Skip to content

Yorkshire Cup Statement

Championship and League 1 Clubs resurrect the Yorkshire Cup in 2019.

The competition commences in 2019 and will incorporate an 8-team competition played over three consecutive weekends in January. Each and every game will be full of the passion of a Yorkshire Derby as every side strives to win a most historic competition. It’s a battle for supremacy of the ‘trophy and will add extra spice to a traditional period of friendlies. Halifax will start the competition as favourites after their excellent 2018 season as they look to build to what may well be promotion to Super League in 2019. Featherstone, Batley and Dewsbury will be aiming for the silverware as they prepare for a hotly contested Betfred Championship 2019 season as will newcomers York City Knights and Bradford Bulls. Hunslet, who have recruited strongly for their challenge in Betfred League 1, will be out to cause cup upsets in what will be a hotly contested tournament. The introduction of the Hunslet Parkside team will provide neutrals with a team to follow and hopefully first sight of future superstars.

Kev Nicholas, Chairman of Batley Bulldogs and past president of the RFL commented,

‘As part of a show of solidarity and to encourage supporters of all clubs to attend as many games as possible, the Clubs have agreed to share equally all gate receipts from every game over the 3 week period. In addition, we are expecting that the games in week 3 will all be played on a different day to the Yorkshire Cup Final to encourage everybody to attend the Final whether their team is in it or not, in the full knowledge that their support at that game will benefit their club financially as well as hopefully witnessing everything that a Yorkshire Cup Final will bring as a rugby league spectacle.

We are all proud Yorkshire people and this enables us to show our love of our sport and our county for all to see and become part of history as the Yorkshire Cup comes alive again’.

The Competition will have a new Trophy kindly donated by Berry’s Jewellers and will be a straight knockout with winners progressing through to the final of the Yorkshire Cup whilst those that lost their first fixture will play two further games in the schedule (all Clubs will play 3 games). The Competition will start with two double headers the weekend of the 5th and 6th of January 2019 as follows:

Andrew Chalmers, Owner of Bradford Bulls commented:

“We are delighted to reignite the Yorkshire Cup a Competition which resonates loudly within the Rugby League Community in the County. We ourselves last played in the Cup in the 1989/90 season against Featherstone.  Now wouldn’t that be a great throwback final!”

Hunslet Parkside Secretary Frankie Brown commented:

“We are overwhelmed in being able to participate in a Competition with professional clubs and we will not let either the competition or our Club down, we will throw our heart and soul into winning”.

Round 1 Double Header

  • Saturday the 5th of January 2019
  • Location: Tetley Stadium, Dewsbury
  • Game 1 – 1pm Kick Off – York City Knights vs Hunslet Parkside
  • Game 2 – 3:30pm Kick Off – Dewsbury Rams vs Featherstone

Round 1 Double Header

  • Sunday the 6th of January 2019
  • Location: Odsal Stadium, Bradford
  • Game 3 – 1pm Kick Off – Batley Bulldogs vs Hunslet RLFC
  • Game 4 – 3pm Kick Off – Bradford Bulls vs Halifax RLFC

Semi Finals line up will be drawn immediately following the Bradford v Halifax game at Odsal and will be played SF1 12th January & SF2 13th January 2019, details to be announced after draw.

The Yorkshire Cup Final will be played on Sunday 20th January 2019.

We wish to put on record our thanks to K2 Mechanical & Electrical Services Limited who are the 2019 Competition Sponsors and Berry’s Jewellers of Leeds who have kindly donated the Trophy.

Lee Kerr, Managing Director of K2 commented:

“We are delighted to be involved in the Yorkshire Cup, Rugby League runs throughout our values and with our partnership with Batley Bulldogs and our local community is a critical success factor for the Company”.

Simon Oxby, Operations Manager at Berry’s Jewellers and Operations and Retail Director at Halifax RLFC says of the Yorkshire Cup commented:

“Berry’s Jewellers are very pleased to be involved with the launch of the inaugural Yorkshire Cup, by way of supplying the new Trophy. The Competition is a great idea and with Berry’s Jewellers having six of their stores based in Yorkshire, their connection is very close. The Directors of Berry’s wish all of the eight Yorkshire Clubs competing all the very best and may the best team win”.

MATCH DAY TICKETING (including Round 1 Double Headers)

Ticket prices across the entire competition are as follows at all venues:

Terrace/Standing – £15

Concessions – £10

Children Under 16 – Free

Pre-Purchase discounts of £2.

YORKSHIRE CUP – ALL CLASHES PASS (entry to ALL 12 games across the three weekends)

Unallocated Terrace/Standing – £39

Concessions – £24

Children U16 Free

Tickets may be purchased from Club Shops or visit club Websites for how to book your tickets and hospitality online.

The following will make up the inaugural competition:

  • Batley Bulldogs RLFC
  • Bradford Bulls RLFC
  • Dewsbury Rams RLFC
  • Featherstone Rovers RLFC
  • Halifax RLFC
  • Hunslet RLFC
  • York City Knights RLFC
  • Hunslet Parkside