Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup draw made as Wigan Warriors find out group opponents

Wigan Warriors Women will face Cardiff Demons, Salford Red Devils and Barrow Raiders in Group 2, with the action set to kick-off on the weekend of March 16-17.

2024 will see Denis Betts take charge of the side for the first time, having been appointed the new boss last October on a two-year deal.

A clash against Barrow will see Amanda Wilkinson face her former club, having been appointed head coach of the Cumbrian outfit in November 2021.

She led the Warriors to victory in the first-ever Women’s Grand Final in 2018.

The draw was made live on BBC Radio Merseyside Sport on Wednesday by well-known former rugby league broadcaster and UCLan Lecturer in Journalism and Sport, Angela Powers, in the company of another champion of women’s sport – BBC presenter Giulia Bould.

16 clubs were drawn into four groups of four, with 12 teams seeded on the basis of their finishing positions in last year’s Betfred Women’s Super League and the remaining four places taken by invitational teams.

The Women’s Challenge Cup final will be a part of a triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 8, alongside the Men’s Challenge Cup and the 1895 Cup.

The group stage concludes on the weekend of April 6-7, with the four group winners earning a home tie quarter-final against one of the runners-up. These ties will be drawn live on air immediately after the group stage draw.

In the all-Yorkshire Group 1, Betfred Women’s Super League champions York Valkyrie will play Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Rovers and competition newcomers Sheffield Eagles.

Bradford Bulls, London Broncos, St Helens and Warrington contest Group 3, while Huddersfield Giants, Hull KR, last year’s defeated finalists Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Leopards make up Group 4.

Meanwhile, the Men’s Challenge Cup gets underway this weekend, with Wigan community club Orrell St James to feature live on The Sportsman as they host St Helens-based Haresfinch in the opening round this Sunday, January 14, with a 2:00pm kick-off.

The Sportsman have extended their coverage of rugby league, including the Women’s Super League, and will provide live and exclusive coverage of another 20 fixtures across various competitions in 2024.