FORMER York City Knights back rower Joe Batchelor has missed out a spot in the St Helens squad which faces Warrington Wolves in tomorrow’s Coral Challenge Cup final (3pm).

Batchelor featured in Super League Leaders’ winners St Helens’ 36-20 victory at Leeds Rhinos last Thursday, but hasn’t made the cut of the 19 players picked by coach Steve Price.

The 24-year-old joined Saints from York in May last year after making 48 appearances for the Knights, scoring an impressive 38 tries as the North Yorkshire side won the League One title.

Since then, Batchelor has made four appearances for St Helens and returned to York temporarily on loan earlier this year before a recall to the Saints and a following stint at Leigh Centurions.

Earlier in the week, York City Knights posted the following message of support on Twitter: “Congratulations to @batjoelor. Enjoy Wembley. Be very proud all at @CoventryBearsRL, @YorkKnightsRLFC and @Saints1890.

Meanwhile, the RFL have also confirmed that the 2020 Challenge Cup final will be played on Saturday July 18.

The date has become available due to the England football team’s involvement in the UEFA Euro 2020 finals.

It’s the first time that the Challenge Cup final won’t have been staged in August since 2004, when St Helens defeated Wigan in Cardiff.

Tickets will go on general sale in October, the RFL have stated - who have also said that they will change the ticketing system.

Mark Foster, the RFL’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Moving the 2020 Coral Challenge Cup Final to mid-July in 2020 presents us with a real opportunity to attract a capacity crowd for Rugby League’s showpiece event at Wembley.

“We wanted to give our supporters as much time as possible to plan for that.

“It means that Rugby League’s big weekend at Wembley will occur on the weekend after the final of the Euros and Wimbledon and the weekend before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, so a fantastic opportunity within the summer of sport next year.”