2025 Format
Highlights from the last four Finals
History of the Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is the oldest trophy in Rugby League history and dates back to 1896.
The current holders of the Challenge Cup are Wigan Warriors, winning the competition for the 21st time, beating Warrington Wolves 18-8 in the 2024 Final on 8 June 2024 at Wembley Stadium.
Wigan are the most successful club in the history of the competition, winning the Cup a record 21 times.
In total, 27 different clubs have won the Challenge Cup.
PAST WINNERS
| Year: | Winners: | Runners Up: |
| 2024 | Wigan Warriors | Warrington Wolves |
| 2023 | Leigh Leopards | Hull KR |
| 2022 | Wigan Warriors | Huddersfield Giants |
| 2021 | St Helens | Castleford Tigers |
| 2020 | Leeds Rhinos | Salford Red Devils |
| 2019 | Warrington Wolves | St Helens |
| 2018 | Catalans Dragons | Warrington Wolves |
| 2017 | Hull FC | Warrington |
| 2016 | Hull FC | Wigan Warriors |
| 2015 | Leeds Rhinos | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 2014 | Leeds Rhinos | Castleford Tigers |
| 2013 | Wigan Warriors | Hull FC |
| 2012 | Warrington Wolves | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2011 | Wigan Warriors | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2010 | Warrington Wolves | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2009 | Warrington Wolves | Huddersfield Giants |
| 2008 | St Helens | Hull FC |
| 2007 | St Helens | Catalans Dragons |
| 2006 | St Helens | Huddersfield Giants |
| 2005 | Hull FC | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2004 | St Helens | Wigan Warriors |
| 2003 | Bradford Bulls | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2002 | Wigan Warriors | St Helens |
| 2001 | St Helens | Bradford Bulls |
| 2000 | Bradford Bulls | Leeds Rhinos |
| 1999 | Leeds Rhinos | London Broncos |
| 1998 | Sheffield Eagles | Wigan Warriors |
| 1997 | St Helens | Bradford Bulls |
| 1996 | St Helens | Bradford Bulls |
| 1995 | Wigan Warriors | Leeds Rhinos |
| 1994 | Wigan Warriors | Leeds Rhinos |
| 1993 | Wigan Warriors | Widnes Vikings |
| 1992 | Wigan Warriors | Castleford Tigers |
| 1991 | Wigan Warriors | St Helens |
| 1990 | Wigan Warriors | Warrington Wolves |
| 1989 | Wigan | St Helens |
| 1988 | Wigan | Halifax |
| 1987 | Halifax | St Helens |
| 1986 | Castleford | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 1985 | Wigan | Hull FC |
| 1984 | Widnes | Wigan |
| 1983 | Featherstone Rovers | Hull FC |
| 1982 | Hull FC | Widnes Vikings |
| 1981 | Widnes Vikings | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 1980 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Hull FC |
| 1979 | Widnes | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1978 | Leeds | St Helens |
| 1977 | Leeds | Widnes |
| 1976 | St Helens | Widnes |
| 1975 | Widnes | Warrington |
| 1974 | Warrington | Featherstone Rovers |
| 1973 | Featherstone Rovers | Bradford Northern |
| 1972 | St Helens | Leeds |
| 1971 | Leigh | Leeds |
| 1970 | Castleford | Wigan |
| 1969 | Castleford | Salford |
| 1968 | Leeds | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1967 | Featherstone Rovers | Barrow |
| 1966 | St Helens | Wigan |
| 1965 | Wigan | Hunslet |
