Martin Offiah Chief Guest for the Cup Final

• Martin Offiah MBE will be the Chief Guest at the 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
• Season Ticket Holders and Members can purchase Cup Final tickets online HERE.
• Tickets will be available for general sale starting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 23.

The RFL and Rugby League Commercial are delighted to confirm that Martin Offiah MBE will be the Chief Guest at Betfred Challenge Cup Final Day 2024 – 30 years since he scored perhaps the most famous try in the long history of Rugby League being played at the stadium Wembley. .

Offiah played in four consecutive Challenge Cup finals for Wigan Warriors at Wembley Stadium from 1992-95, in which he scored a total of four tries – including a spectacular long-range against Leeds in 1994 when he was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as Man of the Match.

This try earned him a place on the Rugby League Statue alongside four other sporting greats which was installed at Wembley in 2015, captured in celebration of his equally famous try, kneeling with his head in his hands in a reflection snapshots of the moment.

Offiah also represented Great Britain at Wembley in a famous win over Australia in 1990 – in which he scored a try – and played in two World Cup finals at the stadium, for Great Britain in 1992 and England in 1995.

The last of his eight Wembley appearances came 25 years ago for London Broncos when he suffered his only defeat in the Challenge Cup final against Leeds Rhinos – but scored another spectacular try.

The Chief Guest has been part of Challenge Cup tradition since the Final was first held at Wembley in 1929, when Lord Daresbury was introduced to the teams before the match and presented the trophy afterwards.

There was an added dimension to the role last year when Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons and Chairman of the Rugby Football League, became the first Chief Guest for a Women’s Challenge Cup Final – presenting the trophy to Jodie Cunningham. and Emily Rudge of St Helens.

Sir Lindsay will be in attendance again this year and Martin Offiah will follow in his footsteps with the second Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens preceding the men’s final between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors.

Wigan were winners of the first Wembley final 95 years ago and have the opportunity to mark the centenary of the first of their 20 Cup wins (a record) – when they beat Oldham 21-4 at Rochdale’s Athletic Grounds in 1924.

2024 also marks a significant anniversary for Warrington – 50 years since their fifth of nine Challenge Cup wins, a 24-9 victory over Featherstone Rovers in 1974 – when they completed a double in the Club Championship that followed .

As Chief Guest, Martin Offiah MBE said: “I will be honored to join the distinguished list of Chief Guests for the Challenge Cup Final – especially at Wembley Stadium, a venue that holds so many happy memories for me.

“It’s scary to think it’s 34 years since I first played there for Great Britain and 30 years since the test against Leeds – and it’s always great to go back and see the statue and think on that day.

“I’m pleased Wigan are in the final, but I have great admiration for Warrington Wolves and the job Sam Burgess has done as manager this season – so I’ll do my best to be neutral.

“It’s a huge privilege to be the second chief guest for a Challenge Cup final double-header – taking the women’s final to Wembley last year was a great decision.”

Wigan Warriors season ticket holder and members can purchase Betfred Challenge Cup Final tickets online HERE. Tickets will be available for general sale starting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 23.