BRADFORD Bulls Women will face York City Knights, Wigan Warriors and Widnes in the group stage of next year's Women's Challenge Cup.

The competition has a fresh format in 2022, with 16 teams drawn into four seeded groups of four teams – guaranteeing three fixtures for each team as the cup kicks off the women’s rugby league season, from mid-March to mid-April.

The 12 teams from the expanded Women’s Super League were joined in the draw by three from the Championship – Hull FC, Oulton Raidettes and Widnes Vikings – as well as The Army.

Bulls were in Pool Three for the draw, with York in Pool One, Wigan in Pool Two and Widnes in Pool Four.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for quarter-finals, with the winners guaranteed home advantage.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Challenge Cup final will be played at Elland Road, the home of Leeds United, on Saturday, May 7.

For the third time in succession, the Women’s Challenge Cup final will be part of a rugby league triple header, also featuring the semi-finals of the Men’s Challenge Cup.

And with Elland Road boasting a capacity of almost 38,000, the RFL has set a target of smashing the current record for a domestic women’s rugby league fixture - 4,235 set at the 2021 Women’s Super League Grand Final at Headingley in October.