| 1964 | Widnes | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 1963 | Wakefield Trinity | Wigan |
| 1962 | Wakefield Trinity | Huddersfield |
| 1961 | St Helens | Wigan |
| 1960 | Wakefield Trinity | Hull FC |
| 1959 | Wigan | Hull FC |
| 1958 | Wigan | Workington Town |
| 1957 | Leeds | Barrow |
| 1956 | St Helens | Halifax |
| 1955 | Barrow | Workington Town |
| 1954 | Warrington | Halifax |
| 1953 | Huddersfield | St Helens |
| 1952 | Workington Town | Featherstone Rovers |
| 1951 | Wigan | Barrow |
| 1950 | Warrington | Widnes |
| 1949 | Bradford Northern | Halifax |
| 1948 | Wigan | Bradford Northern |
| 1947 | Bradford Northern | Leeds |
| 1946 | Wakefield Trinity | Wigan |
| 1945 | Huddersfield | Bradford Northern |
| 1944 | Bradford Northern | Wigan |
| 1943 | Dewsbury | Leeds |
| 1942 | Leeds | Halifax |
| 1941 | Leeds | Halifax |
| 1940 | ||
| 1939 | Halifax | Salford |
| 1938 | Salford | Barrow |
| 1937 | Widnes | Keighley |
| 1936 | Leeds | Warrington |
| 1935 | Castleford | Huddersfield |
| 1934 | Hunslet | Widnes |
| 1933 | Huddersfield | Warrington |
| 1932 | Leeds | Swinton |
| 1931 | Halifax | York |
| 1930 | Widnes | St Helens |
| 1929 | Wigan | Dewsbury |
| 1928 | Swinton | Warrington |
| 1927 | Oldham | Swinton |
| 1926 | Swinton | Oldham |
| 1925 | Oldham | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 1924 | Wigan | Oldham |
| 1923 | Leeds | Hull FC |
| 1922 | Rochdale Hornets | Hull FC |
| 1921 | Leigh | Halifax |
| 1920 | Huddersfield | Wigan |
| 1919 | ||
| 1918 | ||
| 1917 | ||
| 1916 | ||
| 1915 | Huddersfield | St Helens |
| 1914 | Hull FC | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1913 | Huddersfield | Warrington |
| 1912 | Dewsbury | Oldham |
| 1911 | Broughton Rangers | Wigan |
| 1910 | Leeds | Hull FC |
| 1909 | Wakefield Trinity | Hull FC |
| 1908 | Hunslet | Hull FC |
| 1907 | Warrington | Oldham |
| 1906 | Bradford FC | Salford |
| 1905 | Warrington | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 1904 | Halifax | Warrington |
| 1903 | Halifax | Salford |
| 1902 | Broughton Rangers | Salford |
| 1901 | Batley | Warrington |
| 1900 | Swinton | Salford |
| 1899 | Oldham | Hunslet |
| 1898 | Batley | Bradford FC |
| 1897 | Batley | St Helens |
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the man of the match each year at the Challenge Cup Final.
Introduced in 1946, the trophy was named in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator.
Every year, the winner is selected by members of the Rugby League Writers' Association present at the game.
Lance Todd Trophy Winners
| Year | Winner(s) | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Bevan French | Wigan Warriors |
| 2023 | Lachlan Lam | Leigh Leopards |
| 2022 | Chris McQueen | Huddersfield Giants |
| 2021 | Niall Evalds | Castleford Tigers |
| 2020 | Richie Myler | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2019 | Daryl Clark | Warrington Wolves |
| 2018 | Tony Gigot | Catalans Dragons |
| 2017 | Marc Sneyd | Hull FC |
| 2016 | Marc Sneyd | Hull FC |
| 2015 | Tom Briscoe | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2014 | Ryan Hall | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2013 | Matty Smith | Wigan Warriors |
| 2012 | Brett Hodgson | Warrington Wolves |
