Yesterday saw both Hull KR and Huddersfield Giants progress to the Challenge Cup semi-finals with impressive wins and they’ll be eagerly waiting to see who they are drawn against for those games.
There’s obviously a chance that the two sides could meet each other which would mark a repeat of the 2022 Challenge Cup semi-final that saw Ian Watson’s side come out victorious, but the other names in the hat are yet to be decided.
Wigan Warriors travel to The Jungle to take on an injury-riddled Castleford Tigers before St Helens host Warrington Wolves live on the BBC to round off the weekend’s action in a highly-anticipated clash.
Both sides sit on ten points in Super League with five wins from seven and for Sam Burgess’ side it will be a real litmus test for if they truly are contenders should they be able to beat the Red Vee on the road to progress to the Challenge Cup semis.
As for St Helens, they’ll be hoping to bounce back from the disappointing defeat in Perpignan last weekend against Catalans Dragons that saw them miss an opportunity to go to the top of Super League.
As referenced, whoever wins today’s games will join Hull KR, who ended Leigh Leopards’ chances of repeating their incredible 2023 success, something that’s seen owner Derek Beaumont send a message to the club on social media.
The other side that they will join is Huddersfield Giants who hammered Catalans Dragons on the road in what was a statement victory, upsetting the odds as they cruised into the Challenge Cup semis with a 34-6 win.
In the women’s tournament, there were large victories for champions St Helens, last year’s runners-up Leeds Rhinos and a win for Wigan Warriors who will be hoping to go one better than last year when they fell at the semi-final stage.
Details of the draw for both the men’s and women’s semi-finals have now been confirmed.
When will the Challenge Cup draw be made?
Credit: Imago Images
The draw for both the men’s and women’s Challenge Cup semi-finals will be made live on BBC Two at the half-time interval of St Helens and Warrington Wolves game, with an estimated time of around 5.20pm.
That’s been confirmed by the RFL who have also revealed the ball number for each side in the draw with the games set to be played at yet-to-be-confirmed neutral venues on the weekend of 18th/19th May.
The draw being at half-time also begs the question of whether Paiul Wellens and Sam Burgess will inform their players of whom they will face in the semi-finals, perhaps a possible motivating factor or maybe even a distraction.
The RFL confirmed details as follows: “The draws for the semi-finals of both the Men’s and Women’s competitions in the Betfred Challenge Cup will be made live on BBC at approximately 5.20pm on Sunday (14 April), during half-time of the televised quarter-final tie between St Helens and Warrington Wolves.
“Ball numbers will be allocated on the basis of the chronological order in which quarter-final ties are played. First up will be the draw for the semi-finals of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, followed immediately by the draw for the Men’s.”
Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup semi-final draw ball numbers:
1. Leeds Rhinos
2. St Helens
3. Wigan Warriors
4. York Valkyrie or Featherstone Rovers
Betfred Men’s Challenge Cup semi-final draw ball numbers
1. Hull KR
2. Huddersfield Giants
3. Castleford Tigers or Wigan Warriors
4. St Helens or Warrington Wolves
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