2023 Women's Challenge Cup final

The 2023 Women's Challenge Cup Final was the 11th final of the Rugby Football League's Women's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The 2023 final marked the first time the final of the Women's Challenge Cup had been played at Wembley. The final was a repeat of the 2022 final with defending champions St Helens taking on last season's runners-up Leeds Rhinos.^[3][4]

2023 (2023) Women's Challenge Cup Final
Leeds Rhinos St Helens 8 22
1 2 Total LEE 4 4 8 ST H 16 6 22
Date	12 August 2023, 12:00
Stadium	Wembley Stadium
Location	London, United Kingdom
Player of the Match	Jodie Cunningham (St Helens)
God Save The King and Abide with Me	Lizzie Jones[1]
Referee	James Vella
Attendance	8,338[2]
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	BBC Two
Commentators	Sharon Shortle Andrea Dobson Kyle Amor
Finals ← 2022 2024 →

The cup was won by St Helens, who won their third consecutive cup final, defeating Leeds Rhinos 22–8. St Helens captain, Jodie Cunningham was named player of the match.

For the first time in its history, both the women's and men's final took place at Wembley Stadium on the same day – 12 August 2023.^[5][6]

Background

St Helens are two times defending champions of the Challenge Cup having won in 2021 and 2022. They also won the tournament four times in a row between 2013 and 2016. Upon gaining their place in the final St Helens were second in Super League behind their semi-final opponents York Valkyrie.

Leeds Rhinos entered the final aiming to avenge their 2022 defeat to St Helens. They last won the competition in 2019 retaining it after their 2018 victory. Upon qualification Leeds were in third place in Super League, one place and one point behind St Helens.

Route to the final

St Helens

Round	Opposition	Venue	Score
Group Stage	London Broncos	The Rock	76–0
	Castleford Tigers	Wheldon Road	106–0
	Warrington Wolves	Totally Wicked Stadium	36–4
Quarter-final	Warrington Wolves	Totally Wicked Stadium	36–0
Semi-final	York Valkyrie	Halliwell Jones Stadium	17–16

Leeds Rhinos

Round	Opposition	Venue	Score
Group Stage	Bradford Bulls	Weetwood Sports Park	72–0
	Oulton Raidettes	Oulton forefitted game
	Huddersfield Giants	Laund Hill	54–0
Quarter-final	Leigh Leopards	Headingley	54–0
Semi-final	Wigan Warriors	Headingley	16–4

Source:^[3]

Match details

Leeds Rhinos	8–22	St Helens
Tries: Robinson (25') Beevers (43')	report	Tries: Jones (13') Hook (15') Partington (18') Hoyle (47') Goals: Taylor (3/5) 13', 15', 64' (penalty)

Saturday, 12 August 12:00 (BST)

Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 8,338 Referee: James Vella Touch judges: Ryan Cox, Denton Arnold Player of the Match: Jodie Cunningham

Team details

Leeds Rhinos		Position	St Helens
Name	Number		Number	Name
Ruby Enright	31	Fullback	6	Zoe Harris
Sophie Nuttall	5	Wing	28	Phoebe Hook
Hanna Butcher (c)	4	Centre	11	Paige Travis
Caitlin Beevers	3	Centre	2	Luci McColm
Sophie Robinson	2	Wing	3	Eboni Partington
Caitlin Casey	26	Stand off	21	Amy Taylor
Jenna Greening	24	Scrum half	7	Faye Gaskin
Dannielle Anderson  19'	10	Prop forward	10	Chantelle Crowl
Jasmine Cudjoe  34'  58'	15	Hooker	9	Tara Jones
Zoe Hornby  36'  58'	8	Prop forward	17	Philippa Birchall
Lucy Murray	28	Second row	8	Shona Hoyle
Amy Hardcastle	11	Second row	12	Emily Rudge
Bethan Dainton	12	Loose forward	13	Jodie Cunningham (c)
Elle Frain  36'  58'	19	Interchange	4	Naomi Williams
Eloise Hayward	21	Interchange	14	Vicky Whitfield
Tara Moxon  34'  58'	20	Interchange	15	Lucie Sams
Izzy Northrop  19'	18	Interchange	19	Katie Mottershead
Bethany Lockwood	16	Concussion substitute	1	Rebecca Rotheram
Lois Forsell		Coach		Matty Smith

Post match

Following both the women's and men's challenge cup final, Wembley will host the Year 7 boys schools' final and the final of the 2023 1895 Cup.^[7] The 1895 Cup Final saw Halifax Panthers beat Batley Bulldogs 12–10.^[8] The men's final saw Leigh Leopards beat Hull KR 17–16.^[9]