WCC History: 1976-2026 By Club

The World Club Challenge is the top club from Australia and England start the new season with a match to determine the world champion. It is taken much more seriously in the UK whereas some in the Antipodes feel they are the best, so why bother?

Well, there have been 30 years that games have been played. A few seasons had more than one match, which clashes with the objective of finding the best team in the world so they are not counted. Neither is the 1997 year when it wasn't a one off top v top clash. This summary covers the top two from each region played. 

So how have individual clubs fared in the competition? I'm glad you asked, as I have prepared a chart to show exactly that. Look to the right. It is colour coded according to hemisphere.

Wigan have played nine matches over the years and have won five for a 56% win rate. St Helens and Leeds are next with eight appearances each but with a poorer 38% success rate. I obviously haven't been paying attention because I though they had been better than that. 

The Bradford Bulls have the best UK win rate for a side appearing more than once, three from three.

Three Aussie sides have been involved five times each. The Sydney Roosters are the masters at it, winning all that they have been involved with. Melbourne had one victory struck off for salary breaches, but I ignored that. 

The  Penrith Panthers have failed at all four attempts. Five Australian clubs have failed on a single attempt. 

WCC : 2026

Each year, the top sides from Australia and the UK play the World Club Challenge. It is usually played in the UK, so a little bit of advantage there, although UK sides have gone Down Under and won. 

This year it was Hull KR from the UK hosting the Brisbane Broncos from Australia. It was Hull KR's first appearance and Brisbane's 8th. 

It is acknowledged that the game in Australia is stronger due to a larger player pool and financially better off. RL in the UK struggles to put money into player development.  

So how did the 2026 edition go? See the highlights below to find out.

UK Men's Super League : 2026

The 2026 season is to get underway on the 12th of February. The number of teams has been increased from 12 to 14, a move long overdue. It will eliminate loop fixtures where some teams in the league play more often than twice, home and away.

Twelve of the sides are based in the north of England and two are based in the south of France. Hopefully, the geographical spread will widen in due time beyond two regions. London is an obvious expansion location. 

The three new clubs are highlighted in the gold colour. Bradford has a long SL history and a striong following. Toulouse had a brief encounter and hopefully a longer stay this time. York is a first timer, so a new chapter for the code in that picturesque cathedral city.  

One club was relegated and that was Salford. They have formed a new club and that will play in the second division (Championship).

The first game will be between newly promoted York Knights and reigning champions Hull KR. There should be a sell out crowd although York don't do attendance figures so we may never know how many were actually there. We will if it's a sell out. 

To keep up with the scores, go to the BBC website. Then click on 'Scores & Fixtures' and for the league ladder, click on 'Table'. Game highlights can be seen by clicking here. Buckle up.