The Challenge Cup of Rugby league was instituted in the 1896–97 and the final was contested between Batley and St. Helens at Headingley, Leeds. In the seasons during the Second World War the final was played over two legs, with the aggregate score being used. The final was played at many neutral venues up to and including 1928 after which it was mostly played at Wembley Stadium until 1939 just prior to the Second World War apart from 1932 when it was switched to Central Park, Wigan. In the war years, apart from 1940, it was played at various venues between 1941–45 after which it returned to Wembley in 1946 when the final permanently became a Wembley final.
In 1909–10 Leeds and Hull F.C. drew 7–7 for the first time in a final at Huddersfield and a replay resulted in a Leeds win. There have been 3 replays, the latest being 1981–82 at Elland Road between Hull F.C. and Widnes.
List of Finals
(R) | Replay |
* | Match went to Golden point |
‡ | Winning team won the Double (League title and Challenge Cup) |
§ | Winning team won the Treble (League title, Challenge Cup and League Leaders Shield) |
# | Winning team won All Four Cups (League title, Challenge Cup, League Leaders Shield and World Club Challenge) |
Season | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1896–97 | ![]() |
10–3 | ![]() |
Headingley | |
1897–98 | ![]() |
7–0 | ![]() |
27,941 | |
1898–99 | ![]() |
19–9 | ![]() |
Fallowfield | 15,763 |
1899–1900 | ![]() |
16–8 | ![]() |
17,864 | |
1900–01 | ![]() |
6–0 | ![]() |
Headingley | 29,563 |
1901–02 | ![]() |
25–0 | ![]() |
Athletic Ground | 15,006 |
1902–03 | ![]() |
7–0 | ![]() |
Headingley | 32,507 |
1903–04 | ![]() |
8–3 | ![]() |
The Willows | 17,041 |
1904–05 | ![]() |
6–0 | ![]() |
Headingley | 19,638 |
1905–06 | ![]() |
5–0 | ![]() |
15,834 | |
1906–07 | ![]() |
17–3 | ![]() |
Wheater's Field | 18,500 |
1907–08 | ![]() |
14–0 | ![]() |
Fartown | 18,000 |
1908–09 | ![]() |
17–0 | ![]() |
Headingley | 23,587 |
1909–10 | ![]() |
7–7 | ![]() |
Fartown | 19,413 |
![]() |
26–12 (R) | ![]() |
11,608 | ||
1910–11 | ![]() |
4–0 | ![]() |
The Willows | 8,000 |
1911–12 | ![]() |
8 – 5 | ![]() |
Headingley | 15,271 |
1912–13 | ![]() |
9–5 | ![]() |
22,754 | |
1913–14 | ![]() |
6 – 0 | ![]() |
Thrum Hall | 19,000 |
1914–15 | ![]() |
37–3 | ![]() |
Watersheddings | 8,000 |
1919–20 | ![]() |
21 – 10 | ![]() |
Headingley | 14,000 |
1920–21 | ![]() |
13 – 0 | ![]() |
Wheater's Field | 25,000 |
1921–22 | ![]() |
10 – 9 | ![]() |
Headingley | 32,596 |
1922–23 | ![]() |
28 – 3 | ![]() |
Belle Vue | 29,335 |
1923–24 | ![]() |
21 – 4 | ![]() |
Athletic Ground | 41,831 |
1924–25 | ![]() |
16 – 3 | ![]() |
Headingley | 28,335 |
1925–26 | ![]() |
9 – 3 | ![]() |
Athletic Ground | 27,000 |
1926–27 | ![]() |
26 – 7 | ![]() |
Central Park | 33,448 |
