Blog Layout

London Broncos to enter Challenge Cup in Second Round

Jake Watson • 28 November 2024

Man of Steel Lewis and record pointscorer Jowitt to conduct Betfred Challenge Cup draws



Mikey Lewis and Max Jowitt will conduct the draws for the first two rounds of the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup at the RaisE Business Centre in Goole next Monday evening.


They will be joined by Scott Taylor, three times a Challenge Cup winner at Wembley with Hull FC and Wigan Warriors who has been appointed as the head coach of Goole Vikings when they join Betfred League One in 2025 - meaning they will be in the Second Round draw for the first time.



Lewis and Jowitt may now be stars of the Betfred Super League, but both have strong connections to community clubs who will enter the First Round draw.


Lewis, the England and Hull KR half-back who was the 2024 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel, started playing with the West Hull community club, who have been regulars in the Challenge Cup over the last two decades.


Jowitt, the Wakefield Trinity full-back who set a new record for Rugby League by scoring exactly 500 points in the club’s triumphant 2024 season in the Betfred Championship, fell in love with the sport as a youngster at Stanley Rangers – the Yorkshire Men’s League club who will return to the Challenge Cup in 2025.


West Hull and Stanley Rangers are two of 34 teams from the community game who will enter the First Round draw, with ties to be played on the weekend of January 11-12 – kicking off the 2025 season.


That will be followed by the Second Round draw when the 12 English teams in the Betfred Championship and the 11 clubs from Betfred League One join the 17 First Round winners to produce 20 ties – the winners of which will be joined by the 12 Betfred Super League big guns in the Third Round draw in January.



The 11 Betfred League One clubs include Goole Vikings, newcomers to the professional ranks in 2025, who will be hosting the draw at the RaisE Business Centre. The Vikings will celebrate the presence of the Challenge Cup in the town ahead of their debut season with a trophy tour around local schools and tournament sponsors Betfred – and are inviting fans who want to have their photo taken with the Cup to come to the RaisE Business Centre between 4-530.


The draws will be shown live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and App – with coverage starting from 6.30pm.


The ball numbers for the draws have been confirmed as follows:


Betfred Challenge Cup Round One


1 - British Army, 2 - RAF, 3 - Royal Navy; 4 – Maryport (Cumberland Rugby League); 5 - GB Police; 6 – Longhorns (Ireland Rugby League); 7 - Telford Raiders (Harry Jepson Trophy winners); 8 - Crosfields, 9 - Dewsbury Moor, 10 - Hunslet ARLFC, 11 - Ince Rose Bridge, 12 - Leigh Miners Rangers, 13 - Lock Lane, 14 - Oulton Raiders, 15 - Rochdale Mayfield, 16 - Siddal, 17 - Thatto Heath (BARLA National Cup winners), 18 - Waterhead Warriors, 19 - Wath Brow Hornets, 20 - West Bowling, 21 - West Hull, 22 - York Acorn; 23 - Blackbrook, 24 - Haresfinch, 25 - Orrell St James; 26 – Mirfield; 27 – Edinburgh Eagles (Scotland Rugby League); 28 - Eastern Rhinos; 29 - Hammersmith Hills Hoists; 30 - London Chargers; 31 - Wests Warriors; 32 – Aberavon Fighting Irish (Wales Rugby League); 33 – Doncaster Toll Bar, 34 - Stanley Rangers.


Betfred Challenge Cup Round Two

1 – Barrow Raiders, 2 – Batley Bulldogs, 3 – Bradford Bulls, 4 - Cornwall, 5 - Dewsbury Rams, 6 - Doncaster, 7 - Featherstone Rovers, 8 - Goole Vikings, 9 - Halifax Panthers, 10 - Hunslet, 11 - Keighley Cougars, 12 – London Broncos, 13 - Midlands Hurricanes, 14 - Newcastle Thunder, 15 - North Wales Crusaders, 16 - Oldham, 17 - Rochdale Hornets, 18 - Sheffield Eagles, 19 - Swinton Lions, 20 - Whitehaven, 21 - Widnes Vikings, 22 - Workington Town, 23 - York Knights, 24-40 First Round Winners.


