The Rugby Football League is considering whether "one of the sport's most prestigious showpieces," the Challenge Cup final, should remain at Wembley Stadium and will "hold talks with the national stadium to determine its long-term future," according to Aaron Bower of the London GUARDIAN. The staging of the cup final at Wembley has been "one of rugby league's proudest traditions since it was first held there" in '29. However, Super League Exec Dir Roger Draper admitted the sport's governing body is "keen to protect the future of the event, which could yet mean exploring alternative options away from the stadium." The two parties entered a 20-year agreement in '07, but will hold further talks "later this year." Draper said, "We're conscious that the Challenge Cup has lost its shine. It's probably become our third biggest property. ... We're in the thick of renegotiating with Wembley. We've reached an agreement for 2017 which is great but we'll sit down with them over the summer and chat about 2018 onwards" (GUARDIAN, 5/16).
