Hull FC have been drawn away from home against four potential community club opponents for the third round of the Challenge Cup. They are GB Police, York Acorn, London Chargers, and Oulton Raiders.
Scheduled to take on one of those four clubs next month, the Black and Whites will begin life under John Cartwright against potential National Conference League and Southern Conference League opponents, not to mention the police representative team.
Over the next two weeks, Hull will know their fate, with GB Police meeting York Acorn and London Chargers hosting Oulton Raiders this weekend. The two winners will then face off the following weekend with the winner meeting the Super League side in the third round.
But what do we know about each of the four clubs? Here, Hull Live profiles each potential opponent and their venue choices, with Hull set to meet their first community opposition in 28 years.
GB Police
The GB Police rugby league team have been playing as a representative outfit since the 1990s and since 2010 in the Challenge Cup. They are made up of active members of the police force across various services across the country. They play their home games at Rochdale Mayfield rugby league club – the community outfit that Hull prop Jack Ashworth came through as a junior – meeting them in 2020, a game Mayfield won 19-18. The venue, which has covered areas of terracing and seating, holds around 1,500 people and could step up if needed.
York Acorn
Formed in 1973, York Acorn are a proud founding member of the National Conference League – currently sitting in the Premier Division, where they finished in sixth spot last season, also making the fourth round of the cup after wins over Orrell St James, Cornwall, and Wath Brow Hornets. They were eventually knocked out by Halifax and have also played both Bradford Bulls and Rochdale Hornets in the cup in recent years.
Playing in predominately blue with a gold band, their home ground is the Acorn Sports and Social Club, with the club producing professional players like former Hull KR and England Peter Fox and former Castleford outside back Ash Robson. And while every option would be explored to play at their own ground, if Acorn made it through to face Hull, they could play the fixture at York Knights’ LNER Stadium with the Knights also in action against Hull KR should they overcome Keighley Cougars. A double header? Imagine.
London Chargers
Based in south-west London, the Charges compete in the Southern Conference League and play their games at Clapham Common. Playing in maroon and blue, they were formed in 2013 following a merger between South London Storm and West London Sharks and have been competing in the Challenge Cup since 2014. They are one of the leading amateur clubs in the capital and have previously played games at the 2,000 capacity Rosslyn Park – a potential venue should they progress to face Hull FC.
Oulton Raiders
Based in West Yorkshire, near to Wakefield and Leeds, Oulton Raiders compete in the National Conference League and are currently a Division One side, finishing fifth in last year’s table. They have produced many notable professional players over the years including Ryan Hudson, Kelvin Skerrett, and record England try-scorer and current Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall. They play their home games at Raiders Park Pavilion in Oulton and wear blue and yellow colours, with Wakefield’s Belle Vue ground a potential option should they progress.
An eye on the draw
Hull FC aren’t the only Super League opposition guaranteed to face a community club in the Challenge Cup third round, with St Helens and Leeds Rhinos, also set for an unusual match up.
The Rhinos will face either Wests Warriors, the British Army, or the RAF with the armed forces sides set to face off this weekend. The winner will meet London-based Warriors with the winner of the second round tie facing Brad Arthur’s side.
Meanwhile, the Saints will face one of Stanley Rangers, Hunslet A.R.L.F.C, West Hull, or Edinburgh Eagles with the Hull-based Green and Golds entertaining Scottish opposition and Hunslet heading to Stanley. The two winners will face off in the second round with the winner getting a lucrative tie. West Hull vs St Helens at Johnny Whiteley Park? Oh go on then.
The full Challenge Cup draw can be found here.
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