Betfred Challenge Cup and Championship opening fixtures confirmed in streaming bonanza

ALL the Betfred Challenge Cup first round ties and the opening weekend of the Betfred Championship will be streamed live next month as the RFL, sponsors and broadcasters seeks to do its utmost to deliver action to as many fans as possible following such a long lay-off.
The Betfred Challenge Cups. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)The Betfred Challenge Cups. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)
The Betfred Challenge Cups. (ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX)

Clubs outside of Super League have been sidelined since last March and the new campaign is also expected to start behind closed doors.

However, all supporters will get the chance to watch their sides in action after the competitions organised some bumper coverage to kick-off the 2021 campaign.

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All eight Challenge Cup first round ties will be streamed across three platforms.

Coverage starts with Sheffield Eagles v York City Knights which has been chosen for live online coverage by tournament sponsors Betfred to open the rugby league season on Friday March 19 with further details to follow next week.

Super Saturday (March 20) sees four back-to-back ties shown on Our League beginning at 12.45pm with Oldham versus Barrow Raiders, followed by London Broncos v Keighley Cougars (3pm), Whitehaven v Dewsbury Rams (5pm) and finally Halifax’s first game as the Panthers, against Batley Bulldogs at The Shay (730pm).

Another three are showcased on Sunday when the focus switches to West Wales, with the BBC covering as former Wales rugby union star Gavin Henson and ex-Man of Steel Rangi Chase hope to make their debuts for the Raiders against Widnes Vikings at Stebonheath Park (12.45pm).

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That will be followed by arguably the biggest tie of the round- Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls tie which is also streamed by the BBC - with the weekend completed by Newcastle Thunder’s trip to Heywood Road to face Swinton Lions (5.15pm) on Our League.

A fortnight later, the start of the Championship season will be similarly comprehensive with all seven fixtures available to watch through Our League, on both web and app - and now with the option to cast to TV to enjoy all the action on the big screen.

Oldham and Swinton renew their traditional Easter rivalry on Good Friday (5.15pm) followed by a West Yorkshire derby between Featherstone and Batley (7.30pm).

There are two more games on Easter Saturday, as York play their first game at the new LNER Stadium against Toulouse Olympique (5.15pm) before Dewsbury face Whitehaven for the second time in a fortnight, this time at the Tetley’s Stadium (7.30pm).

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There will be another triple-header on Easter Sunday, as Our League streams three consecutive Championship fixtures from 12.45pm to 7pm: Sheffield versus Bradford, Halifax v London and Newcastle’s return to the competition against Widnes.

With early-season fixtures expected to be played behind closed doors, all Our League matches will be free to season ticket holders of the home club, with special Early Bird offers for all other supporters meaning fans can watch games for £4.95 with Day and Weekend Passes also available.

Betfred Challenge Cup, First Round:

Friday March 19 – Sheffield Eagles v York City Knights (7:45pm live from Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster – coverage TBC).

Saturday March 20 – Oldham v Barrow Raiders (1245pm), London Broncos v Keighley Cougars (3pm), Whitehaven v Dewsbury Rams (515pm), Halifax Panthers v Batley Bulldogs (730pm) – all matches live on Our League, free to home season ticket holders, otherwise Pay Per View (see link and details below).

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Sunday March 21 – West Wales Raiders v Widnes Vikings (1245pm), Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls (3pm) – both streamed live on BBC. Swinton Lions v Newcastle Thunder (515pm, live on Our League, free to home season ticket holders, otherwise Pay Per View – see link and details below .

Betfred Championship, Round One:

Good Friday, April 2 - Oldham v Swinton Lions (515pm), Featherstone Rovers v Batley Bulldogs (730pm).

Easter Saturday, April 3: York City Knights v Toulouse Olympique (515pm), Dewsbury Rams v Whitehaven (730pm).

Easter Sunday, April 4: Sheffield Eagles v Bradford Bulls (1245pm, Keepmoat Stadium), Halifax Panthers v London Broncos (3pm), Newcastle Thunder v Widnes Vikings (515pm)

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All 7 matches live on Our League, free to home season ticket holders, otherwise Pay Per View – see link and details below.

Our League 2021

Matches played behind closed doors in both the First Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup and Round One of the Betfred Championship will be available to watch either through Betfred or the BBC, or through the RFL’s Our League Web & App.

Our League fixtures will be free to season ticket holders of the home club.

Season Ticket Holders will receive their access codes ahead of the first fixture directly from their club.

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Other Rugby League fans – including supporters of the away club – will be able to secure the live coverage for an Early Bird price of £4.95, which increases to £10 on the day of the match.

A Day Pass will cost £15 and secure live coverage of all fixtures on a given day (for example four Betfred Challenge Cup ties on Saturday March 20).

A Weekend Pass will cost £20 and secure live coverage of all the matches being shown on Our League in a full round (for example five of the eight Betfred Challenge Cup ties on March 20-21, and all seven matches in Round One of the Betfred Championship from April 2-4).

For full details and to buy your tickets, click here : https://www.rugby-league.com/livestream