The 2022 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup, was the 121st edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It started on 15 January 2022 and ended, with the final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28 May.

St Helens were the defending champions going into 2022, but they were eliminated in the semi-final by Wigan Warriors, who went on to win the Final, by narrowly defeating Huddersfield Giants 16-14.

Background The competition started on 14 January and concluded with the final on 28 May. Traditionally the Challenge Cup final is held at Wembley Stadium in London. Due to scheduling conflicts between Wembley and the RFL due to a BBC request to play the final earlier in the year in May, it was announced that the 2022 Challenge Cup Final would be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The RFL stated that the final would return to Wembley in 2023. The RFL 1895 Cup would also be played for alongside the Challenge Cup.

All professional RFL member clubs were invited to participate as well as a number of invited amateur teams including teams representing the British Armed forces and police forces. This year it was announced that the Super League's Toulouse Olympique, who are not members of the RFL but are invited to take part in the Challenge Cup, had declined their invitation and would not participate. Newly formed Cornwall R.L.F.C. who played in RFL League 1 also decided not to enter the competition.

St Helens were the defending champions going into 2022, however, they were eliminated in the semi final, narrowly losing to Wigan Warriors 18–20.

A new television deal with the BBC came into effect this year, with coverage of more matches of later rounds as well as providing digital coverage of earlier rounds. The Sportsman continued its involvement in streaming games that started in 2021 and the RFL streamed some matches on its own streaming service, Our League. Premier Sports also broadcast a number of cup game as part of the broadcast deal signed with the RFL in October 2021.

Format and dates + Challenge Cup competition format Round Date Clubs involved this round Winners from previous round New entries this round Leagues entering at this round Round 1 14–16 January 28 28 28 UK based community league teams Round 2 29–30 January 24 14 10 10 teams from League One Round 3 12–13 February 12 12 colspan=2 Round 4 26–28 February 20 6 14 All teams from the Championship Round 5 12–14 March 10 10 colspan=3 Round 6 25–27 March 16 5 11 11 teams from the Super League Quarter-finals 8–10 April 8 8 rowspan=3 rowspan=3 Semi-finals 7 May 4 4 Final 28 May 2 2

First round The draw for the first round was made at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and ties were played over the weekend of 14–16 January 2022.

+ Challenge Cup round 1 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Bridgend Blue Bulls 0–60 Royal Navy 14 January 2022, 19:00 Brynglas Field, Pyle K. Young rowspan=14 Orrell St James 10–18 British Army 15 January 2022, 12:30 Bankes Avenue, Orrell M. Lynn London Chargers 22–16 Ellenborough Rangers 15 January 2022, 13:00 Dukes Meadows, Chiswick W. Gilder West Hull 46–6 Upton 15 January 2022, 13:30 North Road, Hull J. Covell-Wood Edinburgh Eagles 24–38 York Acorn 15 January 2022, 13:30 Royal High School, Edinburgh L. Fenton Thornhill Trojans 24–6 Royal Air Force 15 January 2022, 13:30 Overthorpe Park, Thornhill S. Ellis Featherstone Lions 6–56 Hunslet Club Parkside 15 January 2022, 14:00 Millpond Stadium, Featherstone R. Stansfield Jarrow Vikings 10–52 Wests Warriors 15 January 2022, 14:00 Kingston Park, Newcastle T. Gibbs Lock Lane 18–10 Thatto Heath Crusaders 15 January 2022, 14:00 Lock Lane Sports Centre, Castleford F. Lincoln Siddal 28–0 Great Britain Police 15 January 2022, 14:00 Exley Lane, Halifax R. Johnson Rochdale Mayfield 36–22 Wigan St Pats 15 January 2022, 14:15 Mayfield Sports Centre, Rochdale A. Billington Leigh Miners Rangers 22–20 Milford 15 January 2022, 14:30 Twist Lane, Leigh R. Cox Galway Tribesmen 10–36 Pilkington Recs 15 January 2022, 14:30 Ruskin Drive, St Helens D. Arnold Bentley 16–22 Stanningley 16 January 2022, 14:00 Brunel Rd, Cusworth C. Beevers Source:

