What do you think?

The cup is already suffering from its mid season, disjointed schedule, and now has the novel Super 8s to compete with.

This season it has captured my imagination more than previous from the round we entered into it up until now. Then again, it has been a long time in between drinks. Maybe non Leeds or Rovers fans should answer to give a more unbiased answer?

Hang on. You mean because Wigan were out of the cup quite a long time ago and with the introduction on the Super 8s that you have lost interest? Who would have thought!

Ask any Rhinos or HKR fan what they think to the cup. Leeds are set to take 30K to Wembley, the super 8s is just adding to the cup fever.

I do agree that the cup should be brought forward a little more - Maybe not as early as May. The current cup schedule is rewarding the more consistent E.g Saints. Around May they might have won the cup...fast forward three months and they are dire like Wire.

Leeds end at Wembley is sold out.

I think the cup should move back to a final on the end of May bank holiday

With Magic weekend, trips to the South of France, internationals, Grand final, WCC...the CC is no longer the only day out, so it isn't unexpected.

It was at the end of May as a season ending show piece event which, since the advent of summer rugby, we now have the Grand Final to round the season off.

If you have the Challenge Cup final at the end of May, when would you have the different rounds and why should it be more exciting/ popular because of a May final.
The rugby season is still in it's early stages and you would risk the comp being less popular.
Also we now have the Magic Weekend to work around ??

i think the OP has it wrong, its the super 8s that have seen the crowds dwindling, apart from leeds home games, all games attendences have been 'not great'

as for the CC, attendence figures have been low for a few seasons now

There are plenty of issues with 'the eights', but I don't think you can put it down to the cup - or visa versa. Let's be honest, people have been talking about the "demise of the cup" well before the Super Eights were even discussed.

As for crowds in the 8s, I personally think that a lot of it is down to sheer number of games. Friday was the fourth time Leeds had played Wigan, and it's highly likely there will be a fifth meeting. That's just too much.

It should be obvious that my question was meant in the general sense, it goes without saying that for the teams in the final it will seem as "magical" as ever. And I wasn't at any point suggesting that the magic has actually gone, just that it might be dwindling and perhaps be in the shadow of the Super 8s.


Oh I see, you don't disagree, you just wanted a cheap pop at a Wigan fan

Challenge Cup success is a novelty for Leeds though

I agree that the number of repeat games doesn't help, but it does seem odd that at some clubs even some season ticket holders haven't shown up. I know it's holiday time, but it just seems odd that they'd go to a game against a bottom 4 side but not a top 8 rival. Maybe it just needs more time for fans to get used to the format.

As for the cup final, I think a move to July at the end of the regular season could work, as without football and RU on it would get a lot more media exposure. It'd also offer all the non-finalists a week off, so the players would be fresher for the Super8's.

LOL don't get your knickers in a twist over a bit of banter.

Nobody mentioned our success but you, who is apparently not bothered by it.