World Club Challenge: Date, teams, history & how to watch

Super League champions Hull KR prevailed 30-24 over NRL Grand Final winners Brisbane Broncos in February 2026, meaning an English club has won the last three finals, excluding the cancelled 2025 fixture.

KR lifted their first ever World Club Challenge title, though they made hard work of it despite taking a 26-point lead during the tie.

A rusty Broncos side, playing their first game since October 2025, refused to go down without a fight and showed all the grit and determination that saw them come from behind three times against Melbourne Storm in the NRL Grand Final - on this occasion it just wasn't enough.

World Club Challenge date

The 2027 World Club Challenge date is yet to be announced, however it is almost certain to take place in February as with previous stagings.

This is to allow the NRL champions to make the long journey before returning Down Under for their opening fixture.

The Australian sides usually use the event as their pre-season fixture, while in most cases, the Super League champions have already played their first game.

World Club Challenge time

Similarly to the date, the time for 2027's fixture is not determined yet.

However, it is normally some time between 19:00 and 20:00 (GMT) to ensure that the game isn't in the middle of the night for Australian viewers, where it tends to fall between 06:00 and 07:00 (AEDT).

World Club Challenge venue

Again, with little information confirmed about 2027's game, the venue for the next edition is unknown.

The majority of World Club Challenge games have been held in England, but St Helens did travel to Australia for the 2023 event, where they beat the Panthers 13-12 at Penrith Stadium.

The venue of the match each year depends on which teams triumph in the Super League and the NRL every season, and it is up to the successful clubs to discuss a venue for the event.

How to watch World Club Challenge 

The World Club Challenge is usually broadcast live on Sky Sports, the host broadcaster of rugby league in the UK.

Official broadcasting information will be announced closer to the time.

World Club Challenge history

The first match was played in 1976 when St Helens were beaten 25-2 by Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. However, it did not become a regular fixture until 1987.

It had been held every year since 2000, apart from the 2021 and 2022 fixtures, which had to be cancelled. St Helens are the holders of the trophy having beaten Penrith Panthers 13-12 in 2023, the 29th staging of the World Club Challenge.

NRL side Sydney Roosters are considered the most successful side in World Club Challenge history, having won the event five times - in 1976, 2003, 2014, 2019 and 2020. The NRL giants have never been runners-up.

Wigan Warriors are the most successful European side, having won the World Club Challenge on four occasions, most recently in 2017.

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.