Second round The draw for the second round was made at the same time at the first. Ties were played over the weekend of 29–30 January 2022. This round sees sides from the League 1 enter. + Challenge Cup round 2 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance York Acorn 28–10 Wests Warriors 29 January 2022, 13:30 Thanet Road A. Johnson 250 British Army 10–14 Royal Navy 29 January 2022, 14:00 Aldershot Military Stadium M. Lynn 500 Hunslet Club Parkside 22–12 Stanningley 29 January 2022, 14:00 Hillidge Road M. Clayton 550 West Hull 16–18 Rochdale Mayfield 29 January 2022, 14:00 West Hull Community Park A. Sweet 400 Leigh Miners Rangers 8–40 North Wales Crusaders 29 January 2022, 14:30 Twist Lane K. Moore Pilkington Recs 10–32 Siddal 29 January 2022, 14:30 Ruskin Drive M. Mannifield 300 London Skolars 40–22 London Chargers 29 January 2022, 15:30 New River Stadium M. Rossleigh 280 Rochdale Hornets 36–16 Midlands Hurricanes 30 January 2022, 13:00 Spotland Stadium L. Rush 688 Doncaster 24–6 Thornhill 30 January 2022, 15:00 Keepmoat Stadium L. Bland 618 Hunslet 22–6 Keighley Cougars 30 January 2022, 15:00 South Leeds Stadium C. Worsley 637 West Wales Raiders 0–96 Swinton Lions 30 January 2022, 15:00 Stebonheath Park J. Jones 312 Oldham 12–22 Lock Lane 30 January 2022, 18:00 Whitebank Stadium B. Milligan 361 Source:

Third round The draw for the third round was made on 1 February. Ties were played over the weekend of 12–13 February 2022. + Challenge Cup round 3 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Rochdale Mayfield 0–20 Doncaster 12 February 2022, 14:00 Mayfield Sports Centre, Rochdale B. Milligan 420 Lock Lane 12–28 Rochdale Hornets 12 February 2022, 14:30 Lock Lane Sports Centre, Castleford M. Mannifield 500 London Skolars 6–28 Hunslet Club Parkside 12 February 2022, 15:30 New River Stadium J. Jones 130 Royal Navy 22–8 York Acorn 12 February 2022, 16:00 United Services Recreation Ground M. Rossleigh 300 Hunslet 30–4 Siddal 13 February 2022, 13:00 South Leeds Stadium A. Sweet 651 Swinton Lions 14–20 North Wales Crusaders 13 February 2022, 15:00 Heywood Road L. Rush 516 Source:

Fourth round The draw for the fourth round was made at the same time at the third. Ties were played over the weekend of 26–28 February 2022. This round saw sides from the Championship enter. + Challenge Cup round 4 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance North Wales Crusaders 30–8 Hunslet 26 February 2022; 14:00 Paton Field M. Smaill 452 Batley Bulldogs 66–6 Royal Navy 27 February 2022; 13:00 Mount Pleasant L. Rush 1,271 Doncaster 0–60 Whitehaven 27 February 2022; 14:00 Keepmoat Stadium M. Rossleigh 544 Hunslet Club Parkside 20–40 Sheffield Eagles 27 February 2022; 14:00 South Leeds Stadium B. Milligan 450 Workington Town 26–12 Dewsbury Rams 27 February 2022; 14:00 Derwent Park B. Thaler 872 Halifax Panthers 16–29 Featherstone Rovers 27 February 2022; 15:00 The Mbi Shay M. Griffiths 1,625 London Broncos 8–34 Bradford Bulls 27 February 2022; 15:00 Plough Lane N. Bennett 551 Rochdale Hornets 12–38 Barrow Raiders 27 February 2022; 15:00 Spotland Stadium C. Worsley 515 York City Knights 42–13 Newcastle Thunder 27 February 2022; 15:00 York Community Stadium S. Mikalauskas 1,221 Leigh Centurions 38–4 Widnes Vikings 28 February 2022; 19:45 Leigh Sports Village J. Child 2,567 Source:

