Challenge Cup semi-finals: Saints-Wigan derby and a 2025 final rematch

BBC Sport10 h ago

View of the Wembley Stadium pitch — Photo: Simon Gough / Pexels

The semi-final draw of the rugby league Challenge Cup has produced a high-profile St Helens-Wigan derby alongside a rematch of the 2025 final. According to BBC Sport, the winners will go through to the Wembley final on 30 May.

The Saints-Wigan rivalry is one of the longest-running derbies in English rugby league, with both clubs holding extensive records in league titles and Challenge Cup history. The other semi-final pits the two clubs that contested the 2025 showpiece against each other again, with revenge a clear motivator for the losing side last year.

The knockout format of the Challenge Cup creates space for clubs from outside Super League to test themselves against the elite. The Wembley final remains one of the most established occasions on the English rugby league calendar and typically fills a sizeable share of the 80,000-seat stadium.

This article is an AI-curated summary based on BBC Sport. The illustration is a stock photo by Simon Gough from Pexels.