Hull FC And Saints To Meet In The Carnegie Challenge Cup Final
This year’s Carnegie Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 30 August will be contested between current holders St Helens and Hull FC.
Current league leaders St Helens were the first team to qualify for this year’s final defeating the World Champions Leeds Rhinos 26-16.
On 30 August they will be looking for a hat-trick of wins having won the trophy in 2006 and last year when they beat French side Catalans Dragons in front of 84,000 fans.
The Saints side that lines up at Wembley on 30 August will boast a number of household names and internationals including Sean Long, Keiron Cunningham and current Man of Steel James Roby.
One new addition to last year’s cup final team is Australian Chris Flannery who signed for Saints last year but was too late to play in the final.
“I am very pleased we’ve made it after I missed out last year,” said the 28 year old. “It was great going down there last year and the atmosphere at Wembley was amazing.
“The Challenge Cup is probably the biggest game that Australians hear about. It’s the most prestigious rugby league competition in the world and I can’t wait to be there this time around.”
Should Saints be successful in making it three cup wins in a row then they’ll have to defeat the team that last beat them in this competition. Hull FC knocked Saints out in the semi-final stage in 2005 before going on to beat Leeds Rhinos in the final.
After a slow start to this year’s engage Super League, due to a number of injuries to key players, Hull FC will start the final as underdogs.
However, according to coach Richard Agar that should not be a problem. “We’ve had two fairly close games with St Helens this year, and again it’s a final. We have a wealth of experience in our team, though we need to play better.”
The Carnegie Challenge Cup is rugby league’s most historic and prestigious competition. The 111 year old knockout competition attracts viewers and supporters from around the globe and was first played at Wembley in 1931.
As well as 80 minutes of scintillating rugby, the final will also include two hours of family orientated pre-match entertainment featuring the Blues and Royals brass band, the Wimbledon Choral Society and a parade of legends from the famous 1968 Waterspalsh Final between Leeds and Wakefield.
For tickets please call the RFL Box Office on 0871 226 13 13 or visit www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk