Orrell St James @ 2 pm (Sportsman YouTube channel)
Keighley Cougars v Halifax Panthers @ 1 pm
Bradford Bulls v Newcastle Thunder @ 2 pm
Doncaster RLFC v Sheffield Eagles @ 3 pm
Oldham RLFC v Wigan Warriors @ 3 pm
Whitehaven v Workington Town @ 3 pm
