Everything you need to know about Challenge Cup Round One including how to watch

We’re one week away from the start of the 2025 Challenge Cup so here’s everything you need to know about Round One.

Yes, that’s right – the path to Wembley starts earlier this year with Round One starting on Saturday, 11th January – a mere week away.

Wigan Warriors are the Challenge Cup holders but they won’t enter the competition until Round Three, slated for the weekend of the 8th and 9th of February – just five weeks away.

Prior to then we’ll have the first two rounds to play and the draws for those two rounds were made at the start of December by Championship Player of the Year Max Jowitt and Man of Steel Mikey Lewis.

Newly-appointed head coach of Goole Vikings, Scott Taylor, had also helped draw Round One before swapping out for Lewis given that the Vikings will enter the competition in Round Two where they’ve been handed a plum draw against London Broncos.

Before then, we’ve got to get through Round One first which will see 17 ties played over the course of next weekend as they all bid to make it to the second round.

Challenge Cup Round One: Fixtures, kick-off times and how to watch

👊 A big clash to kick-off the 2025 @Betfred #ChallengeCup! pic.twitter.com/UsH0PwkUpp

— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) January 3, 2025

In each round of the Challenge Cup BBC Sport will broadcast at least one game and in Round One that fixture will be Waterhead Warriors against Leigh Miners Rangers.

The fixture will be streamed on the iPlayer and BBC Sport website with the two amateur teams facing off for a chance to host Featherstone Rovers in Round Two.

The clash will also be the first game of the competition in 2025, kicking off at 12:30 pm on Saturday, 11th January.

Below are the details for all 17 Challenge Cup Round One fixtures.

Saturday, January 11

Waterhead Warriors v Leigh Miners Rangers – 12:30 pm, live on BBC Sport
British Army v RAF – 2 pm at Aldershot
Crosfields v Maryport – 2 pm
Dewsbury Moor v Haresfinch – 2 pm
Lock Lane v Doncaster Toll Bar – 2 pm
Hammersmith Hills Hoists v Siddal – 5 pm at Chiswick RFC
London Chargers v Oulton Raiders – 2:30 pm at Chiswick RFC
Longhorns v Ince Rose Bridge – 2:30 pm at Ince Rose Bridge
Mirfield v Royal Navy – 2 pm
Rochdale Mayfield v Telford Raiders – 2 pm
Stanley Rangers v Hunslet ARLFC – 2 pm
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Orrell St James – 2 pm
West Bowling v Wath Brow Hornets – 2 pm
West Hull v Edinburgh Eagles – 2 pm

Sunday, January 12

Aberavon Fighting Irish v Blackbrook – 1:30 pm at Aberavon Green Stars RFC
Eastern Rhinos v Wests Warriors – 2:30 pm at Colchester Sports Park
GB Police v York Acorn – 1:30 pm at Portico Panthers