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

After the winter break, it is nearly time for rugby league to hit our screens once again, and fans of Super League and the NRL will soon be able to watch their favourite teams compete for Grand Final glory.

With the first fixtures of both competitions on the horizon, it is nearly time for the World Club Challenge, which remains an iconic fixture in the rugby league calendar.

The event sees the Super League champions face the winner of the NRL Grand Final, and it is a highly competitive affair.

This year, Super League champions Wigan Warriors take on NRL winners, the Penrith Panthers.

{"embed_type":"genericarticlepod","payload":{"title":"World Club Challenge","button_link":"https://www.bet365.com/#/AC/B19/C20933109/D50/E190002/F50/, "button_text":"View Latest Odds"}}

World Club Challenge date

This year's World Club Challenge will take place on Saturday 24th February.

The World Club Challenge usually takes place in February, as it allows 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

This year's World Club Challenge will kick off at 20:00 GMT, allowing fans of both clubs to watch the game in their respective time zones. The game will be broadcast in Australia at 07:00 AEDT.

World Club Challenge venue

This year's World Club Challenge will be hosted at the DW Stadium in Wigan, the home of the Warriors.

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 will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, the host broadcaster of rugby league in the UK.

World Club Challenge odds

Wigan v Penrith Panthers odds

(Odds will display when market is live)

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.

Leeds Rhinos, Melbourne Storm, Bradford Bulls and reigning champions St Helens have won the World Club Challenge three times, while Brisbane Broncos have triumphed twice.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Widnes Vikings, St George Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys have all won the World Club Challenge once.

A team from the NRL has won the World Club Challenge 14 times, while a Super League side have also triumphed on 14 occasions. Melbourne Storm did win the title in 2010 against the Leeds Rhinos but were later stripped of the title for salary cap breaches.

Wigan will be determined to equal the Roosters' record with another victory, but Penrith have motivation of their own. The Panthers have lost in all three of their previous three World Club Challenge appearances.

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