Hull KR have won 12 of their 13 games in all competitions this season with the sole blip at the hands of Wigan.

They are a team that have got used to winning, so Catalans have to come up with something special to derail them.

The weather is more Mediterranean than Humberside! It's a glorious afternoon for a game of rugby.

Although the forwards may feel the pace in the second half!

As expected, all the noise is for Hull KR as Mikey Lewis gets us under way.

The big news for Catalans is star full-back Sam Tomkins is not playing. He had to return to France in midweek with a knee infection.

In his place comes exciting teenager Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet. The 19-year-old was due to be taking exams in France this week, but here he is in York ready for a barrage of high kicks!

There is also no Ben Garcia, but there are plenty of players who have played in Challenge Cup finals and Grand Finals.

Catalans: Aispuro-Bichet; Makinson, Laguerre, Smith, Cotric; Keary, Fages; Pangai Jr, Da Costa, Bousquet, Sims, Whitehead, Partington.

Interchanges: Satae, Navarrete, Seguier, Sironen.

There is plenty of big-match experience in this Hull KR line-up led by captain Elliot Minchella and 2024 Man of Steel Mikey Lewis.

While New Zealand prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves would love to mark his farewell season in the sport with a trip to Wembley.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Batchelor, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Whitbread, Minchella.

Interchanges: Luckley, Tanginoa, Brown, Leyland.

Image source, Getty Images

With this semi-final taking place at York's LNER Stadium, it is no surprise to hear that it is packed with fans making the short hop from Humberside.

However Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara and his players are used to that.

"It's going to be a cauldron for us today," he told BBC Sport.

"It's actually something we're relishing, something we're looking forward to.

"It's like Gladiator-style in the middle of the arena and we're surrounded by 10,000 people from east Hull."

Image source, SWPix

For the only time in its illustrious history, the Challenge Cup went abroad in 2018 as Catalans Dragons took the cup back to Perpignan.

Steve McNamara led les Dracs to a 20-14 victory over Warrington at Wembley for the first major trophy in the club's history.

McNamara remains and so do a handful of players from that August afternoon.

They are back at the semi-final stage for the first time since 2018 and sensing that the door could be opening once again for French Challenge Cup glory.

No Wigan, no St Helens, no Leeds and to a lesser extent, no Bradford Bulls, the traditional powerhouses of rugby league.

The Challenge Cup has really opened up in 2025 with this semi-final followed by Warrington versus Leigh tomorrow.

It is the first time since 1980 that none of the powerhouses have made the last four. And who lifted the Challenge Cup that year?

Yes, Hull KR.

Kevin Brown
Former England international on BBC One

I think it would be an absolute disaster for Hull KR to lose today.

It's packed out with Hull KR fans. They don't want to just get to Wembley, they want to win a trophy this year.

Jamie Peacock
Former England captain on BBC One

I think this is must win for Hull KR. They've featured in two finals in two years.

That expectation from the fans, the board, everybody involved with Hull KR is they need to take that next step and start bringing home silverware with the squad they've got.

That is a good pressure for Hull KR to have. Normally it was down round relegation. Now it's around winning.

Image source, SWPix

There is no doubt that under Willie Peters, one of the great names of rugby league has been roused.

Hull KR have become a team to be feared in Super League and east Hull has responded.

They reached the Challenge Cup final in 2023 only to lose to a golden point drop goal against Leigh Leopards.

While last year saw them finish second in the regular season to Wigan and then lose to the same opponents in the Grand Final.

Now there is no Wigan left in the competition, so is this KR's chance to mark this period with Challenge Cup glory for only the second time in their history?

We're in May, the sun is shining and Wembley is around the corner. Glorious!

For one of Hull KR or Catalans Dragons, London beckons on 7 June.

But who can start planning their trip to the capital later this afternoon?

Stick with us to find out.