Why the Challenge Cup Final has been moved back to August and will not return to Tottenham

The Challenge Cup Final date and venue for 2023 has been revealed!

The Betfred Challenge Cup Final will return to Wembley Stadium in 2023 – exactly a year to the day on Saturday 12 August.

And, for the first time, the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final will be part of Rugby League’s traditional showpiece occasion.

In 2022, the Challenge Cup Final was held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the reason why it won’t be held there again is because the RFL are contracted to Wembley to host the showpiece event.

And, it has been moved from May to August to ensure that the Challenge Cup does not clash with the Football League play-off finals at the end of their season.

The 2023 Betfred Challenge Cup Final will be the 122nd in the competition’s history and the eightieth to be held at Wembley Stadium, while the women’s competition will be in its eleventh year. The AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final and Year 7 Champion Schools will also be part of finals day.

RFL Chief Commercial Officer, Mark Foster, says: “Wembley Stadium is the cup final’s spiritual home – a superb venue with plenty of attractions nearby for supporters of all ages, including the iconic Wembley Way.

“And I am delighted that, for the first time in Challenge Cup history, the women’s final will be held at Wembley Stadium. It’s already been a hugely significant year for women’s sport in this country which will continue with the Rugby League World Cup later this year. We have been working for some time to get the women’s final on the same day as the men’s, and now to make this happen will give the game a great boost. Our strategic and commercial partners, BBC, IMG and Betfred, are also very much supportive of this new Finals Day.”

“We have an excellent working partnership with our hosts and we will work closely with them to give supporters a day to remember.”

“Wembley was not available this year of course and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium provided a fantastic alternative. We look forward to seeing Rugby League there again one day soon.”