The Royal Navy will be looking to steer a course straight into the third round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup after securing a plum home tie when the second round draw was made aboard HMS Victory in Portsmouth earlier today.

 

The senior service will face the winners of the delayed first round tie involving West London Sharks and Nottingham Outlaws, both of whom will have to push the boat out to have any chance of playing against professional opposition in the third round.

 

Elsewhere, Scottish champions Edinburgh Eagles have an opportunity to leave their Welsh counterparts, Blackwood Bulldogs high and dry while The Army know they will need all hands on deck for their tie against The RAF or Warrington Wizards.

 

There are stormy seas ahead for some of the clubs from the sport's traditional heartland, including Wath Brow Hornets and East Hull, who know the ropes of the 113-year-old competition better than most.

 

The Carnegie Challenge Cup Second Round fixtures are split into two pools and will be played over the weekend of February 13 and 14.

 

All second round fixtures can be found in the fixtures section of the website