YORK Valkyrie will face Featherstone Rovers, Castleford Tigers and Sheffield Eagles in the group stage of the 2024 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup.

The teams were drawn into Group 1 of this year's competition live on BBC Radio Merseyside by Giulia Bould and former broadcaster Angela Powers this evening.

Teams were placed into four pots based on their 2023 finishing positions, with the Valkyrie taking ball 1 in a seeded group that also included current holders St Helens, Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors.

Lindsay Anfield's side will be hoping to go one better than last year's run to the Semi Finals, in which they were denied a place in the first Women's Challenge Cup Final to be held at Wembley Stadium by Faye Gaskin's late drop-goal at St Helens in July.

Prior to that, a 44-4 triumph at Barrow Raiders and 54-0 thrashing of Leigh Leopards sandwiched a record 122-0 victory against Hull KR at the LNER Community Stadium.

Cardiff Demons were also brushed aside 54-0 before the Valkyrie fell foul at Saints, who went on to claim a third consecutive Challenge Cup after defeating Leeds Rhinos under the famous arch.

Sheffield - whom the Valkyrie have a dual-registration partnership with for 2024 - are making their debut in this year's competition, with newly-promoted Featherstone also hoping to trouble a York side that won all three of their group stage fixtures last term.

The draw will also see director of rugby Anfield return to former club Castleford, with whom she won the Women's Super League and reached two consecutive Challenge Cup Finals before making the move to North Yorkshire in 2021.

Group stage fixtures will take place on the weekends of March 16-17, March 23-24 and April 6-7, with home and away locations still to be confirmed.

In the Quarter Finals, the winners of both Group 1 and Group 2 will play their respective group runners-up. The winners of Group 3 will face the runners-up of Group 4, and the winners of Group 4 will play the Group 3 runners-up.

The Final will again be held at Wembley Stadium in a triple-header with the men's Challenge Cup Final and AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final on June 8.

Group 1: York Valkyrie, Featherstone Rovers, Castleford Tigers, Sheffield Eagles.

Group 2: Wigan Warriors, Barrow Raiders, Salford Red Devils, Cardiff Demons.

Group 3: St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Bradford Bulls, London Broncos.

Group 4: Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants, Leigh Leopards, Hull KR.