2020 Challenge Cup

2020 Challenge Cup
Duration9 Rounds
Number of teams80
Highest attendance3,112[a] Wakefield Trinity v Bradford Bulls
5th round (13 March 2020)
Lowest attendance50 West Wales Raiders v Underbank Rangers
3rd round (9 February 2020)
Aggregate attendance12,784[a]
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport
Sky Sports
Fox League
WinnersLeeds Rhinos
Runners-upSalford Red Devils
Biggest home winBarrow Island 84–6 Rhondda Outlaws
(1st round) 11 January 2020)
Biggest away winRochdale Mayfield 6–64 North Wales Crusaders
3rd round (8 February 2020)
Lance Todd Trophy Richie Myler (Leeds Rhinos)
Top point-scorer(s)44, Sam Freeman[1]
Rochdale Hornets (2 tries, 18 goals)
Top try-scorer(s)6, Mike Butt[1]
Swinton Lions

The 2020 Challenge Cup, known as the Coral Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 119th staging of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout tournament for teams in the Super League, the British national leagues and a number of invited amateur clubs.

The competition was won by Leeds Rhinos who beat Salford Red Devils 17–16 at Wembley Stadium on 17 October 2020.[2]

Defending champions Warrington Wolves who won the 2019 title beating St Helens 18–4 at Wembley Stadium on 24 August 2019 were knocked out by Salford in the semi-finals.[3][4]

The format of the competition remained as eight knock-out rounds followed by the final but the schedule was placed into disarray by the COVID-19 pandemic. The final was scheduled to be played on 18 July instead of the August bank holiday weekend. However on 16 March all rugby league games were suspended indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[5] The suspension was followed, on 19 May 2020, with confirmation from the Rugby Football League (RFL) of the postponement of the Challenge Cup Final, which had been scheduled for 18 July at Wembley Stadium.[6] The competition did not resume until 22 August with the final to be played on Saturday 17 October.[7]


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  1. ^ a b "2020 Leading scorers". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3, 247. 12 October 2020. p. 14.
  2. ^ "Challenge Cup final: Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal". BBC Sport. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Warrington stun Saints to clinch Challenge Cup glory". Total RL. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Salford beat Warrington to reach final". BBC Sport. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Coronavirus: Rugby Football League suspends season until 3 April". BBC Sport. 16 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Coronavirus: Challenge and AB Sundecks Cup Finals postponed". rugby football league. 19 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Cup final could still be at Wembley". BBC Sport. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.