2026 Challenge Cup final
| 2026 Challenge Cup final | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 30 May 2026, 15:00 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Wembley Stadium | ||||||||||||
| Location | London, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||
| Lance Todd Trophy | Jack Farrimond | ||||||||||||
| God Save The King and Abide with Me | Laura Wright | ||||||||||||
| Referee | Liam Moore | ||||||||||||
| Attendance | 56,383 | ||||||||||||
| Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
| Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
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The 2026 Challenge Cup final was the 125th final of the Rugby Football League's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The final was contested by the Wigan Warriors and Hull Kingston Rovers.
Background
Defending champions Hull Kingston Rovers defeated the Warrington Wolves in the 2025 Challenge Cup final to claim the title for the second time in their history with the previous win coming in 1980.[1]
Their opponents Wigan last won the competition in 2024, when they also defeated Warrington in the final, but were unable to defend the title in 2025 after losing to Hull F.C. in the fourth round.[2][3]
Wigan's prop Sam Walters became the first person to be sent off in a challenge cup final since 1993.
Route to the final
Both finalists entered the 2026 Challenge Cup in the third round of the competition.[4]
Wigan Warriors
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 3 |  Rochdale Hornets |
Spotland Stadium | 83–0[5] |
| Round 4 |  Bradford Bulls |
Brick Community Stadium | 30–6[6] |
| Quarter-final |  Wakefield Trinity |
Belle Vue | 26–22[7] |
| Semi-final |  St Helens |
Halliwell Jones Stadium | 32–0[8] |
Hull Kingston Rovers
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 3 | Lock Lane | Craven Park | 104–0[9] |
| Round 4 |  Huddersfield Giants |
Kirklees Stadium | 52–12[10] |
| Quarter-final |  York Knights |
Craven Park | 48–10[11] |
| Semi-final |  Warrington Wolves |
Eco-Power Stadium | 32–0[12] |
Pre-match
The women's final between Wigan Warriors and St Helens took place before the match,[13][14] which saw a Wigan victory with a score of 54–6.[15]
On 30 April, the Rugby Football League announced that mezzo-soprano Laura Wright would sing the national anthem and Abide with Me ahead of the match.[16]
Match details
| Wigan Warriors | 40–10 | Hull KR |
|---|---|---|
Tries: Farrimond  6', 35'Nsemba 43'Keighran 52', 56'French 64'Thompson 73'Walters  78'Goals: Keighran (6/7) |
[17][18] |
Tries: Hiku 40', 71' Goals: Martin (1/2) |
Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 56,383 Referee: Liam Moore Video referee: Chris Kendall Touch judges:
Lance Todd Trophy: Jack Farrimond |
Teams
| Wigan Warriors | Position | Hull KR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Number | Number | Name | |
| Jai Field | 1 | 14 | Jack Broadbent | |
| Zach Eckersley | 2 | 2 | Tom Davies | |
Adam Keighran  36', 43', 52', 53' 56' 57', 65', 73' | 3 | 3 | Peta Hiku 40', 71' | |
| Jake Wardle | 4 | 4 | Oliver Gildart | |
| Noah Hodkinson | 28 | 5 | Joe Burgess | |
Farrimond 6', 35',  60' | 19 | 6 | Mikey Lewis | |
| Harry Smith | 7 | 7 | Tyrone May | |
Sam Walters 27',  60', 78' | 14 | 8 | Sauaso Sue 16', 49' | |
| Brad O'Neill | 9 | 9 | Jez Litten | |
| Luke Thompson 25', 67', 73' | 10 | 10 | Tom Amone 49' | |
| Junior Nsemba 43' | 11 | 11 | Dean Hadley 4'  | |
| Liam Farrell | 12 | 12 | James Batchelor | |
| Oliver Partington 48' | 17 | 13 | Elliot Minchella 51' | |
| Bevan French 60', 64' | 6 | 15 | Sam Luckley 16', 37' | |
| Ethan Havard 25', 67' | 8 | 17 | Rhyse Martin 4', 71' | |
| Kaide Ellis 27' | 13 | 18 | Jack Brown 37' | |
| Patrick Mago 48' 60' | 15 | 22 | Bill Leyland 51' | |
 Matt Peet | Coach | .svg.png){kind=small} Willie Peters | ||
Post match
Jack Farrimond won the Lance Todd Trophy,[19] while Adam Keighran equalled the record for the most points scored in a single challenge cup final with 20.[20]
Sam Walters received a seven match ban for a Grade F tackle on Bill Leyland becoming the first player to revive a red card in the Challenge Cup final since 1993.[21] Junior Nsemba, who was also involved in the tackle, received no disciplinary action.[22]
