𝗔𝗕 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝟭𝟴𝟵𝟱 𝗖𝘂𝗽:

14 February 2024

𝗗𝗿𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶-𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗕𝗖 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

The draws for both the quarter- and semi-finals of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup will be streamed on the BBC Sport website on Sunday 18 February, following the conclusion of the final Group 1 fixture between Cumbrian arch-rivals Workington Town and Whitehaven.

Joining the BBC Radio Cumbria commentary team to make the draw, at around 4.45pm live from Town’s Fibrus Community Stadium, will be Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer who played for Whitehaven in the 1980s.

The winners of all seven groups are guaranteed a quarter-finals spot, with the best-placed runner-up making up the eight clubs in the hat.

Workington and Whitehaven are out of contention for a quarter-finals place, Barrow Raiders having beaten both their Cumbrian rivals to seal top spot in Group 1. Swinton Lions are also assured of a quarter-final place having topped Group 6 – meaning that like Barrow, they are two more wins away from a dream trip to Wembley in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final on Saturday 8 June.

The other five groups remain up for grabs this Sunday afternoon. Keighley Cougars and Bradford Bulls are playing for top spot in Group 2, while Oldham, Batley Bulldogs and Sheffield Eagles are in the driving seat in their groups. Those three clubs need victories over Rochdale Hornets, Hunslet and Midlands Hurricanes respectively to be sure of their quarter-finals place.

In Group 3 it’s a similar story for Wakefield Trinity, whose game at Newcastle Thunder has been switched to a neutral ground: Featherstone’s Millennium Stadium. With one win from their two Group 3 matches and a points difference of plus 68, York Knights are on course to go through as the best-placed runner-up – although a draw in one of the other final round fixtures this Sunday could change that situation.

To hear the draws, listeners should visit bbc.co.uk/rugbyleague and click on BBC Radio Cumbria’s live commentary of Workington Town versus Whitehaven. Quarter-finals will be played on Sunday 3 March.

The draw for the semi-finals, scheduled for Sunday 12 May, will be made immediately after the draw for the quarter-finals. All eight quarter-final teams will go into the hat, with two semi-final ties drawn on an ‘either/or’ basis.

The AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final is part of a Finals Day triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 June, alongside the finals of the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup and Men's 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final. Tickets are available online now from only £15 Adults and £7.50 Under 16s, with family packages also available starting from just £18.75 for one Adult and two Under 16s - https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=RGLV_PL_MPV&orgid=57429&eventId=1005#/event/E1005/seatmap/?selectBuyers=false&minPrice=16&maxPrice=54&quantity=1&sort=price_desc&ada=false&seatSelection=true&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false