|avg_attendance = |matches = |points = |TV = |biggest_home_win = |biggest_away_win = |season = 2023 |season_champs = Leigh Leopards |season_champ_name = Winners |second_place = Hull KR |MVP = Lachlan Lam |MVP_link = Lance Todd Trophy |top_scorer = |top try scorer = |prevseason_link = 2022 Challenge Cup |prevseason_year = 2022 |nextseason_link = 2024 Challenge Cup |nextseason_year = 2024 }} The 2023 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2023 Betfred Challenge Cup, was the 122nd edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It began over the weekend of 11–12 February 2023 and ended with the final, at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 August.

The defending champions were Wigan Warriors, who won the 2022 Challenge Cup Final, by narrowly defeating Huddersfield Giants 16–14, but they were eliminated in the semi finals, as Brad Schneider kicked a drop goal in extra time, to win the game for Hull KR 11–10.

Background The competition started on 11 February and concluded with the final on 12 August. The final returned to its traditional home, Wembley Stadium in London, after being played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2022. League One team Cornwall R.L.F.C. made their first appearance in the competition having declined to enter in their debut season.

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. This year the entry of the amateur clubs was split; in round 1, the armed forces teams entered along with the Scottish, Irish and Welsh champions with English teams from outside the National Conference League Premier Division making up the 36 teams to compete in the round. Ten teams from the National Conference League Premier Division joined in round 2, together with the 10 teams from League One. Shortly after the format for the tournament was announced, West Wales Raiders withdrew from the competition. The RFL announced that rounds one and two would be altered slightly to cope with this by increasing the number of teams in round one to 36 and reducing the numbers of new clubs in round two from 21 to 20.

The Championship clubs with the exception of Toulouse Olympique who declined to enter, joined the tournament in round 3. Rounds 4 and 5 reduced the lower league clubs to four before the Super League clubs entered in round 6.

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 11–12 February 36 36 36 UK based community league teams Round 2 25–26 February 38 18 20 10 teams from National Conference League Premier Division and 10 League One Round 3 9–12 March 32 19 13 All teams from the Championship except Toulouse Olympique Round 4 30 March – 2 April 16 16 colspan=2 Round 5 20–23 April 8 8 colspan=2 Round 6 18–21 May 16 4 12 All 12 teams from the Super League Quarter-finals 15–18 June 8 8 colspan=2 rowspan=3 Semi-finals 22 July 4 4 Final 12 August 2 2

First round The draw for the first and second rounds were made at Wembley Stadium on 12 January 2023. Ties were played over the weekend of 11 and 12 February 2023.

+ Challenge Cup round 1 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance West Bowling 30–12 Waterhead 11 February; 11:00 Horsfall Stadium O. Salmon rowspan=18 Edinburgh Eagles 20–30 Saddleworth Rangers 11 February, 13:15 Royal High School, Edinburgh S. Fraser Brentwood Eels 34–24 Bedford Tigers 11 February, 13:30 Ashwells Road, Brentwood M. Rossleigh Royal Navy 28–16 Barrow Island 11 February, 13:30 The Victory Stadium, Portsmouth J. Jones Skirlaugh 16–26 Wests Warriors 11 February, 13:30 Slaithes Lane, Hedon J. Ruckledge Westgate Common 36–18 Crosfields 11 February, 13:30 Park Grove Road, Wakefield D. Arnold British Army 12–28 Ashton Bears 11 February; 14:00 Aldershot Military Stadium W. Gilder Distington 4–16 Orrell St James 11 February; 14:00 West View Road, Distington J. Hughes Doncaster Toll Bar 24–36 Royal Air Force 11 February; 14:00 Prospect Road, Doncaster M. McKelvey Featherstone Lions 6–20 Great Britain Police 11 February; 14:00 Wakefield Road, Featherstone S. Jenkinson Fryston Warriors 38–22 Thornhill Trojans 11 February; 14:00 Askham Road, Ferry Fryston C. Hughes Hull Dockers 54–10 Rhondda Outlaws 11 February; 14:00 The Willows, Hull D. Frederick Stanningley 38–4 Milford 11 February; 14:00 The Arthur Miller Stadium, Leeds A. Williams London Chargers 32–12 North Herts Crusaders 11 February; 14:30 Kings House School, Chiswick M. Cowan Wigan St Pats 22–30 Ince Rose Bridge 11 February; 14:30 Harper St, Wigan F. Lincoln Hammersmith Hills Hoists 8–42 Dublin City Exiles 11 February; 17:00 Chiswick Rugby Club, Chiswick H. Winnard Heworth 22–6 Oulton Raiders 12 February, 12:00 Elmpark Way, Heworth J. Covell-Wood Jarrow Vikings 26–40 Myton Warriors 12 February, 13:30 Monkton Stadium, Jarrow T. Gibbs Source:

