The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup Final was the 12th final of the Rugby Football League's Women's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The 2024 was the second final at Wembley Stadium, and held on 8 June 2024.
The final was contested by Leeds Rhinos and St Helens.
Background The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup final was the third consecutive meeting between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos in the competition final.
St Helens were three times defending champions of the Challenge Cup having won in 2021, 2022, and 2023. They also won the tournament four times in a row between 2013 and 2016. Upon gaining their place in the final St Helens were third in Super League.
Leeds Rhinos entered the final aiming to avenge back to back defeats to St Helens in 2022 and 2023. They last won the competition in 2019 retaining it after their 2018 victory. Upon qualification Leeds were in second place in Super League, behind Wigan Warriors the team they eliminated in the semi-finals, but above St Helens.
Route to the final Leeds Rhinos
RoundOppositionVenueScoreGroup Stage Leigh LeopardsTwist Lane52–4 Hull KRCraven Park90–0 Huddersfield GiantsWest Park RUFC54–10Quarter-final Warrington WolvesHeadingley70–10Semi-final Wigan WarriorsTotally Wicked Stadium34–20
St Helens
RoundOppositionVenueScoreGroup Stage London BroncosTotally Wicked Stadium64–0 Bradford BullsOdsal StadiumF–W/O Warrington WolvesDallam Playing Fields58–6Quarter-final Huddersfield GiantsCrusaders Park74–0Semi-final York ValkyrieEco-Power Stadium32–2
Source:
Pre-match British singer Maxwell Thorpe sang the national anthem and Abide with Me ahead of the match. Thorpe was supported by British DJ Alex Simmons in providing the pre match entertainment. Following the death of Rob Burrow on 2 June, the RFL announced that Rob's death be commemorated with a minute's silence before kick-off and with a minute's applause during the seventh minute of the game.
Before the game, the Year 7 School's Final was played. Wigan's St Peter's Catholic High School won against Cardiff's Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf.https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/orrells-st-peters-victorious-at-wembley-to-lift-the-steven-mullaney-memorial-trophy-4658388
Match details
The match officials were named on 4 June, with Aaron Moore as the referee, alongside Neil Horton, and Beth Neilson, the touch judges. Neilson became the first woman to be part of a senior final officiating team.
Post-match Following the game, the men's final was played along with the 2024 1895 Cup final. The men's game saw an 18–8 victory to Wigan Warriors against Warrington Wolves. The 1895 Cup final saw Wakefield Trinity beat Sheffield Eagles 50–6.
See also 2024 Men's Challenge Cup final
Notes
References