THE 2022 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final will be played at Elland Road, the home of Leeds United FC, on Saturday May 7 - where Barrow Raiders hope to feature.

For the third time in succession the Women’s Challenge Cup Final will be part of a Rugby League triple header also featuring the semi-finals of the Men’s Betfred Challenge Cup – after triumphs for Leeds Rhinos against Castleford Tigers at the University of Bolton Stadium in 2019, and for St Helens against York City Knights at Leigh Sports Village earlier this year.

Mark Foster, the RFL’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The growing profile of Women’s and Girls’ Rugby League has been a huge success story for the game in recent years, and taking the 2022 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final to Elland Road represents another significant step forward."

Elland Road will also host the draw on December 7 for the first round of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, which will be streamed live on the RFL’s Our League web and app.

The competition will have a fresh format in 2022, with 16 teams drawn into four seeded groups of four teams – guaranteeing three fixtures for each team as the BWCC kicks off the Women’s Rugby League season, from mid-March to mid-April.

The 12 teams from the expanded Betfred Women’s Super League will be joined by three from the Championship – Hull FC, Oulton Raidettes and Widnes Vikings – as well as The Army, who were named Team of the Year at the Army Sports Awards at Sandhurst last month following their success in reaching the final of the inaugural Betfred Women’s Super League South.

The top four from the 2021 BWSL – Castleford Tigers, York City Knights, Leeds Rhinos and the double winners, St Helens – will be kept apart in the First Round.

The teams who finished fifth to eighth – Wigan Warriors, Huddersfield Giants, Featherstone Rovers and Warrington Wolves – will be in the second pool, again with one drawn in each group.

A third pool consists of Bradford Bulls, Wakefield Trinity and the two newcomers to the BWSL in 2022 – Barrow Raiders and Leigh Miners Rangers – with the four teams from outside the BWSL in the fourth pool.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for Quarter Finals, with the winners guaranteed home advantage.

The full schedule of matches will be published as soon as possible following the draw, with the Betfred Women’s Super League fixture list to be finalised soon – and tickets for the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final and Challenge Cup triple header at Elland Road to go on sale in the New Year.