Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final Tickets

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tickets

Any Rugby League fanatic would be thrilled to score Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tickets and join as many as 80,000 other fans at Wembley Stadium on the August bank holiday weekend. The Ladbrokes Challenge Cup is one of the biggest, oldest and most prestigious competitions in Rugby League. It's the only knock-out tournament of its kind, with a unique format that invites more than 100 amateur and semi-professional clubs to compete with professional ones. With the largest stadium in the UK as its venue, the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final promises a great atmosphere as well as world-class rugby action on the pitch.

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup history

The oldest competition in Rugby League, the Challenge Cup was first played in 1897. With the exception of disruptions during the two world wars, it has been played every year since. The first Challenge Cup was held at Headingley in Leeds. It moved to the newly built Wembley Stadium in 1929, which became the cup's permanent venue. (Various other venues were used during Wembley's 2002-2007 redevelopment.)

In 1946 came the introduction of the Lance Todd Trophy, which is awarded to the man of the match. The player who will receive the trophy is chosen by members of the Rugby League Writers' Association. Sean Long, half-scrum for St. Helens, set a new record in 2006 when he won the Lance Todd Trophy for the third time.

The most successful club in Challenge Cup history is Wigan Warriors, who have won the cup 19 times and appeared in 30 finals. Overall 26 different clubs have won the Challenge Cup. The 2017 winners were Hull FC.

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup format

The format of the Challenge Cup is unique in that professional clubs are joined by community game teams, university teams and the armed services' teams. Few amateur clubs (only two on average) participated before the 1993-1994 season, for which the Rugby Football League and the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) made a deal to open the competition to more amateur clubs.

The Ladbrokes Challenge Cup is played over eight rounds, culminating in the final held during the August bank holiday weekend. The first round invites clubs from all over the UK, including British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Great Britain Police teams. University champions and the champions of the Scottish National League, Welsh Premiership and National Conference League are also invited, as are the winners of the four major regional BARLA leagues.

The Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final begins with the Champion Schools final between the country's best two Year 7 teams.

Similar to Ladbrokes Challenge Cup

Rugby fans who are interested in Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tickets might also want to look into tickets for the Bournemouth Sevens Festival or the Super League Rugby Grand Final.