Rugby Challenge Cup Recent Winners

St Helens have dominated the Challenge Cup in the last decade, lifting the famous trophy five times since 2001 and completing a hat-trick in 2008.

Their period as Cup kings began when Saints denied Bradford Bulls consecutive final wins with a 13-6 triumph in a match that was memorable for the first of Sean Long's three Lance Todd Trophy awards, as well as being the first Challenge Cup final to be played at Twickenham the home of rugby union.

Three years later Long again proved his worth to St Helens' cause when he guided them to a 32-16 victory over Wigan Warriors at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium with six goals and became just the fourth player to be awarded the Lance Todd Trophy twice.

Then, in 2006, Saints kick-started their complete command of the competition, as, inspired once more by Long, they overwhelmed Huddersfield Giants 42-12 in the final at Twickenham, the second highest points total in the history of the competition.

Twelve months later St Helens retained their title in comfortable fashion, routing Catalans Dragons 30-8 when the event returned to Wembley, with Long again to the fore alongside Paul Wellens.

Saints made it a hat-trick of Challenge Cup wins with a 28-16 success against Hull FC in 2008, Wellens being awarded the Lance Todd Trophy outright, having been forced to share it with team-mate Leon Pryce the year before.

The new millennium had begun with a Scottish twist, the 2000 Challenge Cup final being staged at Murrayfield and Bradford Bulls winning the trophy for the first time in 51 years after edging out arch rivals Leeds Rhinos 24-18.

2002 will be remembered as Kris Radlinski's final, as the Wigan Warriors full-back spent the week before the game in hospital with an infected foot and only declared himself fit to play 60 minutes before kick-off. However, he inspired the Wigan team to a 21-12 win over arch-rivals St Helens.

The following year Bradford Bulls had a season to remember as they completed the Super League title and Challenge Cup double the first team to do this squeezing past neighbours Leeds at the Millennium Stadium in the Cup final. The game was agonisingly poised at 20-20 when the Bulls' Paul Deacon popped a penalty over to decide a genuine thriller 22-20.

In 2005 Hull FC produced a huge upset to defeat Leeds Rhinos, Leeds stand-off Kevin Sinfield having his drop-kick charged down by Hull skipper Richard Swain in the dying seconds to leave Hull 25-24 winners.