Challenge Cup draw gives Doncaster chance to measure themselves against Leeds

Doncaster Dons' head coach Gary Thornton (Picture: Andrew Roe).

The Kingstone Press League One club will visit Headingley in the fifth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.

Thornton, former coach of Batley Bulldogs and a Rhinos fan, said: “We are delighted. It is fantastic, a great draw for the whole club. The players are really excited, as are we coaches.”

Doncaster have won their opening two matches in League One and beat a mainly Under-19 Leeds side 35-34 in a pre-season game at the end of January.

Their squad includes former Rhinos forward Jamie Thackray and chief executive Carl Hall is also an ex-Leeds player.

“There’s a huge gulf between Super League and League One, but we are hoping to do well in our division this year so it’ll be a great measure,” Thornton added.

“For individuals to pit their own skill levels against Super League players is a fantastic opportunity and we will relish it.”

Salford coach Ian Watson says his team could have not have been handed a tougher draw after being paired with newcomers Toronto Wolfpack.

The Canadian team, who have ambitions to reach Super League within five years, will get a chance to test themselves against top-flight opposition after being handed a trip to the AJ Bell Stadium to take on Watson’s Red Devils in the fifth round on the weekend of April 22-23.

Watson said. “I don’t think we could have had a tougher draw even with teams like Leeds and Huddersfield coming in.

“We had a training session against each other in pre-season, which was a real good hit-out, so we’ll be well aware of little bits of how they like to play.”

Wolfpack began their Cup campaign with a narrow win over Halifax amateurs Siddal in the third round before knocking out Championship club London Broncos in Ealing last Friday.

Toronto director of rugby Brian Noble, a former coach of Salford who won the Challenge Cup with Bradford, said: “It’s a fabulous tie; we’ll look forward to that. We’re clearly the underdogs, but we want to put a marker down.”

Fifth round ties are scheduled to be played on the weekend beginning Friday, April 21.

Fifth round draw: Leigh Centurions v Hull KR, Featherstone Rovers v Oldham, Leeds Rhinos v Doncaster, Salford Red Devils v Toronto Wolfpack, Whitehaven/Oxford v Halifax, Dewsbury Rams v Batley Bulldogs, Huddersfield Giants v Swinton Lions, York City Knights v Barrow Raiders.