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The Powergen Challenge Cup

The Rugby League Cup has a long and rich history, and has been played every year since 1896, except for a four-year gap due to the First World War and the fact that no competition was held in 1940.

With a mix of amateur, semi-professional, and professional rugby league teams, from Britain, France and Russia, the Powergen Rugby League Challenge Cup really does have it all.

For more information about how the Powergen Challenge Cup competition has developed over the years, check out our History of The Powergen Challenge Cup page.

Format of the Powergen Cup

The Powergen Rugby League Challenge Cup has seven rounds prior to the final, and is a straight knockout tournament.

The first round consists of amateur teams from all over the British Isles, who are invited to compete. Most of these amateur rugby league teams are affiliated to the BARLA (The British Amateur Rugby League Association)..

In the third round two Russian teams, four French sides, and the semi-professional British clubs from the Rugby League National Leagues enter into the competition.

The big-guns of rugby league enter in the fourth round, when the 12 Super League Teams join in.

The Powergen Challenge Cup Final was traditionally played at Wembley, but due to the stadium's facelift, the current home for the final is the Cardiff Millennium Stadium.

Previous Winners of the Powergen Challenge Cup

The last five winners of the Powergen Challenge Cup were:

Season Team

2004/05 St Helens

2003/04 Bradford Bulls

2002/03 Wigan Warriors

2001/02 St Helens

2000/01 Bradford Bulls.

The Lance Todd Trophy

The Lance Todd Trophy is presented to the man of the match in the Powergen Challenge Cup final. It is chosen by a panel consisting of members from the Rugby League Writer's Association. The trophy has been awarded at the end of every final since 1946. It is named after New Zealander Lance Todd, who signed for Wigan in 1908, and went on to manage Salford. Under his management, Salford had a string of successes including a Challenge Cup win. Lance Todd died in a road accident in 1942.

Previous Winners of the Lance Todd Trophy

Year Winner Team Position

2000 Henry Paul Bradford Bulls (v Leeds Rhinos) Stand off

2001 Sean Long St. Helens (v Bradford Bulls) Scrum half

2002 Kris Radlinski Wigan Warriors (v St. Helens) Full back

2003 Gary Connolly Leeds Rhinos (v Bradford Bulls) Full back

2004 Sean Long St Helens (v Wigan Warriors) Scrum half

Betting on the Rugby League Powergen Challenge Cup

Most bookmakers and betting exchanges allow you to place various types of bet on the Powergen Challenge Cup. You can bet on from. For the latest odds on The Powergen Challenge Cup from a range of bookmakers and betting exchanges, visit our Latest Odds section.

Handicap betting

As with any cup competition there can be a mismatch with the teams, especially if you are looking to bet on a match between a Super League team, and an amateur club. The odds on the amateur club winning are huge; therefore the League team's odds would be so short as to be unappealing to back.

The bookies compensate for this by introducing a form of handicap. Many weaker teams will receive a point's head start, and the League team will have the same amount of points deducted for the purpose of the bet.

Some of the top teams can receive a handicap of say -50 points, therefore giving the underdog a +50 head start. If you do your research you may be able to find a couple of good bets: look for an underdog who is, for example, very good at home and having a good season, whilst the favourite is weaker away from home and having a rough season. Despite the amount of league positions separating them, the favourite may not be able to claw back the deficit, giving you a chance to take the bookies to the cleaners.

Look to the Defence

If you are looking to back a team to win the trophy outright, then look at the points conceded column on the league table. Whilst rugby union games are often won on the basis of the strength of the scrum or line-out, Rugby League is a far more attacking game

Because of this, teams with a fast counter attack are always going to be a danger. Look at the team's defence records: the teams with best backs will nullify this threat, and give their own forwards a platform to win them the match.

Research

As with all betting, there is no magic formula, but doing your research and using a consistent betting strategy always helps, especially in rugby league.

The faster, stronger teams tend to dominate, but each team has their star players. It could be their wingers, forwards, or immovable backs. The name of the game is to research the teams and individuals, learn about them, and then look to bet accordingly.

And most of all have fun!