Scott Taylor, Max Jowitt and Mikey Lewis conducted the First and Second Round draws in Goole...
The British Army have been drawn to host the RAF in the most eyecatching tie produced by the First Round draw for the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup, while Goole Vikings’ first competitive fixture as a professional club will be in the Second Round against London Broncos.
The Vikings hosted the draws for the first two rounds following their successful application to join Betfred League One next season, and their head coach Scott Taylor, three times a Challenge Cup winner with Wigan and Hull FC, joined Wakefield Trinity’s record-breaking pointscorer Max Jowitt to conduct the First Round draw.
34 community teams will enter the competition at that stage, with ties to be played on the weekend of January 11-12 – and as well as the Army versus RAF clash, other intriguing fixtures include West Hull hosting Edinburgh Eagles, Telford Raiders travelling to Rochdale Mayfield, and an all Southern Conference League tie in Colchester between Eastern Rhinos and Wests Warrriors.
Siddal, the Halifax community club coached by the new Leeds Rhinos signing Jake Connor, have been drawn away to the SCL champions Hammersmith Hills Hoists, who reached the Fourth Round this year – while the GB Police team will host York Acorn, who were the most successful community club in the 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup, with their run to the Fifth Round including a victory in Cornwall.
Taylor then stood aside for the Second Round draw given the involvement of the Vikings, with all the Betfred Championship and League One clubs joining the competition at that stage – and Mikey Lewis, the reigning Man of Steel after an outstanding season with Hull KR and England, taking his place.
Coincidentally, Lewis and Jowitt created the possibility of the community clubs with whom they started their Rugby League journeys – West Hull and Stanley Rangers – meeting at the Second Round stage, although that would require West Hull to beat Edinburgh, and Stanley Rangers to beat Hunslet ARLFC, the reigning National Conference League champions.
And former West Hull man Lewis knows that the journey to the top all starts with the community clubs:
"The Challenge Cup and the draws are something I've watched being a young kid and it’s an honour to be here in Goole and to pull the balls out of the hat with Max [Jowitt].
“I was at West Hull since being three years old and left when I was 16 to join Hull KR and the City of Hull Academy.
“They’ve got Edinburgh Eagles at home, so they’ll be pleased with that and should get a lot of fans down there. It’s been a very good First and Second draw.
“There’s quite a few Super League players who came from West Hull – and some past players too who have played at the highest level.
“The club is massive - they bring everyone in and make everyone feel welcome. From the age of five to the first team. They make sure everyone is happy and having fun, and hopefully that they become professional one day, as that is every player’s dream.
“It feels like a long way to Wembley but it isn't when you're playing in the competiton, and my team, Hull KR, are in at Round 3, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on what happens.”
Then, for the audience at the RaisE Business Centre in Goole, it was the prospect of a trip to the Cherry Red Records Stadium in Wimbledon to face Mike Eccles' Broncos that was the highlight of the draw.
“It’s a great draw for us, the chance to go down to London and take on a club who were in the Super League last season,” said Taylor.
Oldham, coached by the three times Lance Todd Trophy winner Sean Long, were drawn at home to Rochdale Mayfield or Telford Raiders, while the first game of Brian Noble’s second stint as head coach of Bradford Bulls will be at home to their Betfred Championship rivals Doncaster.
There is also the possibility of an all-Dewsbury tie, with the amateurs of Dewsbury Moor drawn to play at home to Dewsbury Rams of Betfred League One – if Moor can beat the St Helens community club Haresfinch in the First Round.
Challenge Cup Round One draw – ties to be played weekend of January 11-12
- 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.
Challenge Cup Round Two draw – ties to be played on weekend of January 25-26
- 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 RLFC
- Waterhead Warriors or Leigh Miners 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 Eagles
- 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
- Bradford Bulls v Doncaster
- Aberavon Fighting Irish or Blackbrook v Longhorns or Ince Rose Bridge
- Midlands Hurricanes v Hammersmith or Siddal
- Cornwall v North Wales Crusaders
- Newcastle Thunder v Batley Bulldogs
