Live rugby league returns to you screens on the thirteenth of January as the 2024 Challenge Cup gets underway with the opening round of the competition which see sixty four community clubs embark on the long road to Wembley.

Both the BBC and The Sportsman will live stream a fixture each, one on Saturday lunchtime and the second on Sunday afternoon to ensure that you can get your fix of the greatest game with a month still to go until the start of the Super League season.

It's time for the little guys to take centre stage.

The start of 2024 means the start of the Rugby League season as the Betfred Challenge Cup returns next week. The traditional RD1 ties mark the beginning of the community campaign for a host of teams. BBC Sport kick-off their coverage of the competition with a battle of the forces, when the Royal Air Force face the Royal Navy (Sat 13 Jan 12.30pm). The following day The Sportsman will continue the RD1 action with Orrell St James host Haresfinch (Sun 14 Jan 2.00pm).

RD1 sees the start of a long journey in which 64 sides will embark on the road to Wembley.