<P> The 2018 Challenge Cup, (also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) is the 117th staging of the Challenge Cup the main rugby league knockout tournament for teams in the European Super League, the British National Leagues and a number of invited amateur clubs . </P> <P> The defending champions are Hull who beat Wigan Warriors 18--14 at Wembley on 26 August 2017 . </P> <P> The format of the competition is eight knock - out rounds followed by a final . The first two rounds are composed entirely of 48 amateur teams . The 12 winners of the second round ties are joined in round three by the 14 League 1 teams . For the fourth round, the 13 winners from round 3 are joined by 11 of the 12 Championship teams, (Toulouse Olympique who play in the Championship, have declined to enter the 2018 cup competition .) Round five will see four Super League teams entering the competition . These are the four teams that finished in the top four positions of the 2017 Qualifiers and are Warrington Wolves, Widnes Vikings, Hull Kingston Rovers and Catalan Dragons . The remaining eight Super League teams join in round six . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Round </Th> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> Clubs involved this round </Th> <Th> Winners from previous round </Th> <Th> New entries this round </Th> <Th> Leagues entering at this round </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> 27--28 January </Td> <Td> 48 </Td> <Td> n / a </Td> <Td> 48 </Td> <Td> 39 English amateur clubs Scottish, Welsh & Irish champions 3 Armed Forces teams British Police 2 University rugby league representatives </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Round 2 </Td> <Td> 10--11 February </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> n / a </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Round 3 </Td> <Td> 24--25 February </Td> <Td> 26 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> League 1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Round 4 </Td> <Td> 17--18 March </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 11 * </Td> <Td> Championship </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Round 5 </Td> <Td> 21--22 April </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2017 Super League Qualifiers top 4 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Round 6 </Td> <Td> 12--13 May </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 2017 Super League top 8 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Quarter - finals </Td> <Td> 2--3 June </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> n / a </Td> <Td> n / a </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Semi-finals </Td> <Td> 4--5 August </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> n / a </Td> <Td> n / a </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Final </Td> <Td> 25 August </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> n / a </Td> <Td> n / a </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When do super league teams enter the challenge cup