Hull to Host 2026 Betfred World Club Challenge
Hull has been selected to host the 2026 Betfred World Club Challenge. The match will take place at the MKM Stadium on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Teams Competing
- 2025 Betfred Super League champions Hull KR
- NRL Telstra Premiership winners Brisbane Broncos
Key Players to Watch
The game will spotlight top Australian stars from the Ashes series, including Reece Walsh, Kotoni Staggs, and Patrick Carrigan. They will face Hull KR's England trio of Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, and Joe Burgess.
Statement from RL Commercial
Nigel Wood, chair of RL Commercial, stated: "Rugby League's Anglo-Australian rivalry takes the sport to a wider audience, as we have seen in the current Ashes series, and it's wonderful to see the World Club Challenge heading for the first time to the great Rugby League city of Hull."
"Hull KR will become only the sixth British club to earn the privilege of playing in the World Club Challenge, a fitting reward for the outstanding progress they have made in recent seasons."
"They could have no more attractive opposition than Brisbane Broncos, one of the most resonant names in Australian sport. The Broncos have graced this fixture a number of times in the past, and have again shown their support of international Rugby League in agreeing to travel north in February 2026 - when they will also be breaking new ground with their first appearance in Hull."
Significance
This event marks a significant occasion for both clubs and the city, highlighting Hull's growing prominence in Rugby League on the international stage.
Author's summary: Hull's selection to host the 2026 World Club Challenge highlights its rise as a major Rugby League city, with top British and Australian teams clashing in a celebrated international rivalry.