Revealed: The eight venues that were in line to host the Challenge Cup semi-finals.
Hull KR and Warrington Wolves will meet at the Eco-Power Stadium for the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.
Eight venues were considered to host the Challenge Cup semi-finals, with Doncaster and Warrington now set to stage the ties next month.
Title-holders Hull KR will meet again with last year’s finalists Warrington at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium on Sunday, May 10 at 4:00pm. York’s LNER Community Stadium and Wakefield’s DIY Kitchens Stadium were also proposed as potential venues to host a semi-final tie.
Meanwhile, Wigan Warriors will face St Helens at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday, May 9, 2:30pm, now confirmed by the Rugby Football League.
The home grounds of Leigh Leopards and Salford RLFC were also under consideration during the planning stages for the next round of the prestigious competition. However, officials are confident that Warrington’s stadium will attract a strong crowd, with a place at Wembley in the Challenge Cup Final at stake. Wigan’s The Brick Community Stadium and Saints’ BrewDog Stadium were also considered, dependent on outcomes.
Leeds’ Headingley Stadium is unavailable on the weekend of May 9-10 due to the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon. The Toughsheet Community Stadium, home of Bolton FC, is also said to have been considered in the early stages but is unavailable due to the League One play-off schedule.
Both men’s Challenge Cup semi-finals will form part of double-headers alongside fixtures in the women’s competition, which is currently still in the group stages.
Wembley Stadium will host both finals on Saturday, May 30.
The first Challenge Cup semi-final tie will be broadcast live on BBC 1, before Hull KR and Warrington are set to battle it out on BBC 2.
Tickets for the semi-finals go on sale to club members on Wednesday for a 48-hour priority window with any remaining tickets going on general sale on Friday.