Challenge Cup final tradition to be broken with Wembley unavailable for preparations

The club’s participation in the Challenge Cup final will not be able to participate in the captain’s running session at Wembley this year. Rugby League Live can reveal that clubs have been told they will not be able to access the hallowed turf the day before the match, which is a break from Challenge Cup tradition.

It has now been confirmed that Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves will play in the men’s final, Leeds Rhinos and St Helens in the women’s and Wakefield Trinity and Sheffield Eagles will battle it out in the 1895 Cup. However, all six clubs have been informed with looking at a change in standard logistics as they begin planning for the big weekend.

Finals day takes place on Saturday 8 June with the clubs generally traveling the day before and having their final session at Wembley. But that’s not an option this year, as the night before England’s men’s football team are in action against Iceland. It will be the last time Gareth Southgate’s side play a game before the European Championships, which start a week later.

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Given that, and with a crowd expected, it made it logistically unviable for clubs to access the ground hours early, resulting in alternative plans. The Rugby Football League is understood to have made alternative venues available, but it has been indicated that clubs are now preparing to train closer to home before traveling down.

The captain’s run was always a good media opportunity, with members of the media having one last opportunity to speak to the coaches and players before the main event a day later. Alternative arrangements will now have to be made.

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