2009 Challenge Cup
 |
|
| Duration | 9 Rounds |
|---|---|
| Highest attendance | 76,560 |
| Broadcast partners |
 BBC Sport
|
| Winners |
 Warrington Wolves
|
| Runners-up |
 Huddersfield
|
| Biggest home win |
 Featherstone Rovers 94-2The Army |
| Biggest away win |
 Batley Bulldogs 4-66 Salford City Reds
|
| Lance Todd Trophy |
Michael Monaghan
|
The 2009 Challenge Cup (also known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 108th staging of the most prestigious knock-out competition in European rugby league. Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia were included in the tournament. It began in January 2009.
Teams from the Co-operative Championship received byes into round three along with four teams from France, and the winner of the Russian Championship. Teams from the Super League enter in round four.
Defending champions St. Helens lost in the semifinal 14 - 24 to the Huddersfield Giants who went on to lose the final 16 - 25 to the Warrington Wolves.
For 2009, the early stages of the competition was revamped. As the competition has expanded, there was now a preliminary round before the first round, and teams were placed into two 'pools' for the preliminary, first and second rounds.
Pool A features 48 teams, made up as follows:
Pool B features 16 teams, which is a mixed bag of Rugby League Conference teams (including representatives from Scotland and Wales), armed forces representative teams and University teams.
All matches were due to be played on 3–4 January, however, winter weather forced the postponement of most of these fixtures due to frozen pitches. The round is divided into two pools, with several teams receiving a bye to the First Round:
†: fixtures rearranged due to frozen pitches. New dates varied between teams, depending on clashes with league fixtures and weather.
Fixtures played 17–18 January:
Pool A Byes: West Hull, Thatto Heath Crusaders, Myton Warriors, Orchard Park and Greenwood, Eastmoor Dragons, East Hull, Sharlston Rovers, Kells, Hull Isberg, East Leeds, Pilkington Recs, West Bowling, Milford Marlins, Crossfields, Waterhead, Castleford Panthers
Pool B Byes: St Mary's University College, RAF, Warrington Wizards, Featherstone Lions, Hull University, Edinburgh Eagles, Northumbria University, Royal Navy
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