WIDNES Vikings will break new ground in their long and distinguished Challenge Cup history next month after being handed a trip to the Southern Conference League champions Wests Warriors in the Third Round draw.

The Warriors, who play their home matches at the old home of Wasps FC in west London, have earned their place in the Third Round with victories over Skirlaugh and London Chargers – and now have a dream tie against the seven-time Challenge Cup winners.

In a repeat of the tie from 2019, there is a meeting of two teams of Crusaders as the St Helens community club Thatto Heath take on North Wales of Betfred League One.

Thatto famously won that one at Close Street on their last big Challenge Cup run.

Two community clubs are guaranteed to reach the Fourth Round, with Leigh Miners Rangers hosting Rochdale Mayfield in an all-National Conference League fixture, and the Cup debutants Westgate Common from the Yorkshire Men’s League relishing a home draw against the NCL champions Hunslet ARLFC.

There are a number of other potential upsets, with Siddal hosting the 1998 Wembley winners Sheffield Eagles, Stanningley also having home advantage against Newcastle Thunder,

York Acorn will have the opportunity to play at one of the sport’s most famous venues having been drawn to face Bradford Bulls at Odsal, and West Bowling will make the reverse journey to take on York Knights at the LNER Community Stadium.

But the blockbuster tie of the draw, which was held at Featherstone’s Millennium Stadium to mark the 40th and 50th anniversaries of their 1973 and 1983 Cup wins, sees Rovers take on Halifax Panthers.

The ties will be played on the weekend of March 10-12, and the 16 winners will go forward to the draw for the Fourth Round which will be held at the Cumbrian community club Millom on Tuesday March 14 – helping Millom’s celebration of their 150th anniversary, which is thought to make them the world’s oldest amateur Rugby League club.

The Betfred Super League sides enter the Cup at the Sixth Round stage in May, with the Quarter Finals in June, the Semi Finals in July, and the 2023 Betfred Challenge Cup Final returning to Wembley Stadium on Saturday August 12 – and for the first time, being played as the second half of a double header also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final.

Tickets for Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day, which also included the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final and the Year 7 Boys Final in the inspiresport Champion Schools, are on sale now via the RFL website.

Fans can take advantage of an Early Bird offer of 25% OFF all tickets, with prices starting from only £15 Adults and £7.50 for Under 16s.

Betfred Challenge Cup 2023 Third Round draw.

(ties to be played on weekend of March 10-12).

Featherstone Rovers v Halifax Panthers.

Wests Warriors v Widnes Vikings.

Leigh Miners Rangers v Rochdale Mayfield.

Doncaster v Workington Town.

Westgate Common v Hunslet ARLFC.

Dewsbury Rams v Rochdale Hornets.

Siddal v Sheffield Eagles.

Orrell St James v Midlands Hurricanes.

Batley Bulldogs v Wath Brow Hornets.

Thatto Heath Crusaders v North Wales Crusaders.

Hunslet v Keighley Cougars.

York Knights v West Bowling.

Stanningley v Newcastle Thunder.

London Broncos v Whitehaven.

Bradford Bulls v York Acorn.

Barrow Raiders v Swinton Lions.