RFL extend partnership with BBC for Challenge Cup coverage

Drew Darbyshire

Sutcliffe won the Challenge Cup with Leeds last season

The Rugby Football League has agreed a new three-year agreement with the BBC to extend their Challenge Cup coverage until 2024.

The new deal for the men’s competition will see the BBC continue to cover two matches from the quarter-finals and the round of 16 that precedes it, as well as both semi-finals and the final.

The BBC will continue their digital coverage of the early rounds of the competition and the Women’s Challenge Cup final will also be shown for the next four seasons along with the Wheelchair Challenge Cup final.

RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer said: “As we near the end of a year of so many unprecedented challenges, we are delighted to have concluded a deal to extend the BBC’s coverage not only of the Challenge Cup, but also of the Women’s and Wheelchair competitions which we see as being so important to the future of our sport.”

BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said: “Our strong relationship with the RFL goes back many years and we are delighted to continue bringing live coverage of the Challenge Cup, across BBC platforms to fans up to 2024.”

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