by Jake Watson 21 February 2025
INTERVIEW: Marcus Stock previews Featherstone Rovers Marcus Stock has spoken to London Broncos media ahead of the first home game of the season against Featherstone Rovers. The 28-year-old endured a difficult pre-season after picking up an injury in the first couple of weeks but returned for the season opener away to Bradford to put in a strong performance. Stock believes that Broncos will once again be underdogs this weekend - but that's a position he is more than comfortable being in.
by Jake Watson 21 February 2025
Details for our 1895 Cup fixture with Dewsbury Rams have now been confirmed. Tickets for this game will be released on Monday. #WeAreLondon
21 February 2025
PRESS RELEASE: London Rugby League Foundation London Broncos are delighted to announce that the club has become the sole Member of the London Rugby League Foundation. The London Broncos Rugby League Foundation was originally launched in 2009, as the then Harlequins Rugby League Foundation, before the RFL took over the Membership in 2015. This has since been known as the London Rugby League Foundation. In reverting back to London Broncos being the sole Member of the foundation this will enable far better collaboration and coordination between the London Broncos, the Community Clubs and the RFL for the benefit of the game as a whole. The benefits of such collaboration can already be seen in: The Broncos efforts to encourage Community Club members to attend their Super League matches at AFC Wimbledon this year with a record number of Community Club members attending. The Broncos enabling two Community Clubs to play an U14s match in the AFC Wimbledon Stadium as a curtain raiser to their win against Hull FC and a hundred Primary Rugby League players from Community Clubs played in a festival at the stadium ahead of the match against Hull KR. A high number of Community Club players have attended the London Broncos Lions Development Days for U12s to U15s and the London Broncos Origin Trials at U16s and U18s. The Community Game will also continue to have significant involvement in the Foundation, as the Community Club Awards and Grants to Community Clubs will continue to be determined by a panel comprising the Foundation, the RFL and the London Junior League, and the Foundation will continue to provide grants to Community Clubs across the region. The RFL will also continue to have significant influence, as it will appoint two Trustees to the Board of the Foundation. Richard Jones, who will continue as Chair of the Foundation, having been re-appointed as a Trustee by the RFL, said, "I am really excited that the London Broncos will become the sole Member of the London Rugby League Foundation. This will make the collaboration between the Broncos, the Community Clubs and the RFL far better, help the Foundation give the Community Clubs more support, and help to grow the game even more across London and the South-East." Aaqil Ahmed will also continue as a Trustee of the Foundation, having been re-appointed by the RFL. The London Broncos have appointed Jason Loubser and John Keyes as its Trustees. London Broncos Chief Executive Jason Loubser said; “This is an exciting announcement as it will help us to continue to grow the sport of Rugby League here in London. We will continue to combine the work that we do as a club with the great work that both the foundation and the junior leagues have been doing.” The RFL’s Southern Regions Development Manager Stephen Guan says: ‘’On the eve of Challenge Cup Finals Day, where all Rugby League eyes fall on London, this is a positive announcement for the game in the capital. This collaborative partnership will provide clarity about the Foundation situation across the region and between the two organisations. It will also provide the London Rugby League Foundation with extra support allowing for a stronger impact and further programme delivery opportunities across the sport, which the RFL will continue to support ’’
by Jake Watson 21 February 2025
MATCH PREVIEW: London Broncos vs Featherstone Rovers London Broncos begin their home campaign of the 2025 Championship season on Sunday as they welcome Featherstone Rovers to The Cherry Red Records Stadium. This is the first time Broncos have played on home soil since September 1st 2024 when they faced Leeds Rhinos in Super League action. The new season kicked off last weekend away at Bradford Bulls and whilst Mike Eccles side led at half-time they were unable to hold on and secure the points. 
by Jake Watson 21 February 2025
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: London Broncos vs Featherstone Rovers Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad to face Featherstone Rovers in Sunday’s Championship season opener at home for the Broncos. New signing Liam Tindall has been handed the number 5 shirt and goes straight into the 21. Meanwhile, Taylor Kerr who has joined on loan from Wigan Warriors has also been named. In terms of exclusions from last week's squad; Sam Winney will play for Cornwall this weekend as part of his dual registration terms and Zac Bardsley-Rowe picked up an injury in the game against Bradford and has returned to Warrington Wolves. The full squad below. #WeAreLondon
by Jake Watson 20 February 2025
Sam Winney joins Cornwall RLFC in Dual-Registration London Broncos are pleased to announce Sam Winney has joined Betfred League One side Cornwall RLFC on dual registration for the 2025 season. The 20-year-old prop forward is a first year professional with the club and will now gain invaluable experience with our new partners in Cornwall. The Irish International is yet to make his London Broncos debut but was named in the 21-man squad for the opening game of the season and has been handed the number 23 shirt this season. #WeAreLondon
by Jake Watson 20 February 2025
LIAM TINDALL: "London Broncos a great match for me!" New London Broncos signing Liam Tindall says he believes a move to London and to play for Mike Eccles is exactly the right move for his career. The 23-year-old joins the club after playing Super League for both Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC but after leaving the Black and Whites at the end of last season he hopes this move can kickstart his career. To watch the full interview with Liam Tindall - watch below.
by Jake Watson 20 February 2025
London Broncos announce dual registration with Cornwall RLFC London Broncos are pleased to confirm the club has agreed a dual-registration partnership with Betfred League One club Cornwall RLFC for the 2025 season. The partnership will see players from London Broncos, in need of experience and gametime, the opportunity to feature regularly throughout the 2025 Betfred League 1 season. This will give the developmental players invaluable game time while pushing Southern Rugby League in the right direction.
by Jake Watson 20 February 2025
Taylor Kerr joins from Wigan on loan London Broncos can confirm Wigan youngster Taylor Kerr has joined the club on a two week loan deal. The loose forward played for Ince Rose Bridge, Orrell St James and Wigan St Judes at amateur level before he signed his first contract with Wigan in 2020. Kerr, who scored five tries in 13 appearances for the Academy in 2023, represented Lancashire in their Academy Origin Series win over Yorkshire in which he scored a try in the second clash in Hull. The forward made a positive start to the 2024 season as he scored twice in the Warriors victory over Midlands Hurricanes in pre-season. We thank Wigan for their cooperation in completing the deal. #WeAreLondon
by Jake Watson 19 February 2025
London Broncos sign Liam Tindall London Broncos are delighted to announce the signing of 23-year-old winger Liam Tindall. The former Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC man was a free agent after leaving the Black & Whites at the end of the 2024 Super League season. Graduating from his hometown club, Tindall would play 21 times for the Rhinos whilst he also spent time on loan at both Doncaster and Bradford Bulls.
More posts
Share by: