The 2008 Challenge Cup (also known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 107th staging of the Challenge Cup most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of Rugby league, featuring teams from across Europe, including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia. It began in February 2008.

Teams from the National League were given byes to round three, and teams from the Super League entered in round four. Teams from outside the UK were introduced at various stages.

St. Helens successfully defended their title after beating Hull F.C. 28 - 16 in the final.

Round 1 (week ending 3 February, 3 fixtures played Saturday 9 February (indicated with *), 1 on Saturday 16 February (indicated with **))

Tie noHome teamScoreAway team1Askham12 – 20West Bowling2*Bradford Dudley Hill72 – 0Dewsbury Celtic3Bramley Buffaloes24 – 16Castleford Panthers4British Army34 – 12Thatto Heath5Castleford Lock Lane18 – 32Royal Navy6*Drighlington10 – 20Bank Quay Bulls7East Hull54 – 6Royal Air Force8*Eastmoor10 – 23Queens9Eccles & Salford10 – 28Leigh East10Ellenbrough Rangers17 – 1Saddleworth Rangers11Hull Wyke18 – 40York Acorn12Ince Rose Bridge28 – 6 ***Hunslet Old Boys13Leigh Miners Rangers24 – 18Halton Simms Cross14Mayfield48 – 4Crosfields15Millom38 – 0Milford Marlins16Normanton Knights38 – 8Edinburgh Eagles17Oulton Raiders48 – 4Oldham St Annes18Seaton Rangers6 – 38Featherstone Lions19Siddal62 – 6Egremont Rangers20Skirlaugh46 – 14Waterhead21St Albans16 – 42Hull Dockers22St Marys22 – 30Warrington Wizards23Stanningley16 – 10Shaw Cross Sharks24Thornhill20 – 26Leeds Met25Wath Brow Hornets58 – 4Heworth26*West Hull48 – 14Widnes St Maries27Wigan St Patricks44 – 14Ovenden

*** - Match abandoned after Hunslet Old Boys had 4 players sent off. Hunslet Old Boys were subsequently thrown out of the competition.

Round 2

(weekend of 23 – 24 February)

Russian team Vereya joined in this round. Vereya were runners-up in the Russian Championship to Lokomotiv Moscow. Lokomotiv Moscow joined in the third round.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway team1Bank Quay Bulls29 – 0Millom2Bramley Buffaloes16 – 26Wigan St. Patricks3Hull Dockers14 – 19Skirlaugh4Ince Rose Bridge25 – 26British Army5Leeds Met Uni20 – 8Leigh East6Leigh Miners Rangers64 – 12Vereya7Normanton18 – 38East Hull8Oulton Raiders18 – 14West Hull9Royal Navy6 – 36Rochdale Mayfield10Siddal6 – 17Queens11Warrington Wizards26 – 10Stanningley12Wath Brow Hornets8 – 6Ellenborough Rangers13West Bowling16 – 34Featherstone Lions14York Acorn14 – 6Bradford Dudley Hill

Round 3

(weekend of 8 – 9 March)

The National Leagues teams, together with Lokomotiv Moscow, Pia, Lezignan and Toulouse joined in this round. Super League teams joined in Round 4.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway team1Bank Quay Bulls6 – 36Hunslet2Batley42 – 10East Hull3Blackpool16 – 23Featherstone Rovers4British Army10 – 56Oldham5Celtic Crusaders58 – 10Lokomotiv Moscow6Gateshead Thunder24 – 26Pia7Keighley14 – 17Toulouse8Leeds Met Uni16 – 44Doncaster9Leigh66 – 0Featherstone Lions10Leigh Miners Rangers14 – 40Whitehaven11London Skolars20 – 8Queens12Rochdale Mayfield10 – 30Barrow13Oulton Raiders24 – 54Dewsbury14Rochdale Hornets50 – 8York Acorn15Salford66 – 10Warrington Wizards16Sheffield Eagles22 – 37Lezignan17Wath Brow Hornets14 – 40Swinton18Widnes60 – 18Skirlaugh19Wigan St. Patricks14 – 50Workington Town20York12 – 34Halifax

Round 4

(Weekend of 18 – 20 April)

Super League teams joined in Round 4. From Round 4 onwards, the competition was a straightforward knock-out, with no more teams joining.

Tie noHome teamScoreAway team1Batley12 – 26Dewsbury2Leigh16 – 28Warrington3Workington Town12 – 68Hull Kingston Rovers4Harlequins44 – 14Castleford5Doncaster12 – 38Widnes6Featherstone Rovers12 – 22Catalans Dragons7Barrow48 – 16Hunslet8Salford8 – 38Wakefield Trinity9Leeds38 – 16Celtic Crusaders10Swinton8 – 20Oldham11Bradford98 – 6Toulouse Olympique12Halifax24 – 42Huddersfield13Whitehaven46 – 6Lézignan Sangliers14St. Helens56 – 0London Skolars15Rochdale Hornets5 – 42Hull F.C.16Wigan74 – 4Pia Donkeys

All fixtures taken from BBC Sport

Round 5

(weekend of 9 – 12 May)

Tie noHome teamScoreAway team1Hull Kingston Rovers42 – 22Huddersfield2Barrow6 – 58Wakefield Trinity3Dewsbury12 – 58Oldham4Bradford46 – 16Catalans Dragons5Wigan106 – 8Whitehaven6Widnes18 – 32*Hull F.C.7Harlequins26 – 36Leeds8St. Helens40 – 34Warrington

Quarter finals

Semi finals

Final

UK Broadcasting rights Selected matches were televised solely by the BBC.

Round Live match Date BBC channel Round 4 Harlequins 44 - 14 CastlefordSalford 8 - 38 Wakefield Trinity BBC Two1 Round 5 Hull Kingston Rovers 42 - 22 HuddesfieldSt. Helens 40 - 34 Warrington BBC Two1BBC One Quarter finals Leeds 23 - 16 WiganBradford 16 - 22 Hull May 31, 2008June 1, 2008 BBC OneBBC Two2 Semi finals Leeds 16 - 26 St. HelensWakefield Trinity 24 - 32 Hull July 26, 2008July 27, 2008 BBC OneBBC Two3 Final St. Helens 28 - 16 Hull August 30, 2008 BBC One

1 Except East and Yorkshire.

2 Except East, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire.

3 Except Yorkshire.

References

External links Rugby Football League