At least two of this weekend’s Challenge Cup games will see clubs break their record attendance as Super League sides head to lower league opposition.
Much has been made of the new format that saw all 12 Super League clubs enter in Round Three and be seeded as guaranteed away teams.
Despite that ‘guarantee’ of playing away, at least four Super League sides will either play at home or a neutral venue with their lower league opponent unable or unwilling to host the match.
Wests Warriors have ceded home advantage to play at Headingley which saves Leeds Rhinos a trip to London but also guarantees Wests a larger payday given the Headingley crowd.
Elsewhere, West Hull will host St Helens at Craven Park and York Acorn will face Hull FC at Featherstone’s Post Office Road. League One Goole Vikings will actually play Wakefield Trinity at Trinity’s stadium, with the four ground changes being used as an example for why the seeded draw has not worked.
York Knights and Midlands Hurricanes will not be thinking that with both clubs confirming that they will break their record attendances in Round Three of the Challenge Cup, on account of them facing Super League opposition.
The Knights defeated Keighley Cougars at the weekend to book a clash with Hull KR who they will play tonight in a game streamed live on the Sportsman Rugby League YouTube channel.
Despite the broadcast coverage, York have confirmed that they have officially broken their previous record attendance of 4,281 with Hull KR believed to be bringing a strong crowd from East Hull.
⚔️ 𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙍𝙀𝘾𝙊𝙍𝘿 𝘾𝙍𝙊𝙒𝘿 𝙎𝙀𝙏.. 𝙒𝙄𝙏𝙃 𝙉𝙐𝙈𝘽𝙀𝙍𝙎 𝙎𝙏𝙄𝙇𝙇 𝙍𝙄𝙎𝙄𝙉𝙂!
We have officially broken our previous record attendance of 4,281 against Bradford in 2018, and will register the HIGHEST attendance in York Knights history for tomorrow’s cup tie… pic.twitter.com/G7E9H7c2Ka
— York RLFC Knights (@YorkRLFC) February 6, 2025
Midlands Hurricanes will also break their record attendance with the League One club taking to X to reveal that they are “guaranteed a record crowd” when they play on Sunday against Salford Red Devils.
Sheffield Eagles head coach Craig Lingard had told the media earlier in the week that he expects a strong attendance at the Olympic Legacy Park for the club’s game against defending champions Wigan Warriors, highlighting how and why the Challenge Cup format has worked in some instances.
Challenge Cup Round Three Fixtures
Friday, February 7
Workington Town v Leigh Leopards, KO 7.30 pm
Sheffield Eagles v Wigan Warriors, KO 7.30 pm
York Knights v Hull KR KO 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 8
Wests Warriors v Leeds Rhinos, KO 12 pm
York Acorn v Hull FC, KO 2 pm
West Hull v St Helens, KO 2 pm
Goole Vikings v Wakefield Trinity, KO 3 pm
Halifax Panthers v Catalans Dragons, KO 3 pm
Whitehaven v Warrington Wolves, KO 3 pm
Sunday, February 9
Bradford Bulls v Castleford Tigers, KO 1p m
Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams, KO 2 pm
Featherstone Rovers v Ince Rose Bridge, KO 2 pm
Midlands Hurricanes v Salford Red Devils, KO 2 pm
North Wales Crusaders v Widnes Vikings, KO 2.30 pm
Oldham RLFC v Barrow Raiders, KO 3 pm
Hunslet RLFC v Huddersfield Giants, KO 3 pm
⭐ | We are already guaranteed a RECORD CROWD at @alex_stadium on Sunday!
👏 | A huge thank you to all those fans who have already committed to being part of a historic day.
🫵 | Not got a ticket? Buy now and be part of something huge.
🎟️ | Buy now: https://t.co/DuNDDqwRBi pic.twitter.com/t0YIGD6qTg
— Midlands Hurricanes RLFC (@HurricanesRLFC) February 5, 2025
