2025 AB Sundecks 1895 Cup

A revamped 1895 Cup gets underway in early February.

22 clubs from the Championship and League 1 competitions will be taking part, with the best two clubs to face off at Wembley on Challenge Cup Final day on Saturday 7 June.

In a change from the 2024 format, League 1 clubs will kick the tournament off over two preliminary rounds, with the best four of those clubs joining 12 Championship clubs (like the Challenge Cup, Toulouse has opted out) in the first Round proper.

The eight winners from the first round will then take part in the Quarter Finals, those winners then proceeding to the Semi Finals before the best two meet at Wembley in June.

Fixtures

Preliminary Round 1

Saturday 1 February

Rochdale Hornets v Cornwall RLFC
Venue: Mayfield Sports Centre, Rochdale.
Kickoff: 3:00pm. Referee: Luke Bland.

Sunday 2 February

Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven RLFC
Venue: Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.
Kickoff: 2:00pm. Referee: Adam Williams.

Newcastle Thunder v North Wales Crusaders
Venue: Crow Trees, Newcastle.
Kickoff: 3:00pm. Referee: Andy Sweet.

Preliminary Round 2

15-16 February

Goole Vikings
v winner Thunder-Crusaders
Venue: Victoria Pleasure Grounds, Goole.

Keighley Cougars
v winner Hurricanes-Haven
Venue: Cougar Park, Keighley.

Winner Hornets-Cornwall
v Swinton Lions
Venue: Crown Oil Arena, Rochdale; or Memorial Ground, Cornwall.

Workington Town v Dewsbury Rams
Venue: Fibrus Community Stadium, Workington.

Round 1

1-2 March

Batley Bulldogs v Bradford Bulls
Venue: Fox's Biscuits Stadium, Batley.

Sheffield Eagles v Doncaster RLFC
Venue: Olympic Legacy Park, Sheffield.

Hunslet RLFC v Widnes Vikings
Venue: South Leeds Stadium, Leeds.

London Broncos
v winner Town-Rams
Venue: TBC

York Knights v Halifax Panthers
Venue: LNER Community Stadium, York.

Winner Vikings-Thunder/Crusaders
v Barrow Raiders
Venue: TBC.

Featherstone Rovers
v winner Cougars-Hurricanes/Haven
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Featherstone.

Oldham
v winner Rochdale/Cornwall-Swinton
Venue: Boundary Park, Oldham.

Quarter Finals

April 5/6

8 winners from Round 1, four matches

Semi Finals

May 17/18

4 winners from Quarter Finals, two matches

Final

Saturday 7 June

Semi Final winners
Venue: Wembley Stadium