2006 Challenge Cup

Round 1

:(week ending 5 February)

Sees the introduction of the major amateur clubs from the National Conference League and the teams from National League 3

Round 2

:(week ending 19 February)

Round 3

:(week ending 12 March)

Round 3 sees the introduction of the National League 1 and 2 teams and teams from France and Russia. Amateurs Thornhill Trojans provided the first surprise result by beating national 2 team Workington Town. Late season snow caused a number of postponements on the Sunday.

Round 4

:(week ending 2 April)

Round 4 sees the introduction of the Super League teams. Some matches are now televised live by the BBC. In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at Bradford and Wakefield.

Round 5

:(week ending 21 May)

No new teams enter at this stage. In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at St Helens and Widnes.

Quarter-finals

:(week ending 4 June)

In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at Hull KR and Leeds. Hull KR pulled off a major surprise when they beat Superleague team Warrington Wolves.

bg = #eeeeee | date = 4 June 2006 | team1 = [[File:Rhinoscolours.svg|16px]] Leeds Rhinos | score = 36–18 | report = (Report) | team2 = [[File:Quinscolours.svg|16px]] Harlequins | points1 = Danny Williams (12), Scott Donald (8), Kevin Sinfield (8), Danny McGuire (4), Willie Poching (4) | points2 = Luke Dorn (4), Tyrone Smith (4), Pat Weisner (4), Michael Worrincy (4), Rob Purdham (2) | stadium = Headingley, Leeds | attendance = | referee= Karl Kirkpatrick }} bg = #eeeeee | date = 4 June 2006 | team1 = [[File:HKRcolours.svg|16px]] Hull Kingston Rovers | score = 40–36 | report = (Report) | team2 = [[File:Wolvescolours.svg|16px]] Warrington Wolves | points1 = Byron Ford (12), Gareth Morton (12), Makali Aizue (4), Dwayne Barker (4), Ben Cockayne (4), Jon Goddard (4) | points2 = Chris Bridge (8), Henry Fa'afili (8), Logan Swann (8), Martin Gleeson (4), Stuart Reardon (4), Michael Sullivan (4) | stadium = Craven Park, Hull | attendance = | referee= Steve Ganson }} bg = #eeeeee | date = 4 June 2006 | team1 = [[File:Giantscolours.svg|16px]] Huddersfield Giants | score = 44–14 | report = (Report) | team2 = [[File:Redscolours.svg|16px]] Salford City Reds | points1 = Michael De Vere (12), Paul March (8), Chris Nero (8), Robbie Paul (8), Martin Aspinwall (4), Brad Drew (4) | points2 = David Hodgson (10), Aaron Moule (4) | stadium = Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield | attendance = | referee= Ashley Klein }} bg = #eeeeee | date = 3 June 2006 | team1 = [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]] St. Helens | score = 56–10 | report = (Report) | team2 = [[File:Catalanscolours.svg|16px]] Catalans Dragons | points1 = Ade Gardner (12), Paul Anderson (8), Vinnie Anderson (4), Sean Long (4), Jamie Lyon (4), Leon Pryce (4), Jon Wilkin (4) | points2 = Stacey Jones (4), Justin Murphy (4), Laurent Frayssinous (2) | stadium = Knowsley Road, St. Helens | attendance = | referee= Richard Silverwood }}

Semi-finals

:(week ending 30 July)

Unlike earlier rounds, matches from now on will be played on neutral grounds. Huddersfield have the chance to win the Cup for the first time in 1953 when they beat this year's final opponents St Helens.

bg = #eeeeee | date = 29 July 2006 | team1 = [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]] St. Helens | score = 50–0 | report = (Report) | team2 = [[File:HKRcolours.svg|16px]] Hull Kingston Rovers | points1 = Jamie Lyon (18), Willie Talau (8), Jon Wilkin (8), Vinnie Anderson (4), Ade Gardner (4), Sean Long (4), Paul Wellens (4) | points2 = | stadium = Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield | attendance = 12,868 | referee= Karl Kirkpatrick }} bg = #eeeeee | date = 30 July 2006 | team1 = [[File:Rhinoscolours.svg|16px]] Leeds Rhinos | score = 12–30 | report = (Report) | team2 = [[File:Giantscolours.svg|16px]] Huddersfield Giants | points1 = Scott Donald (4), Willie Poching (4), Kevin Sinfield (2) | points2 = Michael De Vere (14), Stuart Donlan (8), Chris Nero (8) | stadium = Odsal Stadium, Bradford | attendance = 12,574 | referee= }}

Final

The final was originally scheduled to be played at Wembley Stadium though because of the construction delay was alternatively held at Twickenham Stadium, London.

Teams:

St Helens: Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Jamie Lyon, Willie Talau, Francis Meli; Leon Pryce, Sean Long, Paul Anderson, Keiron Cunningham, Jason Cayless, Jon Wilkin, Paul Sculthorpe, Jason Hooper

Subs: Lee Gilmour, James Roby, James Graham, Maurie Fa'asavalu Coach: Daniel Anderson

Huddersfield: Paul Reilly, Martin Aspinwall, Stephen Wild, Michael De Vere, Stuart Donlan, Chris Thorman (c), Robbie Paul, Paul Jackson, Brad Drew, Jim Gannon, Chris Nero, Andy Raleigh, Stuart Jones

Subs: Paul Smith, Eorl Crabtree, Steve Snitch, Wayne McDonald Coach: Jon Sharp

UK Broadcasting rights

The tournament was screened in the United Kingdom by the BBC.