Wikipedia

Festive Challenge

The Festive Challenge is an annual friendly rugby match played between Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity that is played on Boxing Day.[1][2]

The Festive Challenge
The 2008 Festive Challenge
SportRugby league
Number of teams2
CountryEngland (RFL)
Holders Leeds Rhinos (12th title)
Most titles Leeds Rhinos (12 titles)

History edit

Background edit

Matches played on Boxing Day were a regular part of rugby league season in Great Britain before the establishment of the Super League in 1996 and the switch to a summer season. Following the winter of 1962–1963, which caused the postponement of many sports fixtures, undersoil heating was installed at Headingley. This ensured that the surface would be playable for the 1963 Boxing Day match between Leeds and Wakefield, and led to the league schedule including a Leeds home fixture on Boxing Day every year apart from 1994 when they were away to Hull F.C. During this period Leeds faced numerous opponents, but the most frequent was Wakefield, who they faced a further ten times after 1963.[3] In 1995, Leeds defeated Castleford at Headingley in their final competitive Boxing Day match before the move to the summer era.[4]

Establishment edit

In 1996, Gary Hetherington, the recently appointed chief executive at Leeds, wanted to continue the tradition of a Boxing Day game so a friendly against Halifax was played as the first "festive challenge". In the following years Leeds played Halifax three more times and faced Bradford Bulls in 1999.[3][4][5] Between 2001 and 2003 Leeds played Castleford Tigers and defeated them in all three matches.[6][7][8]

Leeds and Wakefield edit

 
 
 
 
Festive Challenge 2014

The first festive challenge between Leeds and Wakefield was played in 2004.[9]

The 2010 event was postponed to New Year's Day due to poor weather.[10]

In 2017, the fixture was moved to Belle Vue, the first time it was played away from Headingley, due to the redevelopment of Headingley Stadium.[11]

Results edit

Year Winner Score Runners up Venue
2004   Leeds Rhinos 32–12[9]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Headingley Stadium
2005   Leeds Rhinos 42–18[12]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2006   Leeds Rhinos 22–14[12]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2007   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 26–18[12]   Leeds Rhinos
2008   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 22–16[12]   Leeds Rhinos
2009   Leeds Rhinos 32–12[12]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2010[a]   Leeds Rhinos 40–22[12]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2011   Leeds Rhinos 26–10[12]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2012   Leeds Rhinos 40–26[12]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2013   Leeds Rhinos 18–18[12]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2014   Leeds Rhinos 50–28[12]   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2015   Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 14–6[12]   Leeds Rhinos
2016   Wakefield Trinity 30–6[12]   Leeds Rhinos
2017   Leeds Rhinos 17–10[13]   Wakefield Trinity Belle Vue
2018   Leeds Rhinos 10–4[14]   Wakefield Trinity Headingley Stadium
2019   Wakefield Trinity 30–4[15]   Leeds Rhinos
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[4]
2021   Leeds Rhinos 34–6[16]   Wakefield Trinity Headingley Stadium
2022   Wakefield Trinity 32–20[17]   Leeds Rhinos
2023   Leeds Rhinos 41–22[18]   Wakefield Trinity

Winners edit

Team Wins Years
1   Leeds Rhinos 12 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023
2   Wakefield Trinity 6 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022

Sponsors edit

Period Sponsor Name
2009 Cravendale Cravendale Festive Challenge
2011–2013 Heatshot Heatshot Festive Challenge
2014 Tetley's Tetley's Festive Challenge
2015– Wetherby Whaler Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Postponed to New Year's Day 2011

References edit

  1. ^ "Rhinos name strong side for Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge". Archived from the original on 2015-12-24.
  2. ^ Andy Charles. "Wakefield Wildcats beat Leeds Rhinos in Boxing Day friendly". Sky Sports.
  3. ^ a b "Leeds Rhinos news as all-time greats set for Boxing Day Headingley reunion v Wakefield Trinity". Yorkshire Evening Post. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Leeds Rhinos' Boxing Day blues - for one year only". Yorkshire Evening Post. 25 December 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Lowes misses Rhinos clash". Telegraph & Argus. 23 December 1999. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Walker strolls through class debut". The Indepepndent. 27 December 2001. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Leeds Rhinos 20 Cas Tigers 2 (Thu 26th Dec)". www.castigers.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2003.
  8. ^ "Mathers plays despite tragedy". The Independent. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Leeds Rhinos 46–6 Wakefield". BBC. 27 December 2004. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Rhinos move festive friendly". Sky Sports. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Construction work sees Leeds-Wakefield Boxing Day clash switched to Belle Vue". Wakefield Express. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Match Preview: Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge". Leeds Rhinos. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Rhinos ease to Boxing Day victory at Wakefield". Total Rugby League. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Leeds Rhinos 10 Wakefield Trinity 4: Rhinos hit back to retain Festive Challenge honours". Yorkshire Evening Post. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Luke Gale: Leeds Rhinos half-back returns in festive Wakefield Trinity run-out". BBC Sport. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Leeds Rhinos 34-6 Wakefield Trinity: Player ratings and major talking points". 26 December 2021.
  17. ^ "FULL MATCH | 2022 Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge". YouTube.
  18. ^ "Five key takeaways as Leeds Rhinos come from behind to beat Wakefield Trinity". 26 December 2023.
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