Next up at AMT Headingley, Wests Warriors of the Southern Conference League take on Leeds Rhinos in the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup on Saturday 8th February, kick off 12pm.

Despite being on home soil for the fixture, the 14-time Challenge Cup winning Rhinos are the away team for this fixture in a David vs Goliath matchup against the Warriors, who were finalists in the SCL in 2024.

Here is your preview of the matchup:

Opposition

Founded in 2014, Wests Warriors have risen up the ranks to compete at the top end of the Southern Conference League (SCL) in the last four years, winning the conference in back to back years in 2021 and 2022.

The last two years has seen the side come up short in the league - they lost out in both Finals to Hammersmith Hills Hoists after finishing second in the league table on both occasions - but in the Challenge Cup, the club have been consistent at making it through the early rounds. With this year's Cup format pulling in the Super League teams a round earlier, Saturday's game will be a first for Wests as they take on a team from the top tier of the English game for the first time in their history.

Having made it through to round three in their first year in the Cup in 2017, the Warriors waited until 2023 to pull off another Cup run. That year saw them play Championship side Widnes Vikings in their only encounter with a club inside the top three tiers as they lost out 80-4 on the road. 

Last year saw the club reach the third round again after wins over Newsome Panthers and Rochdale Mayfield, but London rivals Hammersmith Hills Hoists proved their undoing as they lost out 22-12. Now back in the third round once again in 2025, they have defeated GB Police and The Army to set up a meeting with Brad Arthur's Rhinos.

Round Three History

Wests Warriors

2024 vs Hammersmith (Lost 22-12)

2023 vs Widnes (Lost 80-4)

2017 vs Haydock (Lost 26-12)

Leeds Rhinos

2021 vs St Helens (Lost 26-18)

1993 vs Castleford (Won 12-8)

1989 vs Widnes (Won 24-2)

1987 vs Widnes (Lost 14-7)

1986 vs Widnes (Won 5-0)

1986 vs Widnes (Drew 10-10)

1984 vs Bradford (Won 12-10)

Last Leeds cup clash vs amateur club

The last time Leeds faced an amateur club in the Challenge Cup was back in 1988 when they faced the Kells on the road in the preliminary rounds. 

Take a look back at the full match:

Ticket Information

Leeds Rhinos will host Wests Warriors from the Southern Conference League in the Third Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup at AMT Headingley Stadium on Saturday 8th February, kick off 12pm.  

Tickets for the game will go on sale at 10am on Thursday 30th January priced at £15 for adults, £10 for concessions (65 & over, 17-23 year olds & Disabled) and free for all juniors aged 16 and under (juniors do not require a ticket – access will be allowed at the turnstiles on match day), one price will cover standing or seating for this game. For this game, the North Stand seats and accessible area (unreserved excluding Directors Box seats) and AMT East Stand terrace will be open. The AMT East Stand seats, the entire South Stand and the Western Terrace will not be open. 

Tickets will be available online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk or over the phone on 0371 423 1315 (opening hours).