THE 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup will kick off earlier for Saints this year – and the knockout competition will be their first competitive game of the season.

It means the week before Super League kicks off with a home game against Salford, Saints will have already played a Challenge Cup game away from home.

Saints go in at the third round stage of the Betfred Challenge Cup over the weekend of the 8/9 February.

The round has been seeded to guarantee each Super League club an away fixture to one of the 20 victorious teams from the Second Round.

So that could be against a Championship, League 1 or a community club.

St Helens has three clubs in the hat for round one – Thatto Heath, Blackbrook and Haresfinch, who would have to win two games to get into the hat with Saints in Round 3.

Challenge Cup rounds will be played over the following weekends.

Third Round - 8/9 February. (all Super League sides away.)

Fourth Round – 15/16 March (Final 16 teams).

Quarter Finals – 5/6 April.

Semi-Finals – 10/11 May.

Final – Saturday, 7 June at Wembley Stadium.

The full Betfred Super League fixtures were published today.