Saints take on current cup holders Leeds Rhinos in the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup at The Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday 10th April (2:30pm) live on BBC ONE and you can read all of the pre match news in our match preview story!
BACKGROUND…
It’s the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup and the tie of the round is undoubtedly Saints vs Leeds – who are the current cup holders.
Saints have kicked off 2021 in strong fashion with 2 wins and only 1 try conceded. Leeds on the other hand have won 1 from 2, suffering a defeat to Castleford Tigers last weekend and arrive into this one with a number of first teamers missing.
Kristian Woolf’s men will welcome back Lachlan Coote back to the side after missing the first two rounds as well as the likes of Agnatius Paasi and Mark Percival who have both been named in the 21 man squad.
Don’t miss the game live on BBC One from 2pm, with kick off at 2:30pm.
CHALLENGE CUP HISTORY
St Helens are 12 time winners of the Challenge Cup and have been involved in 22 Cup Finals dating back to 1896. They memorably won three consecutive Challenge Cups between 2006 and 2008, defeating Catalans, Huddersfield and Hull FC, and also claimed the Super League and Challenge Cup double in 1996. Current Leeds assistant coach Sean Long played in all the Cup Finals for Saints during the Cup three-peat, scoring a try in 2006 and kicking a combined nine goals in 2007 and 2008. One of the club’s most memorable Final appearances came in the 1960-61 season, when Rugby Union convert Tom van Vollenhoven scored one of the most memorable tries in Cup Final history.
Over the last five years, Leeds have stopped Saints from getting to the Final on two occasions, both coming when Leeds have lifted the Cup. At Emerald Headingley in 2014, the Rhinos blew away the visitors 32-12 in round five before Leeds booked their place in the 2015 Final with a 24-14 result. Since then, Hull (2016) and Castleford (2017) have been the only teams to stop Saints from making the quarter finals.
Saturday’s game will be the first time the Rhinos and Saints have met in the third round of the Cup. The two clubs have met twice before in the Final in 1972 and 1978 (Leeds winning the latter 14-12) but some of the most memorable clashes have come in the semi finals, namely the 2003 semi final at the MacAlpine Stadium. A late comeback from the Rhinos sent the game into extra time and after Kevin Sinfield slotted an important one pointer to split the sides, Danny McGuire took advantage of a Sinfield line break to sprint away and send Leeds into the Final.
LAST TEN MEETINGS:
St Helens 40, Leeds 8 (SLR17,23/11/20)
Leeds 0, St Helens 48 (SLR8, 9/8/20)
Leeds 20, St Helens 36 (SLR26, 15/8/19)
St Helens 36, Leeds 10 (SLR19, 21/6/19)
St Helens 27, Leeds 22 (SLR3, 22/2/19)
Leeds 22, St Helens 23 (SLR18, 15/6/18)
St Helens 20, Leeds 28 (SLR6, 16/3/18)
Leeds 16, St Helens 14 (SLS8-R3, 18/8/17)
Leeds 24, St Helens 22 (SLR20, 29/6/17)
St Helens 6, Leeds 4 (SLR1, 9/2/17)
21 MAN SQUADS
COACHES PREVIEW
Head over to Saints TV to listen to the joint press conference between Kristian Woolf and Richard Agar.
Regan Grace also previewed the game here.
KIT?
Saints are the ‘home’ team and will play in our traditional red and white kit.
FANS?
Following the Government guidelines the game will again be played behind closed doors.
WHERE CAN I WATCH THE GAME?
The game is being shown live on BBC ONE from 2:00PM with 2:30PM Kick Off.
Supporters can follow the game on our official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as on our Live Match Centre.
Reaction will follow the Full-Time whistle on our website and social media channels whilst the highlights and the full 80 minute replay will be on Saints TV over the weekend for subscribers.
MATCHDAY E-PROGRAMME
Download our second 2021 edition of the Club’s official e-programme, a solely digital version of the traditional matchday programme, which is now available to view for FREE in our new GameHub! Click here to read all about it.
The Club recently linked up with MatchDayInfo, the global providers of digital match day programmes, which will see the Saints Matchday E-Programme available to view on an App and new-look ‘GameHub’ platform.
READ THE E-PROGRAMME ON OUR GAMEHUB BY CLICKING HERE (or scan the QR code below)
You can also click here if you want to download and print the E-Programme.
Alternatively just scan the QR code with your phone camera below.
Fans can also download the MatchdayInfo App for FREE to their Android or iPhone device. Once you have downloaded the FREE MatchDayInfo App on your Android or iPhone device select ‘St Helens’ as your Club and you will receive a push notification as soon as we upload the latest edition of our e-programme to the App! Also available on the App is the full set of 2019/20 issues which you can enjoy.
In today’s edition we have some words from Jonny Lomax, fresh from signing his new deal recently plus an insight from Head Coach Kristian Woolf. We have a look back in time thanks to Saints Heritage Society. We also have all the low-down on Leeds. Don’t forget to CLICK the links to watch the videos and find out more about all our partners through their adverts.
RIVALS WATCH
Friday:
Hull KR vs Castleford – 6pm – Our League
York City vs Wigan – 7.45pm – The Sportsman
Saturday:
Widnes vs Salford – 12.30pm – Our League
St Helens vs Leeds Rhinos – 2.30pm – BBC1
Catalans vs Wakefield – 5pm – BBC2
Featherstone vs Hull FC – 7pm – Our League
Sunday:
Swinton vs Warrington – 12.30pm – Our League
Leigh vs Huddersfield – 2:30pm – Our League
