Wembley capacity set at 40-45,000: Cup finals tickets go on sale to Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers members

After last year's behind closed doors final, Wembley will welcome up to 45,000 fans for next month's1895 Cup and Challenge Cup showpieces. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Tickets are expected to go on sale to the competing clubs, including Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers, from tomorrow (Tuesday).

Rovers will take on York City Knights in the 1895 Cup showpiece, as a curtain-raiser to the Betfred Challenge Cup final between Tigers and St Helens on Saturday, July 17.

The RFL say the finals will be among a small number of events participating in the third phase of the events research programme, which is testing the large-scale return of fans to stadiums and other venues.

RFL chief commercial officer Mark Foster said: “We are still working through the full details and have further work to do in the next 24 hours with the events research programme, as well as Wembley Stadium and Brent Council, but the indications are that we will be working to a 50 per cent capacity, which is around 40-45,000.

“This is fantastic news for the sport as a whole, and especially for the tens of thousands of supporters of Castleford Tigers, St Helens, Featherstone Rovers and York City Knights who will now be able to attend Challenge Cup final day - one of the country’s traditional sporting highlights.”

Foster added: “We would like to place on record our thanks to all at DCMS [Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Public Health England, Wembley Stadium and Brent Council who have helped to get us to this stage.

“We fully expect that a form of covid certification will be required for all who attend on the day.

“This will consist of either having had both doses of the vaccine at least 14 days before the event, or proof of a negative lateral flow test, which can be taken at home or at a recognised centre free of charge, within 48 hours of the event.”

Sports Minister Nigel Huddlestone added: “Our phenomenal vaccine rollout and increasing uptake of the NHS App means the Challenge Cup final and the 1895 Cup final will now take place in front of tens of thousands of fans at Wembley Stadium, which is a very positive sign ahead of the Rugby League World Cup later this year.

"These highlights of the rugby league calendar will be an important part of the events research programme, helping to explore how we can safely return fans to sporting and cultural venues at ever greater numbers.”

Tickets are expected to go on sale to members and/or season ticket holders of competing clubs at 9am tomorrow.

They will be allowed to buy up to an additional five tickets for friends and family and any remaining tickets will go on general sale on Friday, June 25.

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