Noble's Bradford face Doncaster in Challenge Cup

Brian Noble won the Challenge Cup with Bradford Bulls in 2003

Brian Noble's Bradford Bulls will face Championship newcomers Doncaster in the Challenge Cup second round, with the British Army taking on the RAF in an all-armed forces first-round tie.

Noble, who won the Challenge Cup with Bradford in 2003 during his previous spell in charge, was reappointed by the Bulls in October to take charge of the club from next season.

Alongside the British Army welcoming the RAF, Scottish representatives Edinburgh will face West Hull in the first round, Irish side Longhorns will meet Ince Rose Bridge and Welsh side Aberavon Fighting Irish take on Blackbrook.

The Challenge Cup first round will take place during the weekend of 11 and 12 January with the second-round stage two weeks later on 25 and 26 January.

The draws were held live on the BBC with reigning Man of Steel Mikey Lewis and Wakefield's Max Jowitt picking out the ties at RaisE Business Centre in Goole.

Goole Vikings were in the draw for the first time since they were accepted by the Rugby Football League (RFL) into League One from next season.

The Vikings were handed an exciting tie away at London Broncos, who have been relegated back down to the Championship after playing in Super League in 2024.

In addition to amateur sides from the British Army, RAF and Royal Navy, Harry Jepson Trophy winners Telford Raiders were among 34 teams from the community game to enter the first-round draw.

The Raiders will travel to face Rochdale Mayfield while the Royal Navy visit Mirfield and the GB Police will welcome York Acorn.

Twelve Championship sides, with the exception of French side Toulouse, and all 11 League One sides will join from the second-round stage.

Widnes Vikings will travel to face League One side Rochdale Hornets, with fellow Championship side York Knights also away at third-tier opposition as they visit Keighley Cougars, while second-tier Batley Bulldogs take on Newcastle Thunder.

Meanwhile, in two all-League One ties, Whitehaven will take on Swinton Lions and North Wales Crusaders make the lengthy trip to Cornwall.

Challenge Cup first-round draw

West Hull v Edinburgh Eagles

London Chargers v Oulton Raiders

Longhorns v Ince Rose Bridge

Lock Lane v Doncaster Toll Bar

Hammersmith Hills Hoists v Siddal

Waterhead Warriors v Leigh Miners Rangers

GB Police v York Acorn

Aberavon Fighting Irish v Blackbrook

Mirfield v Royal Navy

Crosfields v Maryport

British Army v RAF

Stanley Rangers v Hunslet ARLFC

West Bowling v Wath Brow Hornets

Dewsbury Moor v Haresfinch

Eastern Rhinos v Wests Warriors

Rochdale Mayfield v Telford Raiders

Thatto Heath v Orrell St James

Challenge Cup second-round draw

GB Police or York Acorn v London Chargers or Oulton Raiders

Halifax Panthers v Thatto Heath or Orrell St James

Dewsbury Moor or Haresfinch v Dewsbury Rams

Barrow Raiders v Crosfields or Maryport

Mirfield or Royal Navy v Workington Town

London Broncos v Goole Vikings

Lock Lane or Doncaster Toll Bar v Hunslet

Waterhead Warriors or Leigh Miners Rangers v Featherstone Rovers

Eastern Rhinos or Wests Warriors v British Army or RAF

Whitehaven v Swinton Lions

Stanley Rangers or Hunslet ARLFC v West Hull or Edinburgh

Rochdale Hornets v Widnes Vikings

Oldham v Rochdale Mayfield or Telford Raiders

Keighley Cougars v York Knights

Sheffield Eagles v West Bowling or Wath Brow Hornets

Bradford Bulls v Doncaster

Aberavon Fighting Irish or Blackbrook v Longhorns or Ince Rose Bridge

Midlands Hurricanes v Hammersmith Hills Hoists or Siddal

Cornwall v North Wales Crusaders

Newcastle Thunder v Batley Bulldogs