Second round

+ Challenge Cup round 2 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Cornwall 14–20 Rochdale Mayfield 25 February; 13:00 The Memorial Ground, Penryn M. Rossleigh 1,061 Brentwood Eels 4–58 Wath Brow Hornets 25 February; 13:30 Ashwells Road, Brentwood W. Gilder rowspan=6 Lock Lane 22–30 West Bowling 25 February; 13:30 Lock Lane, Castleford A. Rhodes Fryston Warriors 12–28 Stanningley 25 February; 13:30 Askham Road, Ferry Fryston A. Belafonte Saddleworth Rangers 4–18 Thatto Heath Crusaders 25 February; 13:30 Shaw Hall Bank Road J. Hughes Ashton Bears 8–38 Dewsbury Rams 25 February; 14:00 Crown Flatt E. Burrow Myton Warriors 22–34 Leigh Miners Rangers 25 February; 14:00 Marist Sporting Club, Hull M. Clayton North Wales Crusaders 70–0 Royal Navy 25 February; 14:00 Eirias Stadium J. Lincoln 255 RAF 10–12 York Acorn 25 February; 14:00 RAF Cranwell S. Jenkinson rowspan=5 Wests Warriors 18–14 London Chargers 25 February; 14:00 Twyford Avenue, London H. Winnard Hunslet ARLFC 66–0 Pilkington Recs 25 February; 14:30 The Oval, Leeds C. Hughes Siddal 14–8 West Hull 25 February; 14:30 Exley Lane, Halifax R. Cox Orrell St James 68–14 Dublin City Exiles 25 February; 15:00 Bankes Avenue, Orrell S. Houghton Rochdale Hornets 42–4 London Skolars 26 February; 13:00 Spotland Stadium M. Lynn 300 GB Police 18–22 Westgate Common 26 February; 13:00 Scholes Lane, St. Helens T. Jones Workington Town 68–6 Ince Rose Bridge 26 February; 14:00 Derwent Park B. Milligan 603 Hull Dockers 4–50 Midlands Hurricanes 26 February; 14:45 Craven Park, Hull A. Sweet Doncaster 28–26 Oldham 26 February; 15:00 Keepmoat Stadium K. Moore 517 Hunslet 68–6 Heworth 26 February; 15:00 South Leeds Stadium L. Bland 556 Source:

Third round The third round draw was made on 27 February. + Challenge Cup round 3 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Westgate Common 12–15 Hunslet A.R.L.F.C 11 March, 13:30 Park Grove Road E. Burrow rowspan=8 Leigh Miners Rangers 10–38 Rochdale Mayfield 11 March, 14:00 Twist Lane M. Smaill Orrell St James 12–19 Midlands Hurricanes 11 March, 14:00 Bankes Avenue, Orrell M. Lynn London Broncos 32–10 Whitehaven 11 March, 15:00 Plough Lane L. Rush Wests Warriors 4–80 Widnes Vikings 11 March, 15:00 DCBL Stadium R. Cox Thatto Heath Crusaders 10–18 North Wales Crusaders 12 March, 12:30 Close Street S. Mikalauskas Stanningley 16–58 Newcastle Thunder 12 March, 13:00 The Arthur Miller Stadium L. Bland Batley Bulldogs 60–0 Wath Brow Hornets 12 March, 14:00 Mount Pleasant B. Milligan Dewsbury Rams 38–18 Rochdale Hornets 12 March, 14:00 Crown Flatt C. Worsley 445 Siddal 12–34 Sheffield Eagles 12 March, 14:30 Exley Lane, Halifax K. Moore Barrow Raiders 32–14 Swinton Lions 12 March, 15:00 Craven Park J. Vella 1,161 Bradford Bulls 62–6 York Acorn 12 March, 15:00 Odsal Stadium A. Belafonte 1,143 Doncaster 24–20 Workington Town 12 March, 15:00 Eco-Power Stadium N. Bennett 485 Featherstone Rovers 18–22 Halifax Panthers 12 March, 15:00 Post Office Road L. Moore 1,487 Hunslet 14–16 Keighley Cougars 12 March, 15:00 South Leeds Stadium M. Rossleigh 519 York Knights 52–12 West Bowling 12 March, 15:00 York Community Stadium A. Sweet 1,040 Source:

Fourth round The draw for the fourth and fifth rounds was made on Wednesday 15 March at Millom RLFC, the oldest amateur club. No new teams enter in these rounds so the fourth round comprises just eight matches.

