Hull to host 2026 Betfred World Club Challenge

Hull has been selected to host the 2026 Betfred World Club Challenge. The match will feature the 2025 Betfred Super League champions Hull KR against the NRL's Telstra Premiership winners, Brisbane Broncos. The game is scheduled for Thursday, 19 February, at the MKM Stadium.

Matchup Highlights

This event will bring some of Australia's Ashes stars, including Reece Walsh, Kotoni Staggs, and Patrick Carrigan, back to the UK. They will compete against Hull KR’s English trio: Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, and Joe Burgess.

Significance for Hull KR

Hull KR will be only the sixth British club to participate in the World Club Challenge, showcasing their remarkable progress in recent years.

Nigel Wood, chair of RL Commercial, said: "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."

He also added: "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."

Event Impact

The event highlights the strength of Rugby League’s international appeal and Hull’s status as an important city for the sport.

Author's summary: Hull KR's hosting of the 2026 World Club Challenge confirms Hull as a key Rugby League city, showcasing the growth of the sport and the high-level competition between British and Australian teams.

Insider Media — 2025-11-06