The game is a few weeks away yet but, in the meantime, RNRL would like to wish our players, coaching and backroom staff as well as our valued Sponsors and supporters a very Happy and safe Christmas hope to see you al in the new year!

Our game will be first off on 13th January at 12:30 being played at
RAF Cranwell
Sleaford
Lincs
NG34 8HB

The following BBC press release confirms the details of our match as well as the rest of the 1st and 2nd round ties

“Betfred Challenge Cup: Forces’ fixture to kickstart BBC coverage of 2024 Men’s competition

The stand-out Round 1 tie of the 2024 Men’s Betfred Challenge Cup, the Royal Air Force versus the Royal Navy, will be streamed live by BBC Sport on Saturday 13 January (KO 12.30pm) from RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.

Both sides reached Round 2 in the 2023 competition, the RAF winning at Doncaster Toll Bar before losing narrowly to York Acorn, and the Royal Navy beating Barrow Island before suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of North Wales Crusaders from the professional ranks.
Only one of them can make Round 2 this time around, while the third Forces’ team, British Army, face a tough trip to Castleford to take on leading Yorkshire Men’s League side Fryston Warriors.

20 clubs from the community game and Armed Forces went into the hat for Round 1, where North West Men’s League Champions Orrell St James will have home advantage against Challenge Cup first-timers Haresfinch. Yorkshire Men’s League Champions Newsome Panthers must travel south to take on Wests Warriors in the capital, while another London side, reigning Southern Conference champions Hammersmith Hills Hoists, will face one of the other sides making their Challenge Cup bow: Gillingham’s Medway Dragons.

Round 1 fixtures in full (all Saturday 13 January)
Clock Face Miners v Heworth (KO 1.30pm)
Doncaster Toll Bar v Ashton Bears (1.30pm)
Fryston Warriors v British Army (1.30pm)
Hammersmith Hills Hoists v Medway Dragons (3pm, Chiswick RFC)
Lowca v Edinburgh Eagles (1pm)
Orrell St James v Haresfinch (2pm)
Oulton Raiders v West Bowling (2pm)
Royal Air Force v Royal Navy (12.30pm)
South Wales Jets v Stanningley (1.30pm, Ebbw Vale RFC)
Wests Warriors v Newsome Panthers (2.30pm, Wasps RFC)

The winners of the 10 Round 1 ties will be joined at Round 2 by 10 clubs from the National Conference League – and the draw for Round 2 has already thrown up some fascinating ties.

Challenge Cup giant killers Thatto Heath travel to the RAF or Royal Navy, while another NCL club with giant killing pedigree, Rochdale Mayfield, must also hit the road to take on either Wests Warriors or Newsome Panthers. Also hitting the road will be reigning NCL champions Hunslet ARLFC who visit either Fryston Warriors or British Army. Elsewhere, Hull Dockers versus Wath Brow Hornets is another tie to capture the imagination.

Round 2 draw (ties to be played on the weekend of 27/28 January)
Clock Face Miners or Heworth v Siddal
Doncaster Toll Bar or Ashton Bears v West Hull
Fryston Warriors or British Army v Hunslet ARLFC
Hammersmith Hills Hoists or Medway Dragons v Oulton Raiders or West Bowling
Hull Dockers v Wath Brow Hornets
Leigh Miners Rangers v South Wales Jets or Stanningley
Lock Lane v Lowca or Edinburgh Eagles
Orrell St James or Haresfinch v York Acorn
Royal Air Force or Royal Navy v Thatto Heath Crusaders
Wests Warriors or Newsome Panthers v Rochdale Mayfield
As with Round 1, BBC Sport will select one tie from Round 2 to be streamed live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app.
The 10 Round 2 winners be joined at Round 3 by 22 semi-professional clubs from the Betfred Championship and Betfred League One, fixtures taking place over the weekend of 10/11 February.

The Men’s 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup is part of a Finals Day triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 June, alongside the final of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup. Tickets are available online now at rugby-league.com/tickets from only £15 Adults and £7.50 Under 16s, with family packages also available starting from just £18.75 for one Adult and two Under 16s. “

Kia Kaha