THATTO Heath Crusaders and Pilkington Recs will be in the hat when the 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup first and second round draws are made at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday December 14.

Crusaders, the 2021 National Conference League Champions, are among teams returning to the cup from the community game next January after their Covid-enforced absence from the 2021 competition.

They will be looking to replicate their run to the Fifth Round of 2019 when they defeated North Wales Crusaders before going down to Dewsbury.

The amateur clubs are joined by the semi-professionals of Betfred League 1 in the Second Round two weeks later.

The double draw will be streamed live on BBC Red Button as well as the RFL’s Our League web and app, with coverage from 5:30pm.

The 28 teams in the First Round draw include London’s two leading community teams – the 2021 Southern Conference League champions Wests Warriors and London Chargers, the team they beat in the Grand Final.

Bridgend Blue Bulls, Edinburgh Eagles and Galway Tribesmen will represent Wales, Scotland and Ireland respectively, with Jarrow Vikings from the North East of England, and the usual strong Armed Forces representation from Army, Navy and RAF, in addition to the Great Britain Police.

The following teams will enter the First Round draw, with ties to be played on the weekend of January 15-16: Army, Bentley, Bridgend Blue Bulls, Edinburgh Eagles, Ellenborough Rangers, Featherstone Lions, Galway Tribesmen, Great Britain Police, Hunslet Club Parkside, Jarrow Vikings, Leigh Miners Rangers, Lock Lane, London Chargers, Milford, Navy, Orrell St James, Pilkington Recs, RAF, Rochdale Mayfield, Siddal, Stanningley, Thatto Heath Crusaders, Thornhill Trojans, Upton, West Hull, Wests Warriors, Wigan St Patricks, York Acorn.

he Second Round draw will include four former winners of the Challenge Cup – Hunslet, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets and Swinton Lions – as well as one of the new names in Betfred League 1 next year, the Midlands Hurricanes.

They will be joined by Doncaster, Keighley Cougars, North Wales Crusaders, West Wales Raiders and perhaps most fittingly, given the location of the draw and the 2022 Final, London Skolars – who play nearby at the New River Stadium on White Hart Lane.

Cornwall, the other new team in Betfred League 1 in 2022, will not enter the Challenge Cup in their debut season.

The 14 First Round ties will be played on the weekend of January 15-16, and the 12 Second Round ties on the weekend of January 29-30, with the Third Round on the weekend of February 12-13 producing six winners to join the 14 Betfred Championship clubs in the Fourth Round on the weekend of February 26-27.

The Fifth Round will be held on the weekend of March 12-13, producing five winners to join 11 Betfred Super League teams - including holders Saints - in the Sixth Round on the weekend of March 26-27.

Toulouse Olympique will not enter the Betfred Challenge Cup in 2022.

Those five clubs will also qualify for the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup – with a play-off on the Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter Final weekend of April 9-10, and the Semi Finals of the Challenge Cup and 1895 Cup to be played on the weekend of May 7-8.

First Round (14 ties) – January 15-16.
Second Round (12 ties) – January 29-30 – Betfred League 1 clubs enter.
Third Round (6 ties) – February 12-13.
Fourth Round (10 ties) – February 26-27 – Betfred Championship clubs enter.
Fifth Round (5 ties) – March 12-13.
Sixth Round (8 ties) – March 26-27 – Betfred Super League clubs enter.
Quarter Finals – April 9-10.
Semi Finals – May 7-8.
Betfred Challenge Cup Final 2022 – Saturday May 28 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tickets for Challenge Cup Final Day on Saturday May 28 – which also includes the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final – are on sale now with a special Early Bird offer of £5 OFF all tickets, with prices starting from only £25 Adults and £10 Under 16s at eticketing.co.uk/rugbyleague.