+ Challenge Cup round 4 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Rochdale Mayfield 12–22 Newcastle Thunder 1 April, 13:00 Mayfield Sports Centre N. Bennett Keighley Cougars 36–14 North Wales Crusaders 1 April, 15:00 Cougar Park M. Smaill 862 London Broncos 66–16 Doncaster 1 April, 15:00 Priory Lane S. Mikalauskas 428 York Knights 24–22 Sheffield Eagles 2 April, 12:30 York Community Stadium J. Vella 832 Hunslet ARLFC 6–80 Batley Bulldogs 2 April, 14:00 Mount Pleasant B. Milligan 579 Dewsbury Rams 32–12 Widnes Vikings 2 April, 15:00 Crown Flatt L. Rush 802 Halifax Panthers 24–18 Barrow Raiders 2 April 15:00 The Shay T. Grant 1,474 Midlands Hurricanes 18–66 Bradford Bulls 2 April, 15:00 Odsal Stadium C. Worsley 1,003 Source:

Fifth round Drawn immediately after the fourth round draw, the four fixtures determined which teams from below Super League would progress to the draw with the 12 Super League teams. + Challenge Cup round 5 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance York Knights 22–18 Newcastle Thunder 21 April, 19:30 York Community Stadium N. Bennett 1,100 Halifax Panthers 26–0 Bradford Bulls 22 April, 19:00 The Shay T. Grant 2,146 Batley Bulldogs 34–16 Keighley Cougars 23 April, 15:00 Mount Pleasant J. Vella 923 London Broncos 36–16 Dewsbury Rams 23 April, 15:05 Priory Lane L. Rush 353 Source:

Sixth round The draw for the sixth round took place live on BBC News' Sportsday on 24 April. The draw was made by England women's captain Jodie Cunningham.

Ties were played over the weekend of 19-21 May.

+ Challenge Cup round 6 fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Halifax Panthers 6–26 St Helens 19 May, 19:45 The Shay A. Moore 4,693 Wakefield Trinity 12–40 Leigh Leopards 19 May, 19:45 The Be Well Support Stadium B. Thaler 1,568 Hull KR 50–0 Batley Bulldogs 19 May, 20:00 Sewell Group Craven Park T. Grant 5,200 Leeds Rhinos 14–18 Wigan Warriors 20 May, 14:30 Headingley C. Kendall 7,103 Catalans Dragons 14–16 Warrington Wolves 20 May, 17:00 Stade Gilbert Brutus J. Smith 5,014 Salford Red Devils 42–40 Huddersfield Giants 20 May, 19:30 AJ Bell Stadium M. Griffiths 2,872 Castleford Tigers 8–32 Hull FC 21 May, 15:00 Mend-A-Hose Jungle L. Moore 4,249 York Knights 36–12 London Broncos 21 May, 15:00 York Community Stadium J. Vella 951 Source:

Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Two after the conclusion of the sixth-round tie between Castleford and Hull FC. The draw was made by John Kear. Ties were played over the weekend of 17–18 June. + Challenge Cup quarter-final fixturesHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Hull KR 28–10 Salford Red Devils 17 June, 12:00 Craven Park B. Thaler 6,289 Hull FC 18–32 St Helens 17 June, 14:30 MKM Stadium C. Kendall 8,127 Wigan Warriors 14–12 Warrington Wolves 18 June, 14:30 DW Stadium L. Moore 9,302 York Knights 14–34 Leigh Leopards 18 June, 17:00 York Community Stadium J. Smith 2,412

Semi-finals The draw for the semi-finals was conducted on 18 June, during half time in the Wigan v Warrington match. The draw was made by Lois Forsell, head coach of Leeds Rhinos.

Ties took place over the weekend of 22–23 July, each being a double header with one of the semi-finals of the women's competition.