Coventry, the 2019 European City of Sport and a RLWC2021 host venue, will stage the Coral Challenge Cup third round draw on Monday, February 11 (6pm).
One of the city’s most historic buildings, St Mary’s Guildhall, will provide an impressive backdrop for the draw which will be shown live on the BBC Sport website.
Conducting the draw will be Coventry-born Para-athlete and 2018 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, Kare Adenegan – who is also the patron for Coventry’s year as European City of Sport.
Adenegan, who won silver and two bronzes at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, is the current European Champion and T34 100m World Record holder.
Adenegan will be joined by David Moorcroft OBE, the Coventry-born former 5,000m World Record holder, and former Chief Executive of UK Athletics.
The 13 winners from this weekend’s Round Two fixtures will be joined by 11 Betfred League 1 teams, including Coventry Bears. The third-round ties will be played over 9-10 March.
A number of guests from the city, Coventry Bears, the city council and community clubs will be in attendance at St Mary’s Guildhall to celebrate the occasion.
Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet member for Public Health and Sport, said:
“I’m delighted that we will be hosting the Coral Challenge Cup draw here in Coventry in our wonderful St Mary’s Guildhall, showcasing Coventry and our wonderful venue on the BBC Sport website.
“Rugby League is a growing sport here in Coventry thanks to Coventry Bears – with strong local support and a growing reputation. It’s contributing to our credentials as a proud sporting city. We are already enjoying a great start to our year as European City of Sport and it’s fitting that both Kare and Dave will conduct the draw.”
Alan Robinson, Chairman of Coventry Bears, said:
“We are delighted to host the third-round draw of the Coral Challenge Cup. The mystique of competing in the Cup is something that first captured my imagination when founding the Bears. Last year we reached the fifth round, something we would love to emulate again.
“I know all our supporters will be excited to see who we draw with the Cup and draw being held in such a historic location as St Mary’s Guildhall in the Cathedral Quarter of our City.”
Saturday’s meeting of Milford ARLFC and Lock Lane ARLFC will be shown live on the BBC Sport website, while Sunday’s Wigan St Patricks v Great Britain Police fixture will be shown on the RFL’s Our League channel (web and app).
Coventry Bears will also open their 2019 Betfred League 1 campaign against West Wales Raiders the following weekend on Sunday, February 17 (KO 3.00pm).
