Challenge Cup quarter-finals: Squad news, kick-off times & TV coverage

Here’s everything you need to know about the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, including squads, kick-off times and televised coverage.

There are eight teams remaining in the prestigious cup competition, with the action getting underway on Saturday live on Viaplay Sports.

Andrew Henderson’s York remain the only club outside of Super League left in the Challenge Cup. They will host Leigh at the LNER Community Stadium in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Salford’s trip to Hull KR kicks-off the quarter-finals from midday on Saturday, followed by Hull FC against St Helens.

BBC’s second quarter-final tie will come on Sunday, June 18, when Wigan take on Warrington at the DW Stadium.

The Knights then host Adrian Lam’s Leopards on Sunday at 5pm.

Hull Kingston Rovers v Salford Red Devils (Saturday, June 17 | 12pm | Viaplay Sports)

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters confirmed that Sam Wood may have played his final game for the club after suffering a long-term injury, while influential half Jordan Abdull is also set to miss at least 12 weeks of action following a blow sustained against Catalans.

Jack Walker misses out after failing his head injury assessment on his debut, with Tanguy Zenon named after joining the club on a two-week loan from Catalans. Tom Opacic and Rowan Milnes also return to the squad.

Paul Rowley is still without starting hooker Andy Ackers for the trip.

Hull KR: Opacic, Kenny-Dowall, Hall, Parcell, King, Linnett, Minchella, Litten, Kennedy, Storton, Keinhorst, Lewis, Milnes, Hadley, Senior, Johnson, Luckley, Aydin, Laulu-Togaga’e, Hall, Zenon.

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Watkins, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Vuniyayawa, Dixon, Stone, Partington, Atkin, Addy, Dupree, Sidlow, Bourouh, Williams, Costello, Hellewell, Cross.

Hull FC v St Helens (Saturday, June 17 | 2:30pm | BBC One & BBC iPlayer)

Tony Smith has made just one change to his 21-man Hull squad, with Jake Clifford ruled out of the quarter-final match due to concussion protocols. Forward Chris Satae returns from a minor hamstring concern.

For the first time this season, Paul Wellens has named an unchanged 21-man squad. 

Young forward Jake Wingfield is likely to miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder surgery, Wellens confirmed earlier this week.

Hull: Hoy, Swift, Tuimavave, Sutcliffe, McIntosh, Trueman, Sao, Houghton, Satae, Savelio, Lane, Fash, Lovodua, Cator, Scott, Brown, Griffin, Litten, Taylor, Dwyer.

St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Hopoate, Percival, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Mata’utia, Batchelor, Knowles, Lussick, LMS, Sironen, Paasi, Bell, Hurrell, Ritson, Delaney.

Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves (Sunday, June 18 | 2:30pm | BBC One & BBC iPlayer)

Wigan coach Matt Peet has made one change to his side. Hooker Sam Powell is replaced by prop Ethan Havard, who comes back into contention after recovering from a dislocated elbow in their Challenge Cup sixth round victory at Leeds last month.

Warrington could welcome back forward Joe Philbin this weekend after he recovered from a shoulder injury he suffered a couple of weeks ago.

Wigan: Field; French, King, Wardle, Marshall, Cust, Smith, Singleton, Byrne, Farrell, Smithies, Ellis, Havard, Shorrocks, Mago, Thornley, O’Neill, Miski, Hill, Nsemba, Hampshire.

Warrington: Ashton, Bullock, Clark, Currie, Drinkwater, Dudson, Dufty, Green, Harrison, Kasiano, Mata’utia, Minikin, Philbin, Ratchford, Russell, Thewlis, Thomas, Vaughan, Walker, Williams, Wrench.

York Knights v Leigh Leopards (Sunday, June 18 | 5pm | Viaplay Sports)

York have got one player amongst their 21-man squad who has won the Challenge Cup in the shape of Chris Clarkson, who won the competition with Leeds in 2014.

Wigan academy product Umyla Hanley could make his debut for Leigh after being named in Adrian Lam’s 21-man squad. He has recently impressed whilst on loan with League 1 side Rochdale. Utility player Tom Nisbet has also come back into Leigh’s 21 after completing a his one-match suspension.

York: Butterworth, Barnard, Brown, Clarkson, Cunningham, Daley, Dee, Field, Fitzsimmons, Harrison, Hingano, Jones, Jubb, Kirby, Michael, Price, Sumner, Ta’ai, Teanby, Towse, Ward.

Leigh: Hardaker, Briscoe, Chamberlain, Leutele, Charnley, Mellor, Lam, Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, Asiata, Holmes, O’Brien, Davis, Smith, Jones, Nisbet, O’Donnell, Wilde, Hanley, Seumanufagai.

Semi-finals draw details

The semi-finals this year will be played as two separate events on the weekend of July 22-23. One will be on the Saturday and the other on Sunday at neutral venues, which will be confirmed on Monday 19 June.

There are plans for each to be a men’s and women’s double-header, with the Women’s Challenge Cup final also being held at Wembley later in August in a first-ever for the sport.

The draws for the semi-finals of both men’s and women’s Challenge Cup, as well as the 1895 Cup, will take place on Sunday, June 18.

BBC Sport will host the Challenge Cups draws at half-time of the quarter-final tie between Wigan and Warrington at the DW Stadium (approximately 3:15pm).

England Women assistant and Leeds Rhinos head coach Lois Forsell will conduct the Men’s Challenge Cup draw, and former England international Kevin Brown the Women’s.

The 1895 Cup draw will take place live on BBC Radio Leeds from 5:45pm during the West Yorkshire Sport programme with James Deighton.

Ball numbers: Challenge Cup 

1 Hull KR or Salford Red Devils

2 Hull FC or St Helens

3 Wigan Warriors or Warrington Wolves

4 York Knights or Leigh Leopards

Ball numbers: Women’s Challenge Cup

1 Leeds Rhinos or Leigh Leopards

2 Wigan Warriors or Huddersfield Giants

3 St Helens or Warrington Wolves

4 York Valkyrie or Cardiff Demons

Ball numbers: AB Sundecks 1895 Cup

1 Batley Bulldogs

2 Halifax Panthers

3 London Broncos

4 York Knights

Unless York Knights progress through to the Challenge Cup semi-finals, the 1895 Cup semi-finals will also take place on the weekend of 22/23 July.

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