Everything you need to know on Challenge Cup finals day including kick-off times, broadcast information
A general view of Wembley Stadium taken during Challenge Cup finals day in 2021
Saturday sees rugby league’s annual trip to Wembley for Challenge Cup finals day, which this year will undoubtedly be an emotional occasion following the sad passing of a true legend in Rob Burrow, who lost his four-and-a-half year battle with MND last weekend.
Following his passing at the age of 41, supporters attending Challenge Cup finals day at Wembley on Saturday will be able to leave tributes at the Rugby League Statue from 9.45am (BST).
The Rugby League Statue, unveiled back in August 2015, is located on the East Level 2 concourse.
Supporters have been asked by the RFL not to bring any form of flame as a tribute to Burrow, with that including candles. All portable tributes will be relocated to Headingley following this weekend’s games in the capital. Floral tributes are unable to be relocated.
Below, we bring you a full rundown of how Saturday’s Challenge Cup finals day will shape up in terms of an on-field schedule, including the latest team news. We’ve also included how you can watch all four finals remotely if you are not attending in person…
RELATED: Rob Burrow tributes confirmed for Challenge Cup final including later kick-off time
Champion Schools Year 7 Boys’ Final (Steven Mullaney Memorial Game)
Who: St Peters Catholic High School (Wigan) v Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf (Cardiff)
Kick Off: 10am (BST)
How to Watch: Live on the RFL’s YouTube channel
Supporters at Wembley are invited to applaud during the 7th minute of the game to celebrate the life of Rob Burrow.
Women’s Challenge Cup Final
Who: Leeds Rhinos v St Helens
Kick Off: 11.45am (BST)
How to Watch: BBC Two & BBC iPlayer
Prior to kick-off, there will be a minute’s silence in memory of Leeds legend Rob Burrow. Then, in the 7th minute of the game, supporters are invited to applaud to celebrate his life.
There will be two post-match trophy presentations: one in the royal box and the second on the pitch, which will then be followed by the traditional lap of honour for the winning team.
Saints have lifted the Challenge Cup in each of the last three seasons, including at Wembley against Leeds last year. Head coach Matty Smith won the men’s competition back in 2013 in the colours of Wigan, named the man of the match as he scooped the Lance Todd Trophy.
Lois Forsell’s Rhinos meanwhile see Shona Hoyle, Bethan Dainton & Ruby Enright return after their recent injury problems. Evie Cousins, Grace Field, Liv Whitehead, Ella Donnelly & Beth Macmillan could all make their first appearance for the club in a final.
Leeds’ 21-woman squad: Enright, Robinson, Beevers, Hardcastle, Butcher, Casey, Hornby, Bennett, Northrop, Hoyle, Sykes, Dainton, Moxon, Lockwood, Whitehead, Field, Cousins, Greening, Macmillan, Donnelly
Saints’ 21-woman squad: Salihi, Rotheram, McColm, E. Stott, Burke, Harris, Gaskin, Whitfield, Jones, Crowl, Travis, Rudge, Cunningham, N. Williams, D. Stott, Birchall, Mottershead, Hook, Taylor, M. Williams, Sutherland
Men’s Challenge Cup Final
Who: Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors
Kick Off: 3.07pm (BST) – Kick-off changed in honour of Rob Burrow
How to Watch: BBC One & BBC iPlayer
Prior to kick-off, there will be a minute’s silence in memory of Leeds legend Rob Burrow. Then, in the 7th minute of the game, supporters are invited to applaud to celebrate his life.
There will be two post-match trophy presentations: one in the royal box and the second on the pitch, which will then be followed by the traditional lap of honour for the winning team.
Warrington see the majority of the senior figures who sat out last weekend’s narrow defeat to Wigan in Super League return to Sam Burgess’ squad, including the likes of Matty Ashton, Toby King, Paul Vaughan.
The Warriors are without both Adam Keighran & Tyler Dupree having both picked up three-match suspensions following last week’s game.
Warrington’s 21-man squad: Ashton, Bullock, Crowther, Currie, Drinkwater, Dufty, Fitzgibbon, Harrison, Holroyd, King, Musgrove, Nicholson, Powell, Ratchford, Tai, Thewlis, Vaughan, Walker, Williams, Wood, Wrench
Wigan’s 21-man squad: Field, Miski, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, Havard, O’Neill, Byrne, Farrell, Ellis, Cooper, Mago, Thompson, Leeming, Hill, Nsemba, Walters, Hampshire, Eckersley, Douglas
LRL RECOMMENDS: Every rugby league final between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves over the years, and the Cherry & Whites’ extraordinary record
1895 Cup Final
Who: Wakefield Trinity v Sheffield Eagles
Kick Off: 5.45pm (BST)
How to Watch: Super League+ (Free)
Supporters are invited to applaud during the 7th minute of the game to celebrate the life of Rob Burrow.
There will be one post-match trophy presentation. This will take place on the pitch, and will be followed by the traditional lap of honour for the winning team.
Unbeaten in the Championship so far this season, league leaders Wakefield – headed up by Daryl Powell – thumped Dewsbury Rams 56-0 at Belle Vue last Friday night. Trinity see experienced heads Jermaine McGillvary, Iain Thornley & Josh Griffin all come back in, replacing Mathieu Cozza, Myles Lawford and Harvey Smith.
Mark Aston’s Sheffield meanwhile were beaten 31-18 at Batley Bulldogs last weekend, and now sit 3rd on the Championship ladder. Blake Broadbent returns to the Eagles’ squad for Wembley, with Matty Marsh dropping out.
Wakefield’s 21-man squad: Jowitt, McGillvary, Pratt, Thornley, Walmsley, Gale, Lino, Bowden, Hood, Atoni, Ashurst, Griffin, Pitts, Kay, Uele, Bain, Rodwell, Doyle, Croft, Booth, Olpherts
Sheffield’s 21-man squad: Jones-Bishop, Welham, Glover, Dawson-Jones, Aston, Thackeray, Battye, Halafihi, Dickinson, Bower, Farrell, Gwaze, Hansen, Hodgson, Broadbent, Clark, Murphy, Wood, Liu, Sene-Lefao, Millar
