26-06-2024, 01:30 AM
There has been a new format for rugby league's Challenge Cup announced. Whilst Super League clubs previously joined in the sixth round, they will now enter in third round and will be seeded to be away from home in that round. The third round will take place in February and then there is basically a round each month, culminating in the finals at Wembley on June 7th in 2025.
www.rugby-league.com
Hopefully, the BBC's (or possibly another broadcaster) linear coverage starts in the third round. It was a bit farcical that the linear coverage started so late into the competition this year, after the Super League clubs had entered. The fact that Super League sides will be away from home in this round will allow them to build a FA Cup-style vibe to this round of the competition. If the BBC gets their ducks in order, they could have consistent and frequent live rugby league between the elongated Challenge Cup campaign and their Super League rights, which have been a bit underutilised this year, possibly because of the short time between the deal being struck and the season starting. They will have the benefit of all future matches not being on linear Sky Sports, only Sky Sports+. They will be having a good run in at the end of the current season by the looks of it.
x.com
www.rugby-league.com
Hopefully, the BBC's (or possibly another broadcaster) linear coverage starts in the third round. It was a bit farcical that the linear coverage started so late into the competition this year, after the Super League clubs had entered. The fact that Super League sides will be away from home in this round will allow them to build a FA Cup-style vibe to this round of the competition. If the BBC gets their ducks in order, they could have consistent and frequent live rugby league between the elongated Challenge Cup campaign and their Super League rights, which have been a bit underutilised this year, possibly because of the short time between the deal being struck and the season starting. They will have the benefit of all future matches not being on linear Sky Sports, only Sky Sports+. They will be having a good run in at the end of the current season by the looks of it.
x.com