Fifth round The draw for the fifth round was made on 28 February at the conclusion of the tie between Leigh and Widnes. Ties were played over the weekend of 12–14 March 2022. + Challenge Cup round 5 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance North Wales Crusaders 30–50 Sheffield Eagles 12 March 2022, 13:30 Eirias Stadium L. Rush 330 Barrow Raiders 32–18 Workington Town 13 March 2022, 13:00 Craven Park B. Thaler 1,825 Batley Bulldogs 20–54 Featherstone Rovers 13 March 2022, 15:00 Mount Pleasant J. Vella 1,003 Whitehaven 38–12 York City Knights 13 March 2022, 15:00 Recreation Ground A. Moore 798 Bradford Bulls 16–20 Leigh Centurions 14 March 2022, 19:45 Odsal Stadium M. Griffiths 1,221 Source:

Sixth round The draw for the sixth round was made on 14 March 2022, at Elland Road, Leeds. Ties were played over the weekend of 25–27 March 2022. + Challenge Cup round 6 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Wigan Warriors 20–0 Salford Red Devils 25 March 2022, 19:35 DW Stadium R. Hicks 6,005 Sheffield Eagles 12–58 Hull FC26 March 2022, 14:00 Post Office Road J. Child 1,039 Whitehaven 4–46 St Helens Recreation Ground T. Grant 4,869 Catalans Dragons 27–14 Featherstone Rovers 26 March 2022, 14:30 Stade Gilbert Brutus C. Kendall 3,624 Hull KR 24–18 Leigh Centurions 26 March 2022, 15:00 Craven Park A. Moore 3,088 Leeds Rhinos 16–40 Castleford Tigers 26 March 2022, 16:30 Headingley L. Moore 5,122 Warrington Wolves 12–16 Wakefield Trinity 27 March 2022, 14:00 Halliwell Jones Stadium J. Smith 2,627 Barrow Raiders 16–30 Huddersfield Giants 27 March 2022, 16:30 Craven Park M. Griffiths 3,135 Source:

Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals was made during the half-time broadcast of the sixth-round match between Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers. The draw was hosted by Tanya Arnold, and the teams were drawn by Robbie Hunter-Paul, and John Kear. Ties were played over the weekend of 8–10 April 2022. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Hull KR 34–10 Castleford Tigers 8 April 2022, 19:45 Hull College Craven Park R. Hicks Catalans Dragons 20–36 St Helens 9 April 2022, 14:30 Stade Gilbert Brutus C. Kendall 8,624 Huddersfield Giants 24–16 Hull FC 9 April 2022, 17:00 John Smiths Stadium L. Moore 3,637 Wakefield Trinity 6–36 Wigan Warriors 10 April 2022, 14:30 Be Well Support Stadium J. Child 3,756 Source:

Semi-finals The draw for the semi-finals was made on 10 April. The ties were both played at Elland Road, Leeds on 7 May. They formed a triple-header with the final of the 2022 Women's Challenge Cup. Team 1ScoreTeam 2Match InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Wigan Warriors 20–18 St Helens 7 May 2022, 14:30 Elland Road J. Child22,141 Huddersfield Giants 25–4 Hull KR 7 May 2022, 17:00 L. Moore Source:

Final

The final of the 2022 Challenge Cup took place on 28 May at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Wigan Warriors 16–14 Huddersfield Giants 28 May 2022, 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium James Child 51,628 Source: Huddersfield second row forward, Chris McQueen was named winner of the Lance Todd Trophy.

Broadcast matches