2023 Challenge Cup final

2023 (2023) Challenge Cup Final  ()
12GP1 Total
HKR 880 16
LEI 1061 17
Date12 August 2023, 15:00
StadiumWembley Stadium
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
Lance Todd TrophyLachlan Lam
God Save The King
and Abide with Me
Lizzie Jones[1]
RefereeChris Kendall
Attendance58,213[2]
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
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The 2023 Challenge Cup Final was the 122nd final of rugby league's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The 2023 final marked its return to Wembley Stadium after its one year hiatus at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2022. The final was contested by Leigh Leopards and Hull KR.[3][4][5]

Leigh won the cup, their first title since 1971, by 17 points to 16, after the game went to golden point extra time, as Matt Parcell scored a last minute try for Hull KR, (after a lengthy review from the video referee), to level the scores at 16-all after 80 minutes.

Just over one minute into extra time, Leigh were penalised for a ball steal, and Hull KR were awarded a penalty. Brad Schneider kicked to touch, but the ball did not go out of play, and Leigh got the ball back. Gareth O'Brien then tried his luck with a drop goal, but his effort was wide. The next attempt came to Schneider, but he also missed with his effort. Then, on 83 minutes, Lachlan Lam kicked the winning drop goal, to win the match 17-16.

For the first time since 1986, the final did not feature Leeds, St Helens, Wigan or Warrington. It was also the first time the men's and women's final took place at Wembley on the same day – 12 August 2023.[6][7]

  1. ^ Pattison, Cam (11 August 2023). "Wife of former rugby league player to sing Abide With Me". Rugby League News.
  2. ^ "Challenge Cup 2023 final attendance revealed with motorway impacting supporters; Women's game enjoys record crowd". LoveRugbyLeague. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Hull KR and Leigh 'have earned cup final place'". BBC Sport. 11 August 2023.
  4. ^ Bower, Aaron (11 August 2023). "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR and Leigh look to end long wait for glory" – via The Guardian.
  5. ^ "Challenge Cup final 2023: Talking points for rugby league's historic women's and men's Wembley showpiece". Sky Sports.
  6. ^ "Challenge Cup final to return to Wembley in 2023". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "Wembley to host Challenge Cup final double-header in 2023". LoveRugbyLeague. 12 August 2022.

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