Dewsbury Moor Maroons have a chance of glory after being invited to take part in the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup.

The Maroons were included in the initial draw for the competition and will travel to Stanningley in the first round with the tie set to take place over the weekend of January 10 and 11.

A big incentive for the winners will be a second round match at home to Championship club Hunslet over the weekend of January 24-25.

Mirfield Spartans have also been included in the competition and will travel to play Woodhouse Warriors in the first round, with a home tie against Goole Vikings for the winners.

Dewsbury Moor Maroons played Dewsbury Rams in a Challenge Cup tie in 2025. Picture: Steve Biltcliffe

placeholder image — Dewsbury Moor Maroons played Dewsbury Rams in a Challenge Cup tie in 2025. Picture: Steve Biltcliffe

Batley Bulldogs and Dewsbury Rams enter the competition in the second round with the Bulldogs at home to either Hunslet ARLFC or York Acorn and the Rams hosting the winners of the Kings Cross Park v West Hull first round game.

The initial draw included 34 clubs and teams from the community game for the first round, with the 21 clubs due to play in next season’s expanded Betfred Championship then joining for the second round.

The format of the remainder of the 2026 Challenge Cup will be the same as in 2025, following the positive impact of a new-look third round in which the Super League clubs will again be seeded, and therefore guaranteed an away tie against the community and Championship clubs who win the 19 second round ties.

Challenge Cup Round One draw: Orrell St James v Haresfinch; Wigan St Judes v Leigh Miners Rangers; Rochdale Mayfield v Ince Rose Bridge; Blackbrook v GB Police; Thatto Heath Crusaders v Seaton Rangers; Siddal v Waterhead; Stanningley v Dewsbury Moor; Kings Cross Park v West Hull; Hunslet ARLFC v York Acorn; Heworth v RAF; Brighouse Rangers v Lock Lane; Woodhouse Warriors v Mirfield Spartans; Bedford Tigers v Medway Dragons; British Army v Wests Warriors; Banbridge Broncos (Northern Ireland) v Aberavon Fighting Irish; Telford Raiders v London Chargers; Royal Navy v Hammersmith Hills Hoists.

Round Two draw: Oldham v Orrell St James/Haresfinch; Wigan St Jude/Leigh Miners Rangers v Barrow Raiders; Rochdale Mayfield/Ince Rose Bridge v Swinton Lions; Blackbrook/GB Police v Workington Town; Thatto Heath Crusaders/Seaton Rangers v Widnes Vikings; Siddal/Waterhead v Rochdale Hornets; Stanningley/Dewsbury Moor v Hunslet; Dewsbury Rams v Kings Cross Park/West Hull; Batley Bulldogs v Hunslet ARLFC/York Acorn; Heworth/RAF v Keighley Cougars; Brighouse Rangers/Lock Lane v Featherstone Rovers; Woodhouse Warriors/Mirfield Spartans v Goole Vikings; North Wales Crusaders v Bedford Tigers/Medway Dragons; London Broncos v British Army/Wests Warriors; Midlands Hurricanes v Banbridge Broncos/Aberavon Fighting Irish; Halifax Panthers v Telford Raiders/London Chargers; Royal Navy/Hammersmith Hills Hoist v Salford Red Devils; Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven; Doncaster v Newcastle Thunder.