Rugby League snubbed again as London Mayor Sadiq Khan ignores Challenge Cup Final

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has seemingly snubbed and overlooked rugby league in a post celebrating sport in the capital in 2025.

Rugby league is often overlooked by those outside of the sport, something that has been a common theme in recent years at this time of year in regard to the New Years Honours list.

Calls for Kevin Sinfield to be knighted have fallen on deaf ears with the Leeds Rhinos’ legend’s charity work in support of best mate Rob Burrow and the MND community failing to land him the title of Sir.

He was once again overlooked in the recent honours list although rugby league was represented with Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy and Leeds Rhinos chairman Paul Caddick both claiming honour.

Their recognition was a big positive for the sport which is looking to have its biggest year in decades with Super League’s involvement in Las Vegas and the return of an Ashes series on English soil.

However, the sport has already been overlooked by one of the nation’s senior politicians in what is a major snub.

Rugby League overlooked by Mayor of London

We’re only two days into 2025, but it’s already shaping up to be an incredible year for women’s sports in the capital. pic.twitter.com/EVzFKoDvwP

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) January 2, 2025

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan took to X, formerly Twitter, to share a graphic displaying a series of women’s sporting events in the capital. Sadly, that graphic failed to reference the women’s Challenge Cup Final.

In a list that featured football, rugby union, basketball, tennis, hockey, cricket, netball and athletics – rugby league was overlooked.

It is only in the past two years, during Khan’s tenure as Mayor of London, that the women’s Challenge Cup Final has moved to Wembley with 2023 being the first year the game was held in the iconic stadium.

Once again in 2025, it will be part of a showpiece finals day that sees the men’s final and the 1895 Cup Final also take place – however, Khan failed to note the fixture in a list purported to represent an “incredible year for women’s sport in the capital”.

St Helens will be looking to make it a third straight Wembley win and a fifth consecutive Challenge Cup in 2025 with the final being held at Wembley on June 7th.

The omission has seen fans outraged with X user @DeanC_2024 echoing the thoughts of many.

Sharing Khan’s post, they said: “So no mention of the Challenge Cup final on June 7th at Wembley Stadium!?

“It’s only 1 of the biggest days in our sport that brings thousands of fans to London for the weekend. So yeah why bother mentioning it.

“The way you & the other powers that be in the country continually overlook, disregard & disrespect Rugby League is an utter disgrace!”