1927–28 | ![]() |
5–3 | ![]() |
33,909 | |
1928–29 | ![]() |
13 – 2 | ![]() |
Wembley Stadium | 41,500 |
1929–30 | ![]() |
10 – 3 | ![]() |
36,544 | |
1930–31 | ![]() |
22 – 8 | ![]() |
40,365 | |
1931–32 | ![]() |
11 – 8 | ![]() |
Central Park | 29,000 |
1932–33 | ![]() |
21 – 17 | ![]() |
Wembley Stadium | 41,874 |
1933–34 | ![]() |
11 – 5 | ![]() |
41,280 | |
1934–35 | ![]() |
11 – 8 | ![]() |
39,000 | |
1935–36 | ![]() |
18 – 2 | ![]() |
51,250 | |
1936–37 | ![]() |
18 – 5 | ![]() |
47,699 | |
1937–38 | ![]() |
7 – 4 | ![]() |
51,243 | |
1938–39 | ![]() |
20 – 3 | ![]() |
55,453 | |
1940–41 | ![]() |
19 – 2 | ![]() |
Odsal | 28,500 |
1941–42 | ![]() |
15 – 10 | ![]() |
15,250 | |
1942–43 | ![]() |
16–9 | ![]() |
Crown Flatt | 10,470 |
0–6 | Headingley | 16,000 | |||
1943–44 | ![]() |
3–0 | ![]() |
Central Park | 22,000 |
8–0 | Odsal | 30,000 | |||
1944–45 | ![]() |
7–4 | ![]() |
Fartown | 9,041 |
6–5 | Odsal | 17,500 | |||
1945–46 | ![]() |
13 – 12 | ![]() |
Wembley Stadium | 54,730 |
1946–47 | ![]() |
8 – 4 | ![]() |
77,605 | |
1947–48 | ![]() |
8 – 3 | ![]() |
91,465 | |
1948–49 | ![]() |
12 – 0 | ![]() |
95,050 | |
1949–50 | ![]() |
19 – 0 | ![]() |
94,249 | |
1950–51 | ![]() |
10 – 0 | ![]() |
94,262 | |
1951–52 | ![]() |
18 – 10 | ![]() |
72,093 | |
1952–53 | ![]() |
15 – 10 | ![]() |
89,588 | |
1953–54 | ![]() |
4 – 4 | ![]() |
81,841 | |
![]() |
8–4 (R) | ![]() |
Odsal | 102,569 | |
1954–55 | ![]() |
21 – 12 | ![]() |
Wembley Stadium | 66,513 |
1955–56 | ![]() |
13 – 2 | ![]() |
79,341 | |
1956–57 | ![]() |
9 – 7 | ![]() |
76,318 | |
1957–58 | ![]() |
13 – 9 | ![]() |
66,109 | |
1958–59 | ![]() |
30 – 13 | ![]() |
79,811 | |
1959–60 | ![]() |
38 – 5 | ![]() |
79,773 | |
1960–61 | ![]() |
12 – 6 | ![]() |
94,672 | |
1961–62 | ![]() |
12 – 6 | ![]() |
81,263 | |
1962–63 | ![]() |
25 – 10 | ![]() |
84,492 | |
1963–64 | ![]() |
13 – 5 | ![]() |
84,488 | |
1964–65 | ![]() |
20 – 16 | ![]() |
89,016 | |
1965–66 | ![]() |
21–2 | ![]() |
98,536 | |
1966–67 | ![]() |
17 – 12 | ![]() |
76,290 | |
1967–68 | ![]() |
11 – 10 | ![]() |
87,100 | |
1968–69 | ![]() |
11 – 6 | ![]() |
97,939 | |
1969–70 | ![]() |
7 – 2 | ![]() |
95,255 | |
1970–71 | ![]() |
24 – 7 | ![]() |
85,514 | |
1971–72 | ![]() |
16 – 13 | ![]() |
89,495 | |
1972–73 | ![]() |
33 – 14 | ![]() |
72,395 | |
1973–74 | ![]() |
24 – 9 | ![]() |
77,400 | |
1974–75 | ![]() |
14 – 7 | ![]() |
85,098 | |
1975–76 | ![]() |
20 – 5 | ![]() |
89,982 | |
1976–77 | ![]() |
16 – 7 | ![]() |
80,871 | |
1977–78 | ![]() |
14 – 12 | ![]() |
96,000 | |
1978–79 | ![]() |
12 – 3 | ![]() |
94,218 | |
1979–80 | ![]() |
10 – 5 | ![]() |
95,000 | |
1980–81 | ![]() |
18 – 9 | ![]() |
92,496 | |
1981–82 | ![]() |
14 – 14 | ![]() |
92,147 | |
![]() |
18–9 (R) | ![]() |
Elland Road | 41,171 | |
1982–83 | ![]() |
