Women’s Challenge Cup first round draw announced

The first round draw for the Women’s Challenge Cup has been made, with Warrington being drawn at home to Wigan opposition.

The Wolves women’s team, who are in their debut season competing in the Championship, will face the renowned community club Wigan St Patricks in one of eight ties, with the eight winners earning places alongside the eight Women’s Super League teams in the second round.

The two Armed Services teams in the competition both received home ties, with the British Army facing Huddersfield Giants, and the RAF rewarded for a preliminary round win against Cutsyke with a home draw against Leigh Miners Rangers.

Both Hull clubs must travel, with Hull FC drawn at Keighley Albion, and Hull KR at Halifax.

Featherstone Lionesses, who won the long-established Women’s Amateur Rugby League Association Challenge Cup by beating Orrell St James at the weekend, will take on Stanningley Rangers in an intriguing all-Yorkshire tie.

The ties will be played on the weekend of May 4-5, with the competition benefiting this season with a closer link to the men’s Challenge Cup. The Women’s Challenge Cup final will be played as part of triple header also involving the Challenge Cup semi-finals, at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday, July 27.

2019 Women’s Challenge Cup first round draw:

Widnes Vikings v Oulton Raidettes

Keighley Albion v Hull FC

Featherstone Lionesses v Stanningley

Halifax v Hull KR

British Army v Huddersfield Giants

Warrington Wolves v Wigan St Patricks

Royal Air Force v Leigh Miners Rangers

Rochdale Hornets v Barrow