One of rugby league’s, and sport’s, longest-running cup competitions, the Challenge Cup, is one step closer to returning, following the announcement of the first and second round draws.
The 2026 instalment will begin in January, with the opening round ties commencing on the weekend of the 10th/11th, before the second round action begins a fortnight later.
Community clubs up and down the UK will enter at the first round, with teams ranging from Irish Champions Banbridge Broncos, to Wests Warriors in London, to Wales’ Aberavon Fighting Irish.
The second round sees all the Championship clubs enter, with London Broncos and Salford Red Devils both learning who their first competitive opponents of the new year will be, should the latter still be functioning as a club at that point.
There are some tasty ties across the opening two rounds, from David-and-Goliath level contests to second tier heavyweights going at it for a chance to take on Super League opposition.
The full Challenge Cup draw can be read here
The five most intriguing 2026 Challenge Cup ties
Royal Navy or Hammersmith Hills Hoists vs Salford Red DevilsÂ
Obviously, the biggest talking point about this match is whether it actually goes ahead.
As it stands, Salford currently have a HMRC hearing on December 3, and after having their four previous meetings adjourned, you’d expect that time is running out and there won’t be many, if any, chances left to repay their debts.
If the game does somehow go ahead, and Salford manage to stay afloat, they will then have less than a month to build a team for the Challenge Cup and Championship campaign. That could lead to a huge upset, and could see one of the two community sides through to the third round and in the hat with some of the biggest clubs in the country.
London Broncos vs British Army or Wests Warriors
On the flip side, one of the second tier’s most exciting clubs, London, will take on either the Army or Wests Warriors, who faced Leeds Rhinos in the third round last year.
Whilst the Broncos may be stuck in the Championship next season, they have eery chance to go deep into the Cup competition, having built a squad that could match many Super League clubs. If they start the season well and begin to click, there could be some major upsets from Jason Demetriou’s men.
Sheffield Eagles vs Whitehaven
One of only two all Championship ties to be held in the second round, both of these two teams would have been hoping for some easier opposition, but if either are to win they will have to overcome a fellow second tier outfit.
Sheffield will be the favourites, given the signings they have made and the fact they were an already established Championship side. Whitehaven also finished 8th in League One last year, but have made big steps into improving the club on and off the field as they prepare for 2026.
Banbridge Broncos vs Aberavon Fighting Irish
Round One will see the battle of one of Ireland’s best community club take take on one of Wales’ best, as Banbridge host Aberavon in one of the best ties of the season.
The Broncos finished third in the Irish league in 2025, whilst Aberavon finished top of the country’s highest level of competition.
Aberavon will be making a near 700-mile round trip from Port Talbot to the Broncos as the crow flies, with the winner of that match taking on Midlands Hurricanes away from home in Round Two.
Wigan St Judes vs Leigh Miners Rangers
Not only does this tie see two of the amateur game’s biggest clubs go head to head, it is also a local rivalry. It’s not just the Warriors and the Leopards in Super League who battle it out for bragging rights, as both the Judes and the Miners have just 12 miles between the two.
Both clubs have had players in their youth systems go on to become Super League players, and what makes this tie more interesting is that Leigh Miners were relegated from the NCL Premier Division in 2025, whilst St Judes earned promotion to take their place.
The winner of the tie will host Barrow Raiders in the second round.
Fixtures for Round 1 of the #ChallengeCup are set! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/WscPwSoh0z
— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) November 24, 2025
