Betfred Challenge Cup Final Preview

It's Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Week!

Betfred Super League comes to a pause this weekend, as the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup Finals take centre stage! Head over to our Rugby League website and Challenge Cup social channels to view all things Challenge Cup!

Who's ready for an epic showdown on Saturday?

It's @Betfred #ChallengeCup Final week ? pic.twitter.com/AEh6NV5hnC

— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) May 25, 2026

BACKGROUND:

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup Final. And it's becoming a habit that these two finalists keep meeting on the big stage.

Familiar foes Wigan Warriors and Hull KR will walk-out at Wembley on Saturday afternoon with their ever-growing rivalry at its peak, but which side will be lifting the famous trophy in the sunshine?

Wigan are cup kings, having won the trophy a record 21-times and featured in 33 Challenge Cup Finals. They last triumphed at Wembley in 2024.

The Robins, on the other hand, may have only lifted the Challenge Cup on two occasions in history, but are the current holders of the competition, and swept past the Warriors in last year’s Betfred Super League Grand Final.

These are the two teams to beat in recent seasons, and we expect nothing less than a scintillating showdown when the two teams clash under the arch this upcoming weekend.

There is a total of eleven Challenge Cup meetings between Wigan and Hull KR, but this will be their first ever meeting in a final. Their most recent one came in the form of the 2024 Semi-Final – where the Warriors enacted their revenge from the 2023 Semi-Final and beat the Robins comfortably, 6-38.

A year prior, Hull KR had booked their place at Wembley in dramatic fashion, with a Brad Schneider drop goal proving to be the difference in Golden Point extra time (11-10).

Both sides have been formidable in their journeys to this year’s Final, and below are their respective results...

THEIR ROADS TO WEMBLEY IN 2026:

Round 3

Lock Lane 0 Hull KR 104

Rochdale Hornets 0 Wigan Warriors 83

Round 4

Huddersfield Giants 12 Hull KR 52

Wigan Warriors 30 Bradford Bulls 6

Quarter-Final

Hull KR 48 York Knights 10

Wakefield Trinity 22 Wigan Warriors 26

Semi-Final

Warrington Wolves 12 Hull KR 32

St Helens 0 Wigan Warriors 32

LAST TEN MEETINGS:

Hull KR 24, Wigan 6 (SLGF at Old Trafford, Manchester, 11/10/25)

Wigan 6, Hull KR 10 (SLR22, 15/8/25)

Hull KR 12, Wigan 28 (SLR7, 11 /4/25)

Hull KR 2, Wigan 9 (SLGF at Old Trafford, Manchester, 12/10/24)

Wigan 24, Hull KR 20 (SLR25, 6/9/24)

Hull KR 6, Wigan 38 (CCSF at Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster, 18/5/24)

Hull KR 26, Wigan 10 (SLR9, 26/4/24)

Wigan 42, Hull KR 12 (SLSF, 7/10/23)

Wigan 64, Hull KR 6 (SLR21, 4/8/23)

Hull KR 11, Wigan 10 (CCSF at AMT Headingley, Leeds, 23/7/23)

In their previous ten meetings, the Warriors have won six, whilst the Robins have won four.

Willie Peters’ men have won the most recent two, and it’s one Grand Final apiece in the last two years.

Both teams have the experience and know their way to the trophies – after all, Hull KR are the current treble winers, and Wigan are synonymous with silverware, and the Challenge Cup.

All signs suggest another closely fought contest in the 2026 Challenge Cup Final between two of the sport’s chief entertainers, but who are you backing?

SQUADS:

Wigan's head coach Matt Peet has selected his squad which includes the return of star man Bevan French and club captain Liam Farrell from injuries.

For Hull KR, Joe Burgess is back in the team.

Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Brad O'Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis, Sam Walters, Patrick Mago, Oliver Partington, Jack Farrimond, Sam Eseh, Tom Forber, Kian McDermott, Taylor Kerr, Noah Hodkinson

Hull KR: Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Tom Amone, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella, Jack Broadbent, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Rhyse Martin, Jack Brown, Karl Lawton, Jordan Dezeria, Noah Booth, Bill Leyland

You can watch 2026 Final on BBC One, with live coverage starting from 2pm on Saturday.

Tickets for 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup Final can still be purchased here.

Betfred Super League will next return for Round 13 on Thursday 4 June.