| 2011 | Jeff Lima | Wigan Warriors |
| 2010 | Lee Briers | Warrington Wolves |
| 2009 | Michael Monaghan | Warrington Wolves |
| 2008 | Paul Wellens | St Helens |
| 2007 | Leon Pryce & Paul Wellens | St Helens |
| 2006 | Sean Long | St Helens |
| 2005 | Kevin Sinfield | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2004 | Sean Long | St Helens |
| 2003 | Gary Connolly | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2002 | Kris Radlinski | Wigan Warriors |
| 2001 | Sean Long | St Helens |
| 2000 | Henry Paul | Bradford Bulls |
| 1999 | Leroy Rivett | Leeds Rhinos |
| 1998 | Mark Aston | Sheffield Eagles |
| 1997 | Tommy Martyn | St Helens |
| 1996 | Robbie Paul | Bradford Bulls |
| 1995 | Jason Robinson | Wigan Warriors |
| 1994 | Martin Offiah | Wigan Warriors |
| 1993 | Dean Bell | Wigan Warriors |
| 1992 | Martin Offiah | Wigan Warriors |
| 1991 | Dennis Betts | Wigan Warriors |
| 1990 | Andy Gregory | Wigan Warriors |
| 1989 | Ellery Hanley | Wigan Warriors |
| 1988 | Andy Gregory | Wigan Warriors |
| 1987 | Graham Eadie | Halifax RLFC |
| 1986 | Bob Beardmore | Castleford Tigers |
| 1985 | Brett Kenny | Wigan Warriors |
| 1984 | Joe Lydon | Widnes Vikings |
| 1983 | David Hobbs | Featherstone Rovers |
| 1982 | Eddie Cunningham | Widnes Vikings |
| 1981 | Mick Burke | Widnes Vikings |
| 1980 | Brian Lockwood | Hull KR |
| 1979 | David Topliss | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1978 | George Nicholls | St Helens |
| 1977 | Steve Pitchford | Leeds Rhinos |
| 1976 | Geoff Pimblett | St Helens |
| 1975 | Ray Dutton | Widnes Vikings |
| 1974 | Derek Whitehead | Warrington Wolves |
| 1973 | Steve Nash | Featherstone Rovers |
| 1972 | Kel Coslett | St Helens |
| 1971 | Alex Murphy | Leigh Centurions |
| 1970 | Bill Kirkbride | Castleford Tigers |
| 1969 | Malcolm Reilly | Castleford Tigers |
| 1968 | Don Fox | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1967 | Carl Dooler | Featherstone Rovers |
| 1966 | Len Kileen | St Helens |
| 1965 | Brian Gabbitas & Ray Ashby | Hunslet & Wigan Warriors |
| 1964 | Frank Collier | Widnes Vikings |
| 1963 | Harold Poynton | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1962 | Neil Fox | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1961 | Dick Huddart | St Helens |
| 1960 | Tommy Harris | Hull FC |
| 1959 | Brian McTigue | Wigan Warriors |
| 1958 | Rees Thomas | Wigan Warriors |
| 1957 | Jeff Stevenson | Leeds Rhinos |
| 1956 | Alan Prescott | St Helens |
| 1955 | John 'Jack' Grundy | Barrow |
| 1954 | Gerry Helme | Warrington Wolves |
| 1953 | Peter Ramsden | Huddersfield Giants |
| 1952 | William Ivison | Workington |
| 1951 | Cecil 'Cec' Mountford | Wigan Warriors |
| 1950 | Gerry Helme | Warrington Wolves |
| 1949 | Ernest Ward | Bradford Northern |
| 1948 | Frank Whitcombe | Bradford Northern |
| 1947 | Willie Davies | Bradford Northern |
| 1946 | William 'Billy' Stott | Wakefield Trinity |
Every year a Chief Guest is chosen and invited to at the Challenge Cup Final.
The Chief Guest has been a part of the Challenge Cup tradition since the Final was first held at Wembley in 1929, when Lord Daresbury was presented to the teams before the match, and presented the trophy after it.
