Five Betfred Championship teams remain in the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup competition, as they find themselves just 80 minutes away from the quarter finals.
The Fourth Round takes place this weekend - and with these teams coming up against Betfred Super League opposition, let’s find out a little bit more on how the second-tier sides have fared in the Challenge Cup…
Bradford Bulls
Bradford are five-time Challenge Cup winners and six-time runners-up.
The Bulls last lifted the coveted trophy back in 2003 – in what was their treble-winning season with Brian Noble at the helm.
With Noble currently in his second stint at the club, could history be rewritten where success is concerned?
Due to constructions of 'New Wembley' in the early 2000s, Bradford’s 2000 and 2003’s spectacular cup victories were played away from the capital, meaning their last appearance under the iconic arch last came in 1997, when they lost out to St Helens.
They also featured at Wembley in 1996 – in what was the highest-scoring Challenge Cup final in history. Bradford's 32 points also set a new record for the most points scored by a Challenge Cup final-losing team - arguably one of the most enthralling finals in the competition's history.
Bradford last won at Wembley in 1949, beating locals rivals Halifax 12-0.
In recent times, Bradford have caused multiple upsets in the Challenge Cup, including the emphatic knockout of 14-time winners Leeds Rhinos back in 2019, as well as Castleford Tigers in this year’s competition.
The Bulls have overcome Doncaster and Castleford so far, and will face Salford Red Devils in the Fourth Round this weekend – could they possibly cause another upset?
Oldham
Oldham are three-time Challenge Cup winners (1899, 1925 and 1927) but have, interestingly, never featured at the famous Wembley.
1929 was when Challenge Cup finals began to be played at Wembley, with the Roughyeds thrice lifting the cup and ending as runners-up on four occasions prior the year of '29.
Sean Long’s men will be hoping to change this in 2025 and have an opportunity to do so in either the Challenge Cup or the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.
Oldham’s opposition this weekend are 2023 Finalists Hull KR. They will make the trip to Sewell Group Craven Park on Friday night – a place they haven’t visited since 2016.
Interestingly, they faced the Robins in Challenge Cup competition that same year, pulling off one of the hugest shocks as they beat them 22-36 in the Fifth Round.
They haven’t had the greatest of cup runs in recent years, but in their new era under Mike Ford, what could unfold in 2025?
Oldham have recorded convincing wins over Rochdale Mayfield and Barrow Raiders, in order to reach Round 4.
Widnes Vikings
Widnes, the former ‘Cup Kings’ are seven-time Challenge Cup winners and six-time runners-up.
Widnes lifted their first trophy in 1930, before dominating the late 70s/early 80s with a star-studded outfit, including the legendary Jim Mills.
Their last Challenge Cup victory came in 1984, with a sensational victory over Wigan.
Widnes will face fierce rivals Warrington in the Fourth Round, as they renew their rivalry in the Cheshire Derby.
These two sides last faced one another in the Challenge Cup back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
2016 saw a closely contested quarter-final, in which the Wolves pipped a 20-18 victory in the dying minutes and went on to be that year's finalists.
Warrington then would win a little bit more convincingly in the 2017 Sixth Round against Widnes - 34-20.
Now they will meet again in 2025, but this time at the home of the Chemics…
After wins over Rochdale Hornets and North Wales Crusaders in the earlier rounds, can the Vikings put on a show in front of a bumper crowd in their toughest cup test yet?
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone are three-time Challenge Cup winners (1967, 1973, 1983) and two-time runners up. In 1983, they registered a narrow win over Hull at Wembley.
The Rovers faced Super League opposition in the cup last year in the form of Leigh Leopards, losing out 26-14 at Leigh Sports Village.
In recent times, they have reached the round with Super League clubs and come up against Wigan Warriors (2012), Catalans Dragons (2015) and Hull FC (2018).
Their most recent encounter with a Super League side in the Challenge Cup, saw an explosive 20-38 encounter with the Black & Whites on home soil.
In 2015, they pushed the Dragons all the way at Stade Gilbert Brutus in a high-scoring affair, but were defeated 37-34.
Featherstone will once again play Catalans Dragons on Saturday night in the south of France - a side who have won just one of their opening Super League matches in 2025.
Will we see another match like that of 2015?
Fev have produced hefty wins over amateur sides Waterhead Warriors and Ince Rose Bridge to progress into the Fourth Round.
Batley Bulldogs
Did you know that Batley are the inaugural winners of the Challenge Cup, which dates back to 1897 – the first ever Challenge Cup Final?
At Headingley, Leeds, nearly 14,000 people gathered to watch Batley beat St Helens 10-3 - the very beginning of what would become Rugby League's oldest competition.
They secured back-to-back Challenge Cup trophies in 1897 and 1898, with their last win coming in 1901 – 124 years ago.
An unbeaten Batley in 2025 will be hoping to push 2024 winners Leigh Leopards all the way on Sunday in their Fourth Round tie.
The Bulldogs played Castleford in last year's Challenge Cup action, pushing them all the way with a final and respectable scoreline of 14-28.
They have defeated Betfred League One outfits Newcastle Thunder and Dewsbury Rams to earn their place in Round 4.
How do you think the remaining Championship teams will fare in Round 4?
The Betfred Challenge Cup Fourth Round will take place this weekend - and fixture information can be found here.
Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!
