Challenge Cup: West Wales Raiders to face Widnes in opening round
- Published
Leeds Rhinos won the 2020 Challenge Cup, with this season's showpiece set to take place at Wembley on 17 July
League One side West Wales Raiders will welcome seven-time winners Widnes Vikings in the opening round of the 2021 Challenge Cup.
Former rugby union star Gavin Henson is within the Llanelli side's ranks and could make his league debut in the tie.
Elsewhere, Bradford will take on fellow Championship side Featherstone when the competition gets under way in March.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, just 13 Championship teams and three League One teams will contest the early stages.
French side Toulouse opted not to participate in this season's competition, which begins on 20 and 21 March, while Super League clubs will enter at the third round stage on the weekend of 10 and 11 April.
Both the first and second rounds of the competition were drawn live on the BBC on Thursday, with former St Helens and England forward Jon Wilkin conducting the draw on his own due to Covid restrictions.
The other League One sides, Keighley Cougars and Barrow Raiders, were drawn against London Broncos and Oldham respectively.
Meanwhile, Whitehaven will take on Dewsbury, Swinton face newly-promoted Newcastle Thunder, Halifax meet former winners Batley while York travel to Sheffield.
Should West Wales progress past the first round stage of the competition, they will take on the winner of Whitehaven's tie against Dewsbury.
Betfred Challenge Cup First Round ties
To be played on the weekend of 20 and 21 March
London Broncos v Keighley Cougars
Whitehaven v Dewsbury Rams
Oldham v Barrow Raiders
West Wales Raiders v Widnes Vikings
Swinton Lions v Newcastle Thunder
Halifax Panthers v Batley Bulldogs (original winners)
Sheffield Eagles v York City Knights
Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls
Betfred Challenge Cup Second Round ties
To be played on the weekend of 27 and 28 March
Swinton/Newcastle v Oldham/Barrow
Featherstone/Bradford v Halifax/Batley
London/Keighley v Sheffield/York City
West Wales/Widnes v Whitehaven/Dewsbury