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Challenge Cup game still set for huge crowd despite football final thanks to TV decision

The Challenge Cup is the oldest and most prestigious trophy in rugby league.

This year it has turned 126 years old and this week the competition celebrated the anniversary of the first ever final which Batley Bulldogs won back in 1897 against St Helens.

The Bulldogs were one of four Championship sides who are joined in Round Six by all 12 Super League sides including Super League and World Champions St Helens and holders Wigan Warriors.

The other Championship clubs are London Broncos, York RLFC and Halifax Panthers.

The question going into the draw was which of these clubs would we see paired against the top teams of Super League as the road to Wembley really hots up.

There is a guaranteed Championship club in the quarter-finals with York and London meeting.

Meanwhile the biggest game of the round is undoubtedly the meeting between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors who have won 34 Challenge Cups between them.

Meanwhile, after a fiery clash over Easter, Catalans Dragons and Warrington Wolves meet again with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

Championship clubs Batley and Halifax play Hull KR and St Helens respectively so it not easy ties for them against some of the top teams in Super League at present.

It was one of these games that posed a potential scheduling problem for one club.

It is rare that Halifax have the chance to host a team like St Helens and the club are expecting a huge crowd that weekend.

That weekend will also see Halifax Town Football Club play in the FA Trophy Final on May 21st.

It had fans worried that it could pose a real problem for the Panthers even if their game was played the day before some fans may head down to London early missing the chance to see the Super League and World Champions in action.

This would have undermined the club’s efforts to put together a record crowd.

Now those fears have been avoided with confirmation that the game will take place on Friday 19th giving fans the best chance of watching both.

It will be shown live on Viaplay.

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