2026 World Club Challenge
| 2026 World Club Challenge | |||||||||||||
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The MKM Stadium during the match | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 19 February 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | MKM Stadium | ||||||||||||
| Location | Kingston upon Hull, England | ||||||||||||
| Man of the Match | Jez Litten | ||||||||||||
| Advance Australia Fair and God Save The King | Charlie Cammish | ||||||||||||
| Referee | Liam Moore (England) | ||||||||||||
| Attendance | 24,600 | ||||||||||||
| Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
| Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
The 2026 World Club Challenge was the 31st staging of the World Club Challenge, an annual rugby league match between the reigning champions of the Super League and the National Rugby League.[2][3]
Hull KR beat Brisbane 30–24 to become world champions for the first time in their history.[4][5][6]
Background
Hull Kingston Rovers
Brisbane Broncos
Pre-match
Scheduling
Under the agreement between the Super League and NRL regarding scheduling the World Club Challenge after the COVID-19 pandemic, the respective champions would alternate hosting responsibilities across each year. As such, NRL champions Brisbane Broncos' home ground, Lang Park, became an early favourite to host the game;[7] with reigning champions Wigan Warriors' DW Stadium having hosted in 2024.[8] However, following Hull Kingston Rovers becoming Super League champions Brisbane expressed a willingness to travel for the fixture to ease logistical issues with Hull KR playing at NRL's Las Vegas weekend,[9] a factor which resulted in Penrith Panthers withdrawing from the 2025 event.[10] As a result, Hull KR's cross town rivals, Hull FC's larger MKM Stadium emerged as the choice venue, along with a soft date of 21 February.[9] In November, a month after the Grand Finals, Brisbane confirmed they would travel to the United Kingdom for the match, allaying some fears of a second consecutive cancellation.[11]
Wembley Stadium and Elland Road were also touted as potential venues, with Lang Park removed from the running as a result of the soft date for the game clashing with an Ed Sheeran concert at the ground.[12]
Playing the game at the Las Vegas weekend has also been considered earlier in the season,[13] with Qatar also bidding to host the competition.[14]
Finances
Following confirmation of the match, Hull KR's chief executive revealed that the club's Craven Park ground was never under consideration as due to the ground's size it would have been financially unviable for a match of that magnitude. He stated the priority was to keep the match in Kingston upon Hull with the city never having hosted the tournament, and Elland Road was the second choice venue.[15]
Hull KR were responsible for covering Brisbane's travel and accommodation for the game.[15]
Ticketing
The game sold out on 16 November,[16] two days after going on sale.[17] The game was the fastest selling World Club Challenge in history, and was the first rugby league sellout at the MKM Stadium, beating the previous attendance record for the sport of 23,000 at the 2007 Hull Derby.[18]
Entertainment
Reverend and the Makers headlined both the prematch and half-time entertainment,[19] while former X-Factor contestant Charlie Cammish performed the national anthems.[20]
Team preparations
Brisbane Broncos' UK training base was The Lensbury in London, which was used from 10 February.[21]
Brisbane's squad was named on 5 February, with new signings Grant Anderson and Aublix Tawha appearing and Blake Mozer and Jack Gosiewski returning to the squad after respective injuries,[22] while Hull KR's squad was named on 18 February, with new signings Tom Amone, who made his Hull KR debut, and Karl Lawton appearing in the first team, and Bill Leyland and Tom Whitehead appearing as reserves.[23]
Officiating
The RFL named Liam Moore as match referee, Matty Lynn and Richard Thompson as touch judges, Chris Kendall as video referee and Liam Rush as reserve referee on 16 February.[24]
Match
Details
19 February 2026
19:30 GMT |
| Hull KR | 30–24 | Brisbane Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 5 Amone 5' Minchella 12' Burgess 21' Gildart 49' Hiku 55' Goals: 5 Mourgue 2/2 7', 13' Martin 3/3 22', 51', 56' |
1st: 18–4 2nd: 12–20 Report |
Tries: 5 Shibasaki 28', 65' Carrigan 60' Mariner 62' Staggs 76' Goals: 2 Reynolds 2/5 61', 63' |
MKM Stadium, Hull
Attendance: 24,600 Referee: Liam Moore (England) Touch judges: Matty Lynn (England), Richard Thompson (England) Player of the Match: Jez Litten |
| Hull KR | Position | Brisbane Broncos | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Number | Number | Name | |
| Arthur Mourgue 7', 13', 33' | 1 | 1 | Reece Walsh | |
