2025 Women's Challenge Cup final
| 2025 Women's Challenge Cup Final | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 7 June 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Wembley Stadium | ||||||||||||
| Location | London, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||
| Player of the Match | Grace Banks (Wigan) | ||||||||||||
| Referee | Aaron Moore | ||||||||||||
| Attendance | 8,810 | ||||||||||||
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The 2025 Women's Challenge Cup Final, was the 13th final of the Rugby Football League's Women's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. It was the third final at Wembley Stadium, and held on 7 June 2025, as part of a triple header, alongside the men's final and the 1895 Cup final
The final was contested by reigning champions St Helens, and Wigan Warriors.
Background
The 2025 Women's Challenge Cup final was the first meeting between St Helens and Wigan Warriors in the competition final.
St Helens were four times defending champions of the Challenge Cup having won in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and 2024. They also won the tournament four times in a row between 2013 and 2016.[1]
Wigan Warriors entered the final for the first time having previously reached the semi-finals on three occasions, 2018, 2023 and 2024, but losing to Leeds Rhinos each time.[2][3]
Route to the final
Wigan Warriors
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | Barrow Raiders | Robin Park | 84–0 |
| London Broncos | Chiswick Rugby Club | 44–0 | |
| Quarter-final | Cardiff Demons | Robin Park | 96–0 |
| Semi-final | Leeds Rhinos | York Community Stadium | 44–14 |
St Helens
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | Warrington Wolves | Totally Wicked Stadium | 102–0 |
| Cardiff Demons | Cardiff University | 54–0 | |
| Quarter-final | London Broncos | Totally Wicked Stadium | 78–0 |
| Semi-final | York Valkyrie | Totally Wicked Stadium | 10–6 |
Pre-match
Before the game, the Year 7 School's Final was contested by Kingston upon Hull's Sirius Academy West and St Helens' Rainford High School.[10][11]
Lily Day Scott sang the national anthem and Abide with Me ahead of the match, with entertainment throughout the day provided by Capital XTRA DJ Kennedy Taylor.[12]
Match details
Saturday, 7 June 2025
11:45am BST |
| St Helens | 6–42 | Wigan Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Mottershead (50') Goals: Gaskin (1/1) 51' |
[13][14] |
Tries: Williams (9′) Coleman (20′) Veivers (32′) Rowe (44′) Hunter (59′) Banks (71′) Davies (74′) Goals: Rowe (7/7) 10', 21', 33', 45', 60', 72', 75 |
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 8,810 Referee: A. Moore Touch judges: O. Salmon, L. Seal Player of the Match: Grace Banks (Wigan) |
| St Helens | Position | Wigan Warriors | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Number | Number | Name | |
| Beri Salihi | 1 | 1 | Grace Banks 71' | |
| Phoebe Hook | 2 | 2 | Anna Davies 74' | |
| Luci McColm 48' | 23 | 3 | Georgia Wilson | |
| Amy Hardcastle | 4 | 4 | Molly Jones | |
| Dani McGifford | 25 | 5 | Ellise Derbyshire | |
| Zoe Harris 73' | 6 | 6 | Jenna Foubister | |
| Faye Gaskin | 7 | 7 | Isabel Rowe 44' 10', 21', 33', 45', 60', 72', 75' | |
| Darcy Stott 21', 58', 70' | 16 | 8 | Mary Coleman 20' | |
| Caitlin Casey 23', 73' | 17 | 19 | Remi Wilton 33', 57' | |
| Chatelle Crowl 21', 46' | 10 | 20 | Holly Speakman 19' | |
| Shona Hoyle | 11 | 11 | Eva Hunter 59' | |
| Emily Rudge | 12 | 10 | Shania Power | |
| Jodie Cunningham | 13 | 13 | Megan Williams 9', 25', 55' | |
| Vicky Whitfield 21', 58', 70' | 8 | 9 | Carys Marsh 33', 57' | |
| Katie Mottershead 23', 49' | 9 | 12 | Victoria Molyneux 25', 55' | |
| Georgia Sutherland 21', 46' | 15 | 14 | Rachel Thompson 51' | |
| Rachel Woosey 48' | 18 | 17 | Emily Vievers 19', 32', 51' | |
| Derek Hardman and Craig Richards | Coach |
Denis Betts | ||
Post-match
Following the game, the men's 2025 Challenge Cup final was contested by Warrington Wolves and Hull Kingston Rovers. The 2025 RFL 1895 Cup final between Featherstone Rovers and York Knights took place following the men's final.[10][15]
See also
References
- ^ "Saints beat Leeds to retain Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ "Women's Challenge Cup: Leeds Rhinos overcome resolute Wigan Warriors to reach final". BBC Sport. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ "Leeds beat Wigan to book third straight final v Saints". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ "Women's Challenge Cup – Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3475. 7 April 2025. p. 20.
- ^ a b "Women's Challenge Cup – Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3476. 14 April 2025. p. 23.
- ^ a b "Women's Challenge Cup – Quarter Finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3478. 28 April 2025. pp. 24–25.
- ^ "Wigan demolish Leeds to reach first Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "Women's Challenge Cup – Group Stage". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3477. 21 April 2025. p. 24.
- ^ "Saints beat Valkyrie to reach Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day - Ticketing Update". RFL. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ "Sirius Academy West and Rainford High School heading for Wembley in inspiresport RFL Champion Schools". rugby-league.com. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Lizzie Jones MBE to sing before the Men's Betfred Challenge Cup Final". rugby-league.com. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Wigan thrash Saints to win first Women's Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Women's Challenge Cup – Final". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3484. 9 June 2025. p. 14–15, 30.
- ^ Bower, Aaron. "1895 Cup final confirmed as Championship heavyweights book Wembley spots". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 23 May 2025.