2026 Women's Challenge Cup final
| 2026 Women's Challenge Cup Final | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 30 May 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Wembley Stadium | ||||||||||||
| Location | London, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||
| Player of the Match | Jenna Foubister (Wigan) | ||||||||||||
| God Save The King and Abide with Me | Jasmine Faulkner | ||||||||||||
| Referee | Aaron Moore | ||||||||||||
| Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
| Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
The 2026 Women's Challenge Cup Final, was the 14th final of the Rugby Football League's Women's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. It was held on 30 May 2026, and was the fourth final at Wembley Stadium as part of a double header alongside the men's final.
The final was contested by reigning champions Wigan Warriors, and St Helens. Wigan retained the cup by defeating St Helens 54–6
Background
The 2026 Women's Challenge Cup final was the second meeting between Wigan Warriors and St Helens in the competition final.
Wigan Warriors entered the final as defending champions having defeated St Helens 42–6 in the 2025 final for their first title[1] St Helens' loss in the 2025 final ended their run of four consecutive wins between 2021 and 2024.[2]
Route to the final
Wigan Warriors
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage |  Featherstone Rovers |
Post Office Road | 6–78 |
 Cardiff Demons |
Edge Hall Road | 76–6 | |
| Quarter-final |  London Broncos |
Edge Hall Road | 110–0 |
| Semi-final |  York Valkyrie |
Halliwell Jones Stadium | 52–0 |
St Helens
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage |  Huddersfield Giants |
Laund Hill | 44–14 |
 Catalans Dragons |
BrewDog Stadium | 62–4 | |
| Quarter-final |  Barrow Raiders |
BrewDog Stadium | 68–6 |
| Semi-final |  Leeds Rhinos |
Eco-Power Stadium | 30–14 |
Pre-match
On 30 April, the RFL announced that soprano Jasmine Faulkner would sing the national anthem and Abide with Me ahead of the match.[9]
Match details
Saturday, 30 May 2026 11:45am BST |
 Wigan Warriors |
54–6 |  St Helens |
|---|---|---|
Tries: Wilson  6'E. Hunter 12', 16', 58', 65'Salihi 23'Davies 37', 41'Banks 51'Wilton 68'Goals: Rowe (7/10)  7', 13', 18', 24', 42', 67', 69' |
[10][11] |
Tries: McColm 40' Goals: Gaskin (1/1) 40' |
Wembley Stadium, London Referee: Aaron Moore Video referee: Liam Rush Touch judges: Ryan Cox, Gareth Jones Player of the Match: Jenna Foubister |
| Wigan Warriors | Position | St Helens | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Number | Number | Name | |
| Grace Banks 51' | 1 | 1 | Rebecca Rotheram | |
| Anna Davies 37', 41' | 2 | 5 | Leah Burke | |
| Georgia Wilson 6' | 3 | 4 | Amy Hardcastle | |
Beri Salihi 23',  55' | 16 | 3 | Rachael Woosey | |
| Ellise Derbyshire | 5 | 25 | Dani McGifford | |
| Isabel Rowe 7', 13', 18', 24', 42', 67', 69' | 7 | 6 | Zoe Harris | |
| Jenna Foubister | 6 | 7 | Faye Gaskin | |
Mary Coleman 31',  52' | 8 | 11 | Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth 25', 40', 75' | |
| Remi Wilton 28', 57', 68' | 19 | 17 | Caitlin Casey 20' | |
| Bethan Dainton 23', 55' | 15 | 16 | Erin McDonald 19', 75' | |
| Eva Hunter 12', 16', 58', 65' | 11 | 14 | Paige Travis 55', 63' | |
| Cerys Jones | 12 | 12 | Emily Rudge 40', 55' | |
| Megan Williams 20', 63' | 13 | 13 | Jodie Cunningham | |
| Carys Marsh 28', 57' | 9 | 9 | Katie Mottershead 20' | |
| Mia-Jayne Atherton 20' | 10 | 8 | Vicky Whitfield 25', 55' | |
| Kelsy Gentles 31', 63' | 17 | 20 | Alyx Bridge 55' | |
| Lucie Sams 23', 52' | 20 | 18 | Luci McColm 19', 40', 63' | |
| Denis Betts | Coach | Derek Hardman | ||
Post-match
The final was watched by 249,000 on TV, accounting for 5.3% of the audience share.[13]
Reigning Woman of Steel Eva Hunter made history by becoming the first woman to score four tries at Wembley and equalled the record for the number of tries scored in the Women's Challenge Cup final.[a] Isabel Rowe kicked seven goals to repeat her performance in the 2025 final which also equalled the record for the women's final.[b][14][15]
Following the game, the men's 2026 Challenge Cup final was contested by Hull Kingston Rovers and Wigan Warriors, in which Wigan's men's side beat Hull KR 40–10 to complete a men's and women's club cup double.[16]
Notes
- ↑ tied with Claire McGinnis (2013) and Tara-Jane Stanley (2016)
- ↑ tied with Amy Smith (2013) and Tara-Jane Stanley (2016)
References
- ↑ "Wigan thrash Saints to win first Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Saints beat Leeds to retain Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Women's Challenge Cup – Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3526. 6 April 2026. p. 27.
- ↑ "Women's Challenge Cup – Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3527. 13 April 2026. p. 23.
- 1 2 "Women's Challenge Cup – Quarter-finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3529. 27 April 2026. p. 26.
- ↑ "Holders Wigan thrash York to reach Wembley final". BBC Sport. 9 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Rugby League Scores & Fixtures: 19 April 2026". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Saints set up Wigan cup final clash with win over Leeds". BBC Sport. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Betfred Challenge Cup Final Entertainment line-up confirmed with One Month to Go". RFL. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Wigan thrash Saints to retain Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Wigan Warriors Women win at Wembley". RFL. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- ↑ "Match Report: Wigan 54–6 St Helens". RFL. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/challenge-cup-final-viewing-figures-2026
- ↑ "Women's Challenge Cup - Final". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3534. 1 June 2026. pp. 12–13.
- ↑ "TV details for men's and women's 2026 Challenge Cup Finals". St Helens Star. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Wigan outclass Hull KR for 22nd Challenge Cup title". BBC Sport. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.