Challenge cup
| Challenge Cup | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition:: 2017 Challenge Cup
|
|
 |
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| Sport | Rugby league |
| Instituted | 1896 |
| Inaugural season | 1896–97 |
| Number of teams | 100+ |
| Countries |
 England France Canada Scotland Wales
|
| Champions |
 Hull (4th title) (2016)
|
| Most titles |
 Wigan Warriors (19 titles)
|
| Website | challenge cup |
| Broadcast partner | |
| Related competition |
Super League Championship League 1 World Club Series |
The Challenge Cup (also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup due to sponsorship by Ladbrokes) is a knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, with the exception of 1915–1919 and 1939–1940. It involves amateur, semi-professional and professional clubs.
The final of the Challenge Cup at Wembley Stadium, London, is one of the most prestigious matches in world rugby league and is broadcast around the world. "Abide with Me", sung before the game, has become a rugby league anthem.
The current holders of the Challenge Cup are Hull who defeated Warrington 12–10 on 27 August 2016 at Wembley Stadium, the very first time they have won at Wembley.
Wigan are the most successful club in the history of the competition, winning the Cup a record 19 times.
The clubs that formed the Northern Union had long been playing in local knock-out cup competitions under the auspices of the Rugby Football Union. However, the rugby union authorities refused to sanction a nationwide tournament, fearing that this would inevitably lead to professionalism. After the schism of 1895, the northern clubs were free to go-ahead, and they instigated the Northern Rugby Football Union Challenge Cup. In 1896 Fattorini's of Bradford were commissioned to manufacture the Challenge Cup at a cost of just £60. Fattorini's also supplied three-guineas winners' medals then valued at thirty shillings (£1.50).
The first competition was held during the 1896–97 season (the second season of the new game), and 56 clubs entered to compete for the trophy. The first final was held at Headingley in Leeds, on 24 April 1897. Batley defeated St Helens 10–3 in front of a crowd of 13,492 (see picture). It is interesting to note that the St Helens side did not play in a standardised team jersey.
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