Challenge Cup draw moved back to the UK

James Messenger

Monday’s draw for the Sixth Round of the Challenge Cup will now be held in the UK, rather than America.

Officials from the RFL and New York Rugby League decided in the last 24 hours not to proceed with plans to hold the draw in New York.

The draw will instead be held at Media City in Salford, and will be broadcast on BBC Sport Online and Our League.

Negotiations are at an advanced stage for New York Rugby League to enter the game’s oldest knock-out competition in 2021, which is why plans were made some time ago for the city to host the draw.

It is likely that a New York draw will now take place next season.

Already in the hat for Round Six are Featherstone, Toronto and Wakefield. Five games are set to take place this afternoon, with the eight remaining Super League teams also entering the competition in the next round.

After this weekend, the remaining 16 teams will only need to win three games to book their place at the final at Wembley, which will now be played on the earlier date of Saturday 18 July.


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