There's two days to go until either St Helens or Leeds Rhinos book their place in the quarter finals of the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup as two the most recognisable clubs in world rugby go head to head at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday, kick off 8pm.

Having been a part of the club's recent Cup success, Saints head coach Paul Wellens hopes to convert his Wembley wins as a player into a potential Wembley outing in 2025. Brad Arthur and Leeds stand in their way though as they look to progress into the final eight for the first time since the 2020 Covid season.

Here's more on the Saints:

Saints and the Challenge Cup...

St Helens hope that 2025 will be the year they reclaim the Betfred Challenge Cup, having not reached the Wembley Final since they last lifted the trophy four years ago.

Winding the clock back to the first-ever Challenge Cup Final, St Helens joined Batley in being the first club to compete for the historic Cup in 1897, which was played at Headingley. Despite losing the match 10-3, they have since gone on to acquire the Cup on 13 occasions (the third most in the history of the competition behind Leeds and Wigan), starting in 1956 with a 13-2 win over Halifax at the Old Wembley.

The 1960s brought home two more titles (both against Wigan) in 1960-61 and 1964-65, when the club secured a Cup and League double as they won the Championship that year too. Moving into the 70s, the club met Leeds for the first time in the Cup Final in 1971 and took away a 16-13 result, before Syd Hynes’ Leeds side avenged that defeat in 1978, the only other Cup Final meeting between the teams. 

Wigan's dominance in the competition through the late 1980s and 1990s saw six different clubs swept aside over an eight year spell, including both Leeds and St Helens on two occasions, but Shaun McRae restored balance in 1996 and 1997 when he led Saints to two consecutive Cup titles against Bradford as the sport transitioned into the summer era.

2001 was a landmark year for the club as they added that year's Challenge Cup to their 2000 Grand Final and League Leaders' Shield titles under Ian Millward, plus they bounced back from defeat against Wigan in the 2002 Final by beating the Warriors to the 2004 title, thanks to tries from Willie Talau, Lee Gilmour, Paul Sculthorpe and Paul Wellens. 

It was the start of a period of Cup success in the 2000s, notably as the club lifted three consecutive Cups between 2006 and 2008 as head coach Daniel Anderson completed a feat that has only been achieved twice in competition history. For all the success over those years, it was also the start of a 13-year wait for the Cup to return to the Totally Wicked Stadium, which ended with a 26-12 result against Castleford in 2021.

Round Three Review

Saints got their cup campaign underway with victory over West Hull in round three of this year's competition at Sewell Group Craven Park.

Take a look at the highlights:

Standout Stats!

32

Between his debut in 1999 and his retirement in 2014, Saints full back Paul Wellens was one of the best players during that era to find the try line in the Cup competition. He touched down 32 times in 54 Cup games during his career, including ones in the 2004 and 2007 Final wins over Wigan and Hull FC.

2

Saints are one of only two teams to hold the Challenge Cup three times in a row or more in the competition's history. The club's three wins in a row in 2006, 2007 and 2008 is only matched by Wigan, who won the Cup seven times in a row between 1990 and 1995.

13

A total of 13 St Helens players have won the Lance Todd Man of the Match Trophy in Cup Final history. Sean Long has the most in a Saints shirt with three (2001, 2004 and 2006), whilst Paul Wellens shared his first man of the match award with Leon Pryce in 2007 before winning the honour outright in 2008.

Record vs Leeds

Total Cup wins (All time) - 11 wins

Total League wins at the Totally Wicked Stadium - 2 wins

Saints' Highest Cup Score vs Leeds - Saints 42 Leeds 16 (2002 Semi Final)

Leeds' Highest Cup Score vs Saints - Leeds 33 Saints 26 (2003 Semi Final)

Top Cup Try Scorer vs Leeds - Paul Sculthorpe (5 tries)

Top Cup Points Scorer vs Leeds - Sean Long (62 points)

Tickets and more information

Tickets and travel for the away Betfred Challenge Cup Round 4 game against St Helens on Friday 14th March at the Totally Wicked Stadium are now on sale.

Rhinos 2025 Season, Flexi and Supporter Members can claim the Member's ticket discount on their own ticket until midnight on Thursday 13. Junior Members can claim a free junior member’s ticket up until midnight on Thursday 13.  

For ticket and travel prices and more information, go to https://www.therhinos.co.uk/ar...