The Rugby Football League signed a "historic commercial partnership" with Coral to include the men's and women's Challenge Cup in a two-year, seven-figure deal, according to Dave Craven of the YORKSHIRE POST. The RFL also reached an agreement with Super League side Catalans Dragons "meaning the holders will defend the trophy this season after all." The two competitions will come together when the Coral Women's Challenge Cup Final "shares the stage" with the men's semifinals in a triple header at the University of Bolton Stadium on July 27. At one point, it seemed Catalans -- the first French side to win the Cup after beating Warrington last August -- would not feature in '19 after "refusing to pay" the RFL a £500,000 ($644,455) bond to enter the competition. The governing body asked for the "unprecedented deposit in light of a poor attendance in last year's final," when just over 50,000 watched Steve McNamara's side make history. It created a "worrying and embarrassing stand-off" for the RFL but Catalans Chair Bernard Guasch said, "I'm really happy to announce that we will participate to this prestigious competition in 2019." On the new deal with Coral -- which replaces Ladbrokes -- RFL CEO Ralph Rimmer said, "This is a really significant day both for the Challenge Cup and for women's Rugby League" (YORKSHIRE POST, 1/21).
