FIXTURE NEWS: 2025 Challenge Trophy group stage draw

The fixtures for the RFL's Challenge Trophy group stage have been set, with Wrexham set to face off against fellow Championship sides, Salford Red Devils, Castleford Tigers, York City Knights along with Super League Reserve sides, Halifax Panthers and Wigan Warriors, rounding out the group are fellow Welsh side, Torfaen Tigers and development side, Colostomy UK (Team Colostomy).

This years Challenge trophy will take place at York University on Saturday 12th April and will see the Crusaders take on all other teams in their group in condensed games before potentially progressing to the finals. Once again, the tournament is held all in one day with the potential of playing 9 fixtures over the course of seven hours.

This will mark multiple firsts for the Crusaders as they take on Castleford Tigers for the first ever time along with facing off against Wigan Warriors Reserves for the first time since the pulsating 2023 Grand Final which saw the Crusaders come from 24 points down at half-time to lift the Championship trophy. This will also be the first RFL meeting between the Crusaders and Torfaen since the 2023 Peacock Cup.

This years competition is the first time in which Super League Reserve squads have been entered along with a number of Development clubs/ teams. All clubs from both Championship leagues have been entered, except for Warrington Wolves who were entered into the Challenge Cup due to their potential promotion at the end of the season.

Full list of Crusaders' fixtures can be found here