Championship big guns Featherstone and Bradford Bulls face-off in Challenge Cup

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS against Bradford Bulls is the pick of the Betfred Challenge Cup first round draw as two clubs who missed out on their bid for Super League in 2021 lock horns in the famous knockout competition.
Winner: Wily Challenge Cup campaigner, Bradford Bulls coach  John Kear, begins another crack at the famous trophy away at Featherstone Rovers.Winner: Wily Challenge Cup campaigner, Bradford Bulls coach  John Kear, begins another crack at the famous trophy away at Featherstone Rovers.
Winner: Wily Challenge Cup campaigner, Bradford Bulls coach John Kear, begins another crack at the famous trophy away at Featherstone Rovers.

Although unable to persuade Super League and the RFL they were worthy of replacing Toronto Wolfpack in the top flight in 2021 - Championship rivals Leigh Centurions were promoted instead - both have considerable pedigree given how they have strengthened this term.

Bradford, especially, will be keen to progress when they start at Post Office Road on the weekend of March 21 given they know they could also face derby rivals Halifax in the next round.

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However, plenty of eyes will be on West Wales Raiders, too, after they were pitted against Widnes Vikings.

One of three teams from League 1 who joined 13 from the Championship in the first round draw, they have grabbed the headlines with big-name recruits - former Wales rugby union fly-half Gavin Henson and ex-Castleford Tigers and England stand-off Rangi Chase.

Raiders hope they will debut against Widnes next month.

The draws for both the first and second rounds were held consecutively last night because they will be played on consecutive weekends in March marking the first rugby league action of 2021 - and a return after more than a year of enforced inactivity for all 16 clubs involved.

First Round (ties to be played weekend of March 21): London Broncos v Keighley Cougars, Whitehaven v Dewsbury Rams, Oldham v Barrow Raiders, West Wales Raiders v Widnes Vikings, Swinton Lions v Newcastle Thunder, Halifax Panthers v Batley Bulldogs, Sheffield Eagles v York City Knights, Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls.

Plum draw: Former Castleford and England half-back Rangi Chase has signed for League 1 West Wales Raiders who face former Cup winners Widnes Vikings.Plum draw: Former Castleford and England half-back Rangi Chase has signed for League 1 West Wales Raiders who face former Cup winners Widnes Vikings.
Plum draw: Former Castleford and England half-back Rangi Chase has signed for League 1 West Wales Raiders who face former Cup winners Widnes Vikings.
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Second Round (ties to be played weekend of March 28): Swinton Lions or Newcastle Thunder v Oldham or Barrow Raiders, Featherstone Rovers or Bradford Bulls v Halifax Panthers or Batley Bulldogs, London Broncos or Keighley Cougars v Sheffield Eagles or York City Knights, West Wales Raiders or Widnes Vikings v Whitehaven or Dewsbury Rams.*

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