St.Helens Women booked their place in the 2025 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, and our match day programme Saints & Proud caught up with Amy Hardcastle to discuss what it means.
Amy Hardcastle is proudly sponsored by CBS – Critical Business Solutions.
It has been a tale of mixed emotions for the star England and Saints centre when reaching Wembley in the last two seasons with the Leeds Rhinos, as they came up short against our St.Helens Women.
However, now back at the Club where she enjoyed her best and most successful rugby, Hardcastle is hoping that the third time is a charm at the national stadium.
“I am absolutely made up! The fact that I get to go to Wembley with Saints is definitely a dream come true,” Hardcastle told Saints & Proud.
“When I left Saints for personal reasons, to lose at Wembley that first time was one of the hardest things that I’ve had to deal with. Now, to go back there and back with Saints, it means a lot and I am so excited to go there under Dek [Hardman] and Craig [Richards].”
Any one who wants to see the Women’s game of rugby league played at its best in this country needed to watch St.Helens taking on York Valkyrie. Two of the best teams colliding in a physical, absorbing and dramatic battle, which the won to knock York out of the Cup for a third successive season in the final four stage.
York beat the Red V last autumn to the Women’s Super League crown in the Grand Final, so when these two teams meet – expect fireworks, and Amy wants more of those types of fixtures.
“Absolutely, we knew that’s what York were going to bring and we love those games. We were so fired up for it because we know what York are going to do, they won’t go away and will give a real battle. They wanted to reach Wembley, they too want to be the best, and we love those types of games. Even though they are tough, you can go to some dark places, mentally, those are the games we want to be playing week in and week out.
“It was like a final within itself. We’ve made that statement now to Wigan, they know what to expect and how we want to win it.”
Touching briefly on facing the Wigan Warriors who have reached the Final for the first time in their Women’s team’s history, it sets up another big and exciting fixture.
“We’ll go and work on some areas, tidy up some bits but it is exciting that we’ve got the Derby to come at Wembley.”
Our #4 has hit the ground running upon her return to the Club, scoring eight times in the Challenge Cup competition so far. However, it is not her on-field performances that are making her happy, it’s being back in our club’s environment.
“I feel back at home. It has been so nice, I feel content and being back with the girls, it’s just a great place to be. Everyone is so loving and welcoming, it’s a nice environment where you almost switch off away from everything else you may have going on. I love it.
“It makes it all worthwhile spending so many hours on the M62 with our Yorkshire car share. Our fun bus is the place to be! I’m just glad we don’t have any flies in the car…”