14 – 12 | ![]() |
Wembley Stadium | 84,969 |
1983–84 | ![]() |
19 – 6 | ![]() |
80,116 | |
1984–85 | ![]() |
28 – 24 | ![]() |
97,801 | |
1985–86 | ![]() |
15 – 14 | ![]() |
82,134 | |
1986–87 | ![]() |
19 – 18 | ![]() |
91,267 | |
1987–88 | ![]() |
32 – 12 | ![]() |
94,273 | |
1988–89 | ![]() |
27 – 0 | ![]() |
78,000 | |
1989–90 | ![]() |
36 – 14 | ![]() |
77,729 | |
1990–91 | ![]() |
13–8 | ![]() |
75,532 | |
1991–92 | ![]() |
28 – 12 | ![]() |
77,386 | |
1992–93 | ![]() |
20–14 | ![]() |
77,684 | |
1993–94 | ![]() |
26–16 | ![]() |
78,348 | |
1994–95 | ![]() |
30–10 | ![]() |
78,550 | |
1996 | ![]() |
40–32 | ![]() |
75,994 | |
1997 | ![]() |
32–22 | ![]() |
78,022 | |
1998 | ![]() |
17–8 | ![]() |
60,669 | |
1999 | ![]() |
52–16 | ![]() |
73,242 | |
2000 | ![]() |
24–18 | ![]() |
Murrayfield | 67,247 |
2001 | ![]() |
13–6 | ![]() |
Twickenham | 68,250 |
2002 | ![]() |
21–12 | ![]() |
Murrayfield | 62,140 |
2003 | ![]() |
22–20 | ![]() |
Millennium Stadium | 71,212 |
2004 | ![]() |
32–16 | ![]() |
73,734 | |
2005 | ![]() |
25–24 | ![]() |
74,213 | |
2006 | ![]() |
42–12 | ![]() |
Twickenham | 65,187 |
2007 | ![]() |
30–8 | ![]() |
Wembley Stadium | 84,241 |
2008 | ![]() |
28–16 | ![]() |
82,821 | |
2009 | ![]() |
25–16 | ![]() |
76,560 | |
2010 | ![]() |
30–6 | ![]() |
85,217 | |
2011 | ![]() |
28 – 18 | ![]() |
78,482 | |
2012 | ![]() |
35–18 | ![]() |
79,180 | |
2013 | ![]() |
16–0 | ![]() |
78,137 | |
2014 | ![]() |
23–10 | ![]() |
77,914 | |
2015 | ![]() |
50–0 | ![]() |
80,140 | |
2016 | ![]() |
12–10 | ![]() |
76,235 | |
2017 | ![]() |
18–14 | ![]() |
68,525 | |
2018 | ![]() |
20–14 | ![]() |
50,672 | |
2019 | ![]() |
18–4 | ![]() |
62,717 | |
2020 | ![]() |
17–16 | ![]() |
0[lower-alpha 1] | |
2021 | ![]() |
26–12 | ![]() |
40,000[lower-alpha 2] | |
2022 | ![]() |
16–14 | ![]() |
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | 51,628 |
2023 | ![]() |
17–16* | ![]() |
Wembley Stadium | 58,213 |
- Notes
- ↑ The 2020 final was played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
- ↑ The 2021 final was played in front of a restricted crowd of 40,000 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Results by club
Team | Winners | Runners-up | Years won |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
20 | 13 | 1924, 1929, 1948, 1951, 1958, 1959, 1965, 1985, 1988, 1989,
1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2011, 2013, 2022 |
![]() |
14 | 12 | 1910, 1923, 1932, 1936, 1941, 1942, 1957, 1968, 1977, 1978,
1999, 2014, 2015, 2020 |
![]() |
13 | 10 | 1956, 1961, 1966, 1972, 1976, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2021 |
![]() |
9 | 1905, 1907, 1950, 1954, 1974, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2019 | |
![]() |
7 | 6 | 1930, 1937, 1964, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1984 |
