The Rugby League Challenge Cup is set to kick off in '19 "without a sponsor," according to the TELEGRAPH & ARGUS. Bookmaker Ladbrokes declined to extend its four-year deal after it ended with Catalans Dragons' victory over Warrington at Wembley last August. The RFL had "lined up a replacement but it is thought a deal collapsed at the last minute" and it has now begun the search for a new backer. The draw for the first round will be made in mid-December, with matches due to take place on the weekend of Jan. 26-27. A new sponsor is "unlikely to be in place by then" but the RFL said that it is prepared to "bide its time" to get the right deal. An RFL spokesperson said, "We have had strong interest, but having agreed a deal 10 weeks ago, that situation has changed in recent days -- the situation remains commercially sensitive. ... Our commercial team will continue to negotiate with potential partners, as the 2019 competition develops momentum through the early rounds until League One, Championship and Super League clubs enter in the spring" (TELEGRAPH & ARGUS, 11/15).
