Challenge Cup
New Wakefield coach Chris Chester has been handed a tricky opening tie in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup after the Wildcats were paired with Sheffield Eagles in the fifth round.
New Wakefield coach Chris Chester has been handed a tricky opening tie in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup after the Wildcats were paired with Sheffield Eagles in the fifth round.
Chester, who took Hull KR all the way to Wembley in his first full season as head coach in 2015, will be relieved to land a home draw after Wakefield suffered a 24-10 defeat by the Championship club at Bramall Lane in the Super 8s Qualifiers at the end of last season.
The Eagles, who lifted the Cup at Wembley in 1998, booked their place in the fifth-round draw thanks to a 32-28 win over Swinton in Saturday's fourth-round tie, which was director of rugby Mark Aston's 500th match in charge of the club.
Wakefield were knocked out by Championship opponents last season, with Leigh winning 36-30 at Belle Vue.
Hull KR, who lost 50-0 to Leeds in last August's final, have been drawn at home to Oldham while the other two Super League clubs involved at this stage, Widnes and Salford, face away ties against League 1 opponents Rochdale and Hunslet respectively.
Castleford Lock Lane, the only amateur team left in the competition, face a tough trip to Halifax, while Toulouse will have an opportunity to gauge their Championiship credentials when they host Leigh.
The French club have begun their League 1 campaign with two big wins and scored 62 points in their fourth-round win over Gloucestershire University.
The remaining eight Super League clubs will enter the competition at the sixth-round stage.
Challenge Cup Fifth-Round Draw
Wakefield v Sheffield Eagles
Hull KR v Oldham
Toulouse v Leigh
Rochdale v Widnes
Hunslet v Salford
Halifax v Castleford Lock Lane
Batley v Featherstone
Dewsbury v York.
Ties to be played on the weekend of April 16-17.