Chief Guests
| Year | Chief Guest |
| 2024 | Martin Offiah |
| 2023 | Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP |
| 2022 | Sam Tomkins, Emily Rudge, Tom Halliwell (3 England Captains) |
| 2021 | Nigel Huddleston (Sports Minister) |
| 2020 | Rob Burrow (In Absentia) |
| 2019 | HRH Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex |
| 2018 | Adam Hills (Comedian & PDRL player) |
| 2017 | Ellery Hanley MBE (former GB Captain) |
| 2016 | Lizzie Jones MBE |
| 2015 | Tracey Crouch, MP (Minister of Sport) |
| 2014 | Malcolm Reilly OBE, Former Player & Coach of GB |
| 2013 | Luke Campbell MBE (2012 Olympic Gold Medalist) |
| 2012 | Mr Peter Phillips (HM Queen Elizabeth II's Grandson) |
| 2011 | Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach KCB, CBE |
| 2010 | Steve Prescott MBE |
| 2009 | Gerry Sutcliffe MP (Minister of Sport & Tourism) |
| 2008 | The Rt. Hon Andy Burnham MP (Sec of State for Culture Media & Sport) |
| 2007 | Sir Steven Redgrave (Five time Olympic Gold Medalist) |
| 2006 | Martin Offiah MBE |
| 2005 | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Ashley of Stoke CH |
| 2004 | The Rt. Hon Lord Derby |
| 2003 | The Rt Hon. Neil Kinnock (VP European Commission) |
| 2002 | The Rt Hon. Richard Carborn MP (Minister of Sport) |
| 2001 | The Rt. Hon Tony Blair PM |
| 2000 | The Rt Hon. Kate Hoey MP (Minister of Sport) |
| 1999 | The Rt. Hon Frank Dobson MP (Secretary of State of Health) |
| 1998 | The Rt. Hon. Chris Smith MP (Sec. of State for Culture, Media & Sport) |
| 1997 | The Rt. John Prescott MP (Deputy Prime Minister) |
| 1996 | The Rt. Hon. Ian Sproat MP (Minister of Sport) |
| 1995 | HRH Prince Philip, The Duke Edinburgh |
| 1994 | The Rt. Hon. Betty Boothroyd MP (Speaker of the House of Commons) |
| 1993 | The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby MC |
| 1992 | The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby MC |
| 1991 | The Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke QC MP (Sec of |
| 1990 | Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Harding GCB, ADC, FRAeS, CBIM (Chief of the Air Staff) |
| 1989 | The Rt. Hon. Viscount Whitelaw CHMC |
| 1988 | HE The Hon. Douglas McClelland AC (HC for Australia) |
| 1987 | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh |
| 1986 | HRH Princess Alexandra |
| 1985 | The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby MC |
| 1984 | The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby MC |
| 1983 | Baron Gormley of Ashton in Makerfield OBE |
| 1982 | The Rt. Hon. Neil McFarlane MP (Minister of Sport) |
| 1981 | Group Captain Sir Douglas R S Bader CBE, DSO, DFC |
| 1980 | HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother |
| 1979 | Lord Daresbury |
| 1978 | The Earl of Derby |
| 1977 | The Rt. Hon Denis Howell MP (Minister of Sport) |
| 1976 | The Rt. Hon. Mrs Margaret Thatcher MP |
| 1975 | HRH Princess Alexandra |
| 1974 | The Hon. John Armstrong AC High Commissioner for Australia |
| 1973 | The Earl Mountbatten of Burma |
| 1972 | The Hon. Walter Annenberg (US Ambassador) |
| 1971 | The Rt. Hon. Reginald Maudling MP (Home Secretary) |
| 1970 | The Earl of Derby |
| 1969 | Sir Denis Blundell (High Commissioner for NZ) |
| 1968 | HRH The Duke of Kent |
| 1967 | HM Queen Elizabeth & HRH Prince Phillip |
| 1966 | The Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson MP OBE |
| 1965 | HRH Princess Alexandra |
| 1964 | The Earl of Derby |
| 1963 | Field Marshal 1st Viscount Montgomery |
| 1962 | The Earl Alexander of Tunis |
| 1961 | The Earl of Derby |
| 1960 | HM Queen Elizabeth II & HRH The Prince Phillip |
| 1959 | Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood |
| 1958 | The Hon. John Hay Whitney (US Ambassador) |
| 1957 | The Earl of Derby |
| 1956 | The Earl Alexander of Tunis |
| 1954 (Replay) | C W Robinson (RL Chairman) |
| 1954 | The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby MC |
| 1953 | His Grace The Duke of Norfolk |
| 1952 | Rt. Hon. Anthony Eden (Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs) |
| 1951 | HRH The Duke of Gloucester |
| 1950 | Rt. Hon. Clement Atlee (Prime Minister) |
| 1949 | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh |
| 1948 | H.M. King George VI & HM Queen Elizabeth |
| 1947 | HRH The Duke of Gloucester |
| 1946 | Rt. Hon. Clement Atlee (Prime Minister) |
| 1939 | Earl de la Warr |
| 1938 | Don Bradman (Cricketer) |
| 1937 | Lord Cozens Hardy |
| 1936 | Lord Derby |
| 1935 | J. Lewthwaite (RL Chairman) |
| 1934 | Lord Derby |
| 1933 | HRH The Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) |
| 1931 | Lord Derby |
| 1929 | Lord Daresbury |
2025 Challenge Cup Final