The 2026 final was attended by 56,383 people, the lowest attendance since 1946. With attendances on a downward trend since the first final at the new Wembley Stadium, a record low figure brought a recent annual debate about the venue into more mainstream media attention. The Guardian noted that Wembley still had an appeal to fans; however, with the Super League Grand Final and Magic Weekend, the Challenge Cup final is no longer the sports "big day out" that it once was in previous decades. Further, more recent events like Rugby League Las Vegas and Catalans Dragons 20th birthday match against Wigan in Paris (played one week after the final) had accelerated the downward trend. The Guardian also criticised the Rugby Football League for having amateur divisions play on Cup final weekend, claiming it limited the number of neutral fans that could attend the final.[23]
The final was watched by 933,000 on TV, accounting for 14.4% of the audience share.[24]
References
- ↑ "Hull KR beat Warrington to end 45-year Challenge Cup title wait". BBC Sport. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "Wigan beat Warrington to win Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "Martin lands knockout blows for Hull". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3472. 17 March 2025. p. 16.
- ↑ "Challenge Cup: Holders Hull KR to face Castleford Lock Lane or Brighouse". BBC Sport. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- ↑ "Eckersley scores four as Wigan stroll through". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3518. 9 February 2026. p. 10.
- ↑ "Wigan do just fine without stars". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3523. 16 March 2026. p. 20.
- ↑ "Wigan capitalise on moment of madness". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3527. 13 April 2026. p. 17.
- ↑ "Wigan gain decisive win on the road to Wembley". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3531. 11 May 2026. pp. 16–17.
- ↑ "Robins enjoy a record-breaking night". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3518. 9 February 2026. p. 16.
- ↑ "Giant problems - but not for Robins". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3523. 16 March 2026. p. 15.
- ↑ "May Day as Robins too strong". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3527. 13 April 2026. p. 14.
- ↑ "Robins repel Wolves' challenge". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3531. 11 May 2026. p. 15.
- ↑ "Final four eye Wembley Challenge Cup opportunity". BBC Sport. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "Saints set up Wigan cup final clash with win over Leeds". BBC Sport. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "Wigan thrash Saints to retain Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Betfred Challenge Cup Final Entertainment line-up confirmed with One Month to Go". RFL. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "Wigan outclass Hull KR for 22nd Challenge Cup title". BBC Sport. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Challenge Cup final 2026: Wigan Warriors score seven tries and cruise to 40–10 victory over Hull KR, but Sam Walters sees red late on". Sky Sports. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Lance Todd Trophy voting breakdown as Jack Farrimond DOMINATES". Love Rugby League. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Wigan star Adam Keighran joins exclusive four-man club after Challenge Cup heroics". Love Rugby League. 31 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Wigan's Walters gets seven-game ban for Wembley red". BBC Sport. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Wigan duo banned as Sam Walters lands HUGE suspension following red card in Challenge Cup final". Love Rugby League. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Challenge Cup crowds are dwindling but rugby league must save Wembley relationship". The Guardian. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Challenge Cup final viewing figures revealed as Wigan-Hull KR clash attracts high numbers for BBC". Love Rugby League. 31 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.