2023 Women's Challenge Cup final
The 2023 Women's Challenge Cup Final was the 11th final of rugby league's Women's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The 2023 final marked the first time the final of the Women's Challenge Cup had been played at Wembley. The final was a repeat of the 2022 final with defending champions St Helens taking on last season's runners-up Leeds Rhinos.[3][4]
| 2023 Women's Challenge Cup Final | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 12 August 2023, 12:00 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Wembley Stadium | ||||||||||||
| Location | London, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||
| Player of the Match | Jodie Cunningham (St Helens) | ||||||||||||
| God Save The King and Abide with Me | Lizzie Jones[1] | ||||||||||||
| Referee | James Vella | ||||||||||||
| Attendance | 8,338[2] | ||||||||||||
| Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
| Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
| Commentators |
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The cup was won by St Helens, who won their third consecutive cup final, defeating Leeds Rhinos 22–8. St Helens captain, Jodie Cunningham was named player of the match.
For the first time in its history, both the women's and men's final took place at Wembley Stadium on the same day – 12 August 2023.[5][6]
Background
St Helens are two times defending champions of the Challenge Cup having won in 2021 and 2022. They also won the tournament four times in a row between 2013 and 2016. Upon gaining their place in the final St Helens were second in Super League behind their semi-final opponents York Valkyrie.
Leeds Rhinos entered the final aiming to avenge their 2022 defeat to St Helens. They last won the competition in 2019 retaining it after their 2018 victory. Upon qualification Leeds were in third place in Super League, one place and one point behind St Helens.
Route to the final
St Helens
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage |  London Broncos |
The Rock | 76–0 |
 Castleford Tigers |
Wheldon Road | 106–0 | |
 Warrington Wolves |
Totally Wicked Stadium | 36–4 | |
| Quarter-final | Warrington Wolves |
Totally Wicked Stadium | 36–0 |
| Semi-final |  York Valkyrie |
Halliwell Jones Stadium | 17–16 |
Leeds Rhinos
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage |  Bradford Bulls |
Weetwood Sports Park | 72–0 |
| Oulton Raidettes | Oulton forefitted game | ||
 Huddersfield Giants |
Laund Hill | 54–0 | |
| Quarter-final |  Leigh Leopards |
Headingley | 54–0 |
| Semi-final |  Wigan Warriors |
Headingley | 16–4 |
Source:[3]
Match details
Saturday, 12 August 12:00 (BST) |
Leeds Rhinos  |
8–22 |  St Helens |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Robinson (25') Beevers (43') |
report |
Tries: Jones (13') Hook (15') Partington (18') Hoyle (47') Goals: Taylor (3/5) 13', 15', 64' (penalty) |
Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 8,338 Referee: James Vella Touch judges: Ryan Cox, Denton Arnold Player of the Match: Jodie Cunningham |
| Leeds Rhinos | Position | St Helens | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Number | Number | Name | |
| Ruby Enright | 31 | Fullback | 6 | Zoe Harris |
| Sophie Nuttall | 5 | Wing | 28 | Phoebe Hook |
| Hanna Butcher (c) | 4 | Centre | 11 | Paige Travis |
| Caitlin Beevers | 3 | Centre | 2 | Luci McColm |
| Sophie Robinson | 2 | Wing | 3 | Eboni Partington |
| Caitlin Casey | 26 | Stand off | 21 | Amy Taylor |
| Jenna Greening | 24 | Scrum half | 7 | Faye Gaskin |
Dannielle Anderson  19' | 10 | Prop forward | 10 | Chantelle Crowl |
Jasmine Cudjoe 34'  58' | 15 | Hooker | 9 | Tara Jones |
| Zoe Hornby 36' 58' | 8 | Prop forward | 17 | Philippa Birchall |
| Lucy Murray | 28 | Second row | 8 | Shona Hoyle |
| Amy Hardcastle | 11 | Second row | 12 | Emily Rudge |
| Bethan Dainton | 12 | Loose forward | 13 | Jodie Cunningham (c) |
| Elle Frain 36' 58' | 19 | Interchange | 4 | Naomi Williams |
| Eloise Hayward | 21 | Interchange | 14 | Vicky Whitfield |
| Tara Moxon 34' 58' | 20 | Interchange | 15 | Lucie Sams |
| Izzy Northrop 19' | 18 | Interchange | 19 | Katie Mottershead |
| Bethany Lockwood | 16 | Concussion substitute | 1 | Rebecca Rotheram |
| Lois Forsell | Coach | Matty Smith | ||
Post match
Following both the women's and men's challenge cup final, Wembley will host the Year 7 boys schools' final and the final of the 2023 1895 Cup.[7] The 1895 Cup Final saw Halifax Panthers beat Batley Bulldogs 12–10.[8] The men's final saw Leigh Leopards beat Hull KR 17–16.[9]
References
- Pattison, Cam (11 August 2023). "Wife of former rugby league player to sing Abide With Me". Rugby League News. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- "Challenge Cup 2023 final attendance revealed with motorway impacting supporters; Women's game enjoys record crowd". LoveRugbyLeague. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- "Challenge Cup final 2023: Talking points for rugby league's historic women's and men's Wembley showpiece". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- Bower, Aaron (9 August 2023). "Wembley Challenge Cup final another giant step for women's rugby league". Retrieved 12 August 2023 – via The Guardian.
- "Challenge Cup final to return to Wembley in 2023". BBC Sport.
- "Wembley to host Challenge Cup final double-header in 2023". LoveRugbyLeague. August 12, 2022.
- "1895 Cup: The eight clubs that can move within 80 minutes of Wembley". LoveRugbyLeague. April 20, 2023.
- "Listen: 1895 Cup final - Batley Bulldogs v Halifax Panthers". BBC Sport. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- "Leigh beat Hull KR in epic Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2023-08-21.