| Tom Davies | 2 | 2 | Josiah Karapani | |
| Peta Hiku | 3 | 3 | Kotoni Staggs 76' | |
| Oliver Gildart | 4 | 4 | Gehamat Shibasaki 28', 65' | |
| Joe Burgess | 5 | 5 | Deine Mariner 62' | |
| Mikey Lewis | 6 | 6 | Ezra Mam | |
| Tyrone May | 7 | 7 | Adam Reynolds 61', 63' | |
| Sauaso Sue 18', 33', 47' | 8 | 8 | Corey Jensen 2', 25', 48', 74' | |
| Jez Litten | 9 | 9 | Cory Paix 44' | |
| Tom Amone 18', 58', 64' | 10 | 10 | Payne Haas | |
| Dean Hadley | 11 | 11 | Jack Gosiewski 60', 74' | |
| James Batchelor | 12 | 12 | Jordan Riki | |
| Elliot Minchella 31', 75' | 13 | 13 | Patrick Carrigan 60' | |
| Sam Luckley | 15 | 14 | Ben Hunt 44' | |
| Jai Whitbread 18', 75' | 16 | 15 | Xavier Willison 2', 60' | |
| Rhyse Martin 18' 22', 51', 56' | 17 | 16 | Ben Talty 48' | |
| Karl Lawton 31', 75' | 19 | 17 | Aublix Tawha 25' | |
| Jack Brown | 18 | 18 | Grant Anderson | |
| Willie Peters | Coach |
Michael Maguire | ||
Post-match
References
- ^ Brocksom, Sam (25 November 2025). "World Club Challenge broadcast details confirmed as Hull KR and Brisbane Broncos set for free-to-air TV". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
- ^ "World Club Challenge: Hull KR to host Brisbane Broncos as rugby league's battle for global supremacy returns in 2026". Sky Sports. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ "World Club Challenge returns with Hull KR v Broncos". BBC Sport. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ Brennan, Stuart (19 February 2026). "Hull KR beat Brisbane to win World Club Challenge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Wellens, Megan. "World Club Challenge 2026: Hull KR hold off Brisbane Broncos comeback in 30-24 victory to make more Super League history". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Bower, Aaron (19 February 2026). "Hull KR on top of the world after resisting thrilling Brisbane fightback". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Chapman Coombe, Louis (6 October 2025). "Major World Club Challenge update issued as NRL reveal stance". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ Fletcher, Charlotte (30 November 2023). "Wigan to host Penrith in Betfred World Club Challenge". Wigan Warriors. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ a b Shaw, Matthew (12 October 2025). "Hull KR considering MKM Stadium as World Club Challenge location". All Out Rugby League. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ Australian Associated Press (9 October 2024). "'Only thing that's missing': Penrith co-captain disappointed to abandon World Club Challenge". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ Proszenko, Adrian (4 November 2025). "More Reece Walsh magic for English fans as Broncos revive World Club Challenge". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ Coombe, Louis Chapman (22 October 2025). "Shock venue touted to host World Club Challenge as bizarre reason given for UK switch". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ Olawumi, Ben (28 February 2025). "Rugby league World Club Challenge heading to Las Vegas in 2026". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ Shaw, Matthew (31 October 2025). "Qatar launch mega-money move to host World Club Challenge". All Out Rugby League. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ a b Madden, Richard (6 November 2025). "Hull KR on why they need to play at rival's ground". BBC News. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ "2026 Betfred World Club Challenge is SOLD OUT!". Betfred Super League. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ "Robins to face Broncos in 2026 Betfred World Club Challenge". Betfred Super League. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ Scott-Holm, Charis (17 November 2025). "Hull KR claims MKM Stadium record ahead of Brisbane Broncos clash". BBC News. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ "Reverend and the Makers to announce teams and headline half-time show at 2026 Betfred World Club Challenge". Hull Kingston Rovers. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Rovers fan to sing anthems at World Club Challenge". BBC Radio Humberside. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ McAllister, Josh (10 January 2026). "Brisbane follow Man United and All Blacks blueprint for World Club Challenge". All Out Rugby League. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ "World Club Challenge Squad List v Hull KR". Brisbane Broncos. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Line up for World Club Challenge confirmed". Hull Kingston Rovers. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Liam Moore to officiate Betfred World Club Challenge". rugby-league.com. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.