Rugby League’s Carnegie Challenge Cup nears its climax.

Rugby League is heading back to Wembley for the Carnegie Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 30 August, but before that the semi finals must take place in late July.

On Saturday 26 July, in the glamour tie of the round, the two top teams in Super League will go head to head for a spot in the Wembley final.

Should current holders St Helens make it three successive cup victories then they must beat the current engage Super League champions and Carnegie World Club Champions Leeds Rhinos.

Saints will be gunning for revenge after they were beaten in last year’s engage Super League Grand Final by the Rhinos.

In the second semi-final that will be played on Sunday 27 July it will be master against his apprentice when Wakefield coach John Kear comes up against newly appointed Hull FC boss Richard Agar.

In 2005 Agar was Kear’s assistant at Hull FC, when the Black and Whites beat Leeds 25-24 to win the Challenge Cup.

Eight months later Kear was sacked by Hull FC, so the Wildcats boss will be determined to get one over on his old employers and secure a place in the final.

The ties
Saturday 26 July – Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
Leeds Rhinos V St Helens Live on BBC One Kick off 12.30pm

Sunday 27 July – Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Wakefield Wildcats V Hull FC Live on BBC Two Kick off 3.30pm

To reserve your tickets for either of the semi-finals or the Wembley final please call 0871 226 13 13 or visit www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk

Form Guide

Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos are currently the best team in the world. They followed up October’s engage Super League Grand Final success at Old Trafford by beating Australian champions Melbourne Storm to claim the prestigious Carnegie World Club Challenge this February.

The Yorkshire side have only won the cup once in the last 29 years and will be keen to add to their silverware with the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Their side boasts many international players, including a number who are expected to represent England in this October’s Rugby League World Cup in Australia. Prop forward Jamie Peacock is likely to captain England as they go in hunt of World Cup glory.

Star players: Jamie Peacock, Rob Burrow, Brent Webb
Coach: Brian McClennan

Rhinos’ route to the semis
4th Round Leeds Rhinos 38 Celtic Crusaders 16
5th Round Harlequins RL 26 Leeds Rhinos 36
Quarter Final Leeds Rhinos 23 Wigan Warriors 16

Wakefield Wildcats
Having beaten Barrow Raiders in the fifth round, Rugby League historians would suggest that Wakefield are a good bet for a final appearance. On the last two occasions they have beaten the Cumbrians in the competition they have gone on to reach Wembley, albeit in the finals of 1968 and 1979.

They are coached by John Kear who, should Wakefield lift the trophy, will become the first man to steer three different sides to cup success. In 1998 Kear caused one of the biggest upsets ever at Wembley when his unfancied Sheffield Eagles side defeated ‘cup kings’ Wigan 17-8. In 2005 Kear won the trophy again as Hull FC coach beating Leeds 25-24 at the Millennium Stadium.

Star players: Danny Brough, Ryan Atkins, Brad Drew
Coach: John Kear

Wildcats’ route to the semis
4th round Salford City Reds 8 Wakefield Wildcats 38
5th round Barrow Raiders 6 Wakefield Wildcats 58
QF Wakefield Wildcats 46 Oldham 4

St Helens
The Saints have arguably been the best team in English Rugby League over the last decade. This year they are aiming for their third consecutive Carnegie Challenge Cup Final victory having lifted the trophy in 2006 and last year when they beat the French side Catalans Dragons in the first rugby match back at the new Wembley.

St Helens boast a number of players who will be a fundamental part of this year’s England side that will be heading Down Under to the Rugby League World Cup. These include Man of Steel James Roby, full-back Paul Wellens and stand-off Leon Pryce. Wellens and Pryce were both voted the Lance Todd Trophy winner in last year’s final, an award presented to the man of the match.

Star players: James Roby, Paul Wellens, Sean Long
Coach: Daniel Anderson

St Helens’ route to the semis
4th round St Helens 56 London Skolars 0
5th round St Helens 40 Warrington Wolves 34
QF Hull KR 18 St Helens 23

Hull FC
Despite struggling in the engage Super League and sacking their coach in May, Hull FC have progressed to the semi-finals with relative ease.

In the quarter finals, under new coach Richard Agar, the Airlie Birds beat Bradford Bulls despite at one stage having only 11 men on the field rather than the full compliment of 13.

Should Hull FC make the final then it’s likely to be a classic having played in two of the most talked about finals in the last 25 years.

In 1985 Hull, who had Aussie legend Peter Sterling in their side, lost out 28-24 to Wigan in one of the best finals ever to grace the old Wembley.

Ten years later Hull FC were on the right end of a final score line beating Leeds Rhinos 25-24 in a thrilling encounter at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Star players: Shaun Berrigan, Adam Dykes, Gareth Raynor
Coach: Richard Agar

Hull’s route to the semis
4th round Rochdale 5 Hull FC 22
5th round Widnes 18 Hull FC 32
QF Bradford Bulls 16 Hull FC 22