Coral Challenge Cup to return in August

Rugby League’s 2020 Coral Challenge Cup will resume in August at the sixth-round stage with the final to be played on Saturday, October 17.

With Super League starting up again on August 2, dates for the remaining rounds of the Cup are included in the schedule for the rest of the season.

It had reached the last 16 stage before the season was suspended in March and it will return with a bang on Saturday, August 22 with a double-header which will be broadcast live by the BBC from John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield,

Warrington Wolves, 2019 Wembley winners, will face Wigan Warriors at 2.30pm, followed by St Helens v Salford Red Devils at 5pm in a repeat of last season’s Super League Grand Final.

Other sixth-round games will also be played on the same weekend with the quarter-finals on September 19 and 20; the semi-finals on Saturday, October 3and the final on Saturday, October 17 with a 3pm kick-off.

Venues for these ties, and the final, have still to be confirmed.

Mark Foster, the RFL’s chief commercial officer, said: “We are grateful for the support of Coral, the BBC and the clubs in ensuring the Challenge Cup will keep its place in the British sporting calendar.

“With renewed optimism about the return of crowds to professional sport in the autumn we are working through all venue options for the remaining rounds so we can react to any changes in government guidance in the coming weeks and months.

“Should the best option be to host the final at Wembley Stadium we have it provisionally booked for Saturday, October 17.”

Sixth-round draw: Leeds Rhinos v Hull KR; Newcastle Thunder v Toronto Wolfpack; Salford Red Devils v St Helens; Sheffield Eagles v Hull FC; Wakefield Trinity v Featherstone Rovers; Widnes Vikings v Catalans Dragons; Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors; York City Knights v Castleford Tigers.