Holders Wigan face possible Sheffield tie in cup

Wigan Warriors' win against Warrington Wolves in last season's Challenge Cup final was their 21st victory in the competition

Holders Wigan Warriors are likely to travel to Sheffield Eagles in the third round as they begin their men's Challenge Cup title defence.

Wigan beat Warrington Wolves in last season's final at Wembley Stadium, the second trophy in their history-making quadruple season.

The 2025 season is the first under a revamped structure where all 12 Super League clubs join from the third-round stage.

The top-flight clubs, who did not previously enter the competition until the sixth round, will be obliged to play away at seeded lower division teams who have won their second-round matches.

The Championship Eagles, Challenge Cup winners in 1999, will have to beat the winner of West Bowling v Cutsyke Raiders in the second round to earn their tie against the Super League giants.

Elsewhere, newly promoted Wakefield will face a trip to the side they replaced in the top tier if London Broncos can get past Goole Vikings in their second-round tie.

Hull KR, last season's beaten Grand Finalists, will face either League 1 Keighley Cougars or Championship York Knights.

The third round is scheduled to take place during the weekend of 8 and 9 February - one week before the 2025 Super League season gets under way.

The fourth round, featuring 16 clubs, will then take place in March, before quarter-finals in April and semi-finals on the weekend of 10-11 May, with Wembley Stadium set to host the final on June 7.

Freezing weather interrupts men's first round

Sub-zero temperatures over the past week caused 12 Challenge Cup first-round fixtures to be postponed.

Crosfields v Maryport, Dewsbury Moor v Haresfinch, Lock Lane v Doncaster Toll Bar ARLFC, London Chargers v Oulton Rangers, Mirfield v Royal Navy, Stanley Rangers v Hunslet ARLFC, Rochdale Mayfield v Telford Raiders, Thatto Heath Crusaders v Orrell St James, Waterhead Warriors v Leigh Miners Rangers, West Bowling v Wath Brow Hornets, West Hull v Edinburgh Eagles were postponed on Saturday, along with Sunday's meeting between GB Police and York Acorn.

The affected fixtures will now take place this weekend, with Waterhead Warriors' tie against Leigh Miners Rangers broadcast live on the BBC iPlayer and red button with the same 12:30 GMT kick-off.

The BBC will also broadcast London Broncos' second-round tie at home to Goole Vikings on Saturday, 25 January, again with a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

The fixture is Goole's first competitive game since they were granted their application by the RFL to join League One from this season.

Three-time women's winners St Helens to face Warrington and Cardiff

The group-stage draw was also made for the Women's Challenge Cup.

St Helens, who have won the past three finals, will face Warrington Wolves and Cardiff Demons.

York Valkyrie are in Group 2 alongside Featherstone Rovers and Huddersfield Giants.

Leeds Rhinos, beaten by Saints in the past two showpieces, have been drawn with Leigh Leopards and Sheffield Eagles in Group 3.

Wigan Warriors will face Barrow Raiders and London Broncos in Group 4.

The top two teams from each group will go through to the quarter-finals.

Full men's Challenge Cup third-round draw

London Broncos/Goole Vikings v Wakefield Trinity

GB Police or York Acorn/London Chargers or Oulton Raiders v Hull FC

Bradford Bulls/Doncaster v Castleford Tigers

Lock Lane or Doncaster Toll Bar/Hunslet v Huddersfield Giants

Wests Warriors/British Army or RAF v Leeds Rhinos

Halifax Panthers/Thatto Heath or Orrell St James v Catalans Dragons

Stanley Rangers or Hunslet ARLFC/West Hull or Edinburgh Eagles v St Helens

Mirfield or Royal Navy/ Workington Town v Leigh Leopards

Midlands Hurricanes/Siddal v Salford Red Devils

Whitehaven/Swinton Lions v Warrington Wolves

Keighley Cougars/York Knights v Hull KR

Sheffield Eagles/West Bowling or Cutsyke Raiders v Wigan Warriors

Oldham/Rochdale Mayfield or Telford Raiders v Barrow Raiders/Crossfields or Maryport

Newcastle Thunder/Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Moor or Haresfinch/Dewsbury Rams

Cornwall/North Wales Crusaders v Rochdale Hornets/Widnes Vikings

Waterhead Warriors or Leigh Miners/Featherstone Rovers v Blackbrook/Longhorns or Ince Rose Bridge