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Leeds Rhinos among 3 Super League clubs guaranteed to face amateur opposition in Challenge Cup Round Three

Challenge Cup

Round Three of the Challenge Cup has thrown up some mouthwatering ties including three that see Super League sides face amateur opposition, including 2020 winners Leeds Rhinos.

In one of the strangest Challenge Cup draws ever, there were 66 teams in the hat for Round Three despite only 16 ties being made. That was due to the huge spate of postponements in Round One when just three of the 17 ties were played.

Siddal, West Warriors and Blackbrook were the three amateur sides to progress and they will all definitely be in Round Two – slated to be played on the weekend of January 25th and 26th.

The Round Three draw introduced the 12 Super League teams, all of whom were to be drawn away from home. Each of the first 12 ties drawn from the hat saw a Super League side as the designated away team, meaning non-Super League teams were then drawn against each other to conclude the draw.

So whilst every Super League side was guaranteed to face lower-league opposition, three have ended up with draws against amateur clubs creating the prospect for some potentially massive giant killings.

Last year saw Wakefield Trinity head to Siddal but the 2025 Challenge Cup will see Super League giants Hull FC, St Helens and Leeds Rhinos all travel to amateur clubs in Round Three.

Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and Hull FC to face amateur clubs in Round Three of the Challenge Cup

Super League clubs were drawn in reverse order of the 2024 standings albeit with Wakefield Trinity replacing London Broncos meaning that Trinity were in the first draw of the round. They were matched against the winner of London Broncos and Goole Vikings.

That meant Hull FC were the next Super League team to learn their opponents and it was confirmed that they would face one of four amateur clubs.

GB Police, York Acorn, London Chargers or Oulton Raiders will host John Cartwright’s side in early February with Acorn being the most notable of those in terms of recent cup runs – making it to the Round of 32 last season after beating League One Cornwall.

The Black and Whites took to social media to confirm that their Round Three fixture will be their first game against a community club since 1998 – highlighting the rarity of the occasion.

Leeds Rhinos were the next Super League side to draw amateur opposition, although they will face just one of three as Wests Warriors (who have already progressed into Round Two) were matched with Brad Arthur’s side.

Wests Warriors will play the winner of the British Army versus Royal Air Force for the right to host the 14-time winners of the competition.

Finally St Helens were the last Super League side to land amateur opposition with Paul Wellens side potentially facing a trip to Edinburgh Eagles, the only Scottish side in the competition.

One of Stanley Rangers, Hunslet ARLFC, West Hull or Edinburgh will host St Helens with West Hull being the former amateur club of reigning Man of Steel Mikey Lewis.

For the 11 community clubs, there are now huge incentives to make it to Round Three suggesting that the magic of the cup is possibly back?

Challenge Cup Round Three Draw in full

– GB Police / York Acorn or London Chargers / Oulton Raiders VS Hull FC
– Wests Warriors or British Army / Royal Air Force VS Leeds Rhinos
– Stanley Rangers / Hunslet ARLFC or West Hull / Edinburgh Eagles VS St Helens
– Halifax Panthers vs Thatto Heath or Orrell St James VS Catalans Dragons
– Mirfield or Royal Navy vs Workington Town VS Leigh Leopards
– London Broncos vs Goole Vikings VS Wakefield Trinity
– Lock Lane or Doncaster Toll Bar vs Hunslet VS Huddersfield Giants
– Waterhead Warriors or Leigh Miners vs Featherstone Rovers VS Blackbrook vs Longhorns or Ince Rose Bridge
– Whitehaven vs Swinton Lions VS Warrington Wolves
– Oldham vs Rochdale Mayfield or Telford Raiders VS Barrow Raiders vs Crosfields or Maryport
– Keighley Cougars vs York Knights VS Hull KR
– Sheffield Eagles vs West Bowlingor Cutsyke Raiders VS Wigan Warriors
– Bradford Bulls vs Doncaster VS Castleford Tigers
– Midlands Hurricanes vs Siddal VS Salford Red Devils
– Cornwall vs North Wales Crusaders VS Rochdale Hornets vs Widnes Vikings
– Newcastle Thunder vs Batley Bulldogs VS Dewsbury Moor or Haresfinch vs Dewsbury Rams

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