![]() |
6 | 5 | 1913, 1915, 1920, 1933, 1945, 1953 |
![]() |
5 | 12 | 1914, 1982, 2005, 2016, 2017 |
![]() |
7 | 1903, 1904, 1931, 1939, 1987 | |
![]() |
6 | 1944, 1947, 1949, 2000, 2003 | |
![]() |
3 | 1909, 1946, 1960, 1962, 1963 | |
![]() |
4 | 3 | 1935, 1969, 1970, 1986 |
![]() |
3 | 4 | 1899, 1925, 1927 |
![]() |
2 | 1900, 1926, 1928 | |
![]() |
1967, 1973, 1983 | ||
![]() |
0 | 1897, 1898, 1901 | |
![]() |
1921, 1971, 2023 | ||
![]() |
2 | 2 | 1908, 1934 |
![]() |
1 | 1912, 1943 | |
Broughton Rangers § | 0 | 1902, 1911 | |
![]() |
1 | 7 | 1938 |
![]() |
1980 | ||
![]() |
4 | 1955 | |
![]() |
2 | 1952 | |
Bradford FC § | 1 | 1906 | |
![]() |
2018 | ||
![]() |
0 | 1922 | |
![]() |
1998 | ||
![]() |
0 | 1 | – |
![]() | |||
![]() |
- § Denotes club now defunct
- ± Denotes a non-English club.
Venues
Current venue
![](../I/Wembley_Stadium_during_the_2014_Challenge_Cup_Final_(23rd_August_2014)_007.JPG.webp)
Date | Venue | Location | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
2007–2021; 2023– | Wembley Stadium | Wembley, London | 90,000 |
Former venues
![](../I/Giants_Saints.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Giants_at_spurs.jpg.webp)
The Challenge Cup final has been held at 12 neutral venues.
Venue | Location | Capacity | Last Use |
---|---|---|---|
Wembley Stadium (Original) | Wembley, London | 82,000 | 2000 |
Twickenham Stadium | Twickenham, London | 82,000 | 2006 |
Millennium Stadium | Cardiff, South Glamorgan | 74,500 | 2005 |
Murrayfield Stadium | Edinburgh, Midlothian | 67,144 | 2002 |
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Tottenham, London | 62,850 | 2022 |
Athletic Grounds | Rochdale, Greater Manchester | 41,831 | 1926 |
Fartown | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire | 35,000 | 1945 |
Thrum Hall | Halifax, West Yorkshire | 29,000 | 1914 |
Watersheddings | Oldham, Greater Manchester | 28,000 | 1942 |
Odsal | Bradford, West Yorkshire | 27,500 | 1915 |
Headingley | Leeds, West Yorkshire | 21,500 | 1925 |
Wheater's Field | Broughton, Greater Manchester | 20,000 | 1921 |
Central Park | Wigan, Greater Manchester | 18,000 | 1944 |
Fallowfield | Manchester, Greater Manchester | 15,000 | 1900 |
Belle Vue | Wakefield, West Yorkshire | 12,600 | 1923 |
The Willows | Weaste, Greater Manchester | 11,363 | 1911 |
Crown Flatt (Old Ground) | Dewsbury, West Yorkshire | 10,000 | 1943 |
Replay venues
In the event of a draw a replay will be played at a neutral venue. There have been three replays.
Year | Venue | Location | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
1909-10 | Fartown | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire | 35,000 |
1953-54 | Odsal | Bradford, West Yorkshire | 27,500 |
1981-82 | Elland Road | Leeds, West Yorkshire | 39,000 |