Challenge Cup Draw: Noble’s Bradford to Meet Doncaster

The Bradford Bulls, under Brian Noble’s leadership, are scheduled to play Championship newcomers Doncaster in the second round of the Challenge Cup. Additionally, the first round will feature an all-armed forces contest between the British Army and the RAF. Noble, who previously led Bradford to a Challenge Cup victory in 2003, was reappointed by the Bulls in October to assume control of the club starting next season. Beyond the British Army’s match against the RAF, other first-round fixtures include Scottish representatives Edinburgh competing against West Hull, Irish team Longhorns facing Ince Rose Bridge, and Welsh club Aberavon Fighting Irish playing Blackbrook. The initial round of the Challenge Cup is set for the weekend of 11 and 12 January, with the subsequent second-round stage scheduled two weeks later, on 25 and 26 January. The draws for the competition were broadcast live on the BBC, where reigning Man of Steel Mikey Lewis and Wakefield’s Max Jowitt selected the pairings at the RaisE Business Centre in Goole. Goole Vikings participated in the draw for the first time since their admission by the Rugby Football League (RFL) into League One, effective next season. The Vikings received an away fixture against the London Broncos, a team that has been relegated to the Championship after having played in Super League in 2024. Alongside amateur teams from the British Army, RAF, and Royal Navy, the Harry Jepson Trophy winners, Telford Raiders, were among 34 community game teams included in the first-round draw. The Raiders are slated to travel to play Rochdale Mayfield, while the Royal Navy will visit Mirfield, and the GB Police will host York Acorn. Twelve Championship teams, excluding the French side Toulouse, and all eleven League One teams are set to enter the competition at the second-round stage. Widnes Vikings are scheduled for an away match against League One team Rochdale Hornets. Fellow Championship club York Knights will also play away against third-tier opposition, visiting Keighley Cougars, while second-tier Batley Bulldogs will compete against Newcastle Thunder. Furthermore, in two matches featuring only League One teams, Whitehaven will play Swinton Lions, and North Wales Crusaders will undertake a considerable journey to face Cornwall. The first-round fixtures are as follows: West Hull v Edinburgh Eagles London Chargers v Oulton Raiders Longhorns v Ince Rose Bridge Lock Lane v Doncaster Toll Bar Hammersmith Hills Hoists v Siddal Waterhead Warriors v Leigh Miners Rangers GB Police v York Acorn Aberavon Fighting Irish v Blackbrook Mirfield v Royal Navy Crosfields v Maryport British Army v RAF Stanley Rangers v Hunslet ARLFC West Bowling v Wath Brow Hornets Dewsbury Moor v Haresfinch Eastern Rhinos v Wests Warriors Rochdale Mayfield v Telford Raiders Thatto Heath v Orrell St James The second-round fixtures are as follows: GB Police or York Acorn v London Chargers or Oulton Raiders Halifax Panthers v Thatto Heath or Orrell St James Dewsbury Moor or Haresfinch v Dewsbury Rams Barrow Raiders v Crosfields or Maryport Mirfield or Royal Navy v Workington Town London Broncos v Goole Vikings Lock Lane or Doncaster Toll Bar v Hunslet Waterhead Warriors or Leigh Miners Rangers v Featherstone Rovers Eastern Rhinos or Wests Warriors v British Army or RAF Whitehaven v Swinton Lions Stanley Rangers or Hunslet ARLFC v West Hull or Edinburgh Rochdale Hornets v Widnes Vikings Oldham v Rochdale Mayfield or Telford Raiders Keighley Cougars v York Knights Sheffield Eagles v West Bowling or Wath Brow Hornets Bradford Bulls v Doncaster Aberavon Fighting Irish or Blackbrook v Longhorns or Ince Rose Bridge Midlands Hurricanes v Hammersmith Hills Hoists or Siddal Cornwall v North Wales Crusaders Newcastle Thunder v Batley Bulldogs