The AB Sundecks 1895 Cup kicked off today (Thursday 12 December) with the draw for the new Preliminary Rounds made.
With a new look format for 2025, three ties were drawn from all 11 Betfred League One clubs for Preliminary Round 1, with the five remaining clubs joining in Preliminary Round 2 to produce four ties.
The four winners will then join the 12 English Betfred Championship clubs in Round One proper of the competition, which will conclude at Wembley Stadium once again on Saturday 7 June (kick off 5:45pm).
The Preliminary Round One will take place on the weekend of February 1/2 and the ties are:
1 Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven RLFC
2 Rochdale Hornets v Cornwall
3 Newcastle Thunder v North Wales Crusaders
The Preliminary Round Two will take place on the weekend of February 15/16 and the ties are:
1 Goole Vikings v Newcastle Thunder or North Wales Crusaders
2 Workington Town v Dewsbury Rams
3 Rochdale Hornets or Cornwall RLFC v Swinton Lions
4 Keighley Cougars v Midlands Hurricanes or Whitehaven RLFC
Round 1 will be played across the weekend of 1/2 March in an open draw with the four winners from Preliminary Round 2 joining the 12 Championship teams. Details of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Round One draw will be confirmed following the completion of the preliminary rounds.
The quarter finals will be played across the weekend of 5/6 April, with the semi-finals across the weekend of 17/18 May.
