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The Challenge Cup final could move away from Wembley after a club-led strategic review recommended the Rugby Football League “consider a new venue for the final”.
Attendances at Wembley have not topped 65,000 since 2017, prompting the recommendation to explore a change from the London venue where the tournament final has been held for all but one year since 1929. The suggestion was one item in a 144-point list produced by the club-led strategic group; their findings will be reviewed by stakeholders in the coming weeks.
Other proposals targeted earlier stages of the competition, including staging the round of 16 at a neutral venue as a Magic Weekend-style event to “put the magic back into the competition”. The group also proposed a ‘Community Shield’ style fixture between the winners of the Super League Grand Final and the Challenge Cup.
On league structure, the review recommended Super League remain a 14-team competition for now, with plans to expand to 16 teams in the future only when financial and sustained player growth factors allow. An eight-team play-off series was also recommended.
“This should only happen when the sport can financially and operationally sustain such growth – including player supply – and where it will not negatively affect the current financial distribution to clubs,” the review said.
Watch every match of the 2026 Betfred Super League season, including Magic Weekend, the play-offs and Grand Final, live on Sky Sports. Also stream with NOW.