Leeds Rhinos–Wakefield Trinity rivalry

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Leeds Rhinos – Wakefield Trinity
Leeds Rhinos1.jpg
The 2008 Festive Challenge
LocationWest Yorkshire, England
TeamsRhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity
First meeting21 February 1903 (Leeds Rhinos 13–0 Wakefield Trinity)
Latest meeting27 March 2021 (Leeds Rhinos 28–22 Wakefield Trinity)
StadiumsHeadingley
Mobile Rocket Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total123
Most winsLeeds Rhinos (84)

The Leeds RhinosWakefield Trinity rivalry is a West Yorkshire Derby born from locality and competitive history. The two sides play an annual pre-season friendly, the Festive Challenge, every Boxing Day to celebrate their rivalry.

Head-to-head record[]

Statistics correct as of 19/5/21[1]

In all competitions, competitive and uncompetitive:

Played Leeds Drawn Wakefield
123 83 6 34

Meetings in major finals[]

Collective Honours[]

Leeds Rhinos Honour Wakefield Trinity
Rank No. No. Rank
3rd 11 League 2 14th
2nd 14 Challenge Cup 5 7th
4th 2 Premiership 0 N/A
3rd 2 League Cup 0 N/A
N/A 0 Charity Shield 0 N/A
3rd 3 World Club Challenge 0 N/A
1st 15 Yorkshire League 7 3rd
1st 17 Yorkshire Cup 10 4th
5th 1 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy 0 N/A

Festive Challenge[]

The Festive Challenge
SportRugby league
Number of teams2
CountryEngland (RFL)
HoldersRhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos (5th title)
Most titlesRhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos (5 titles)

The Festive Challenge is an annual friendly rugby match played between Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity that is played on Boxing Day.[2][3]

History[]

Festive Challenge 2014

Before the summer era of rugby league, games were regularly played on Boxing Day.

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

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.

Results[]

Year Winner Score Runners up Venue
2009 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 32–12 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Headingley Stadium
2010[a] Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 40–22 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2011 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 26–10 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2012 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 40–26 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2013 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 18–18 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2014 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 50–28 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2015 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 14–6 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos
2016 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity 30–6 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos
2017 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 17–10 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Belle Vue
2018 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 10–4[4] Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Headingley Stadium
2019 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity 30–4[5] Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 34–6[6] Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Headingley Stadium

Winners[]

Team Wins Years
1 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 7 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021
2 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity 3 2015, 2016, 2019

Sponsors[]

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[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Postponed to New Year's Day 2011

References[]

  1. ^ "Leeds Rhinos - Head to Head - Rugby League Project".
  2. ^ "Rhinos name strong side for Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge". Archived from the original on 2015-12-24.
  3. ^ Andy Charles. "Wakefield Wildcats beat Leeds Rhinos in Boxing Day friendly". Sky Sports.
  4. ^ https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos-10-wakefield-trinity-4-rhinos-hit-back-retain-festive-challenge-honours-176622%3famp[bare URL]
  5. ^ https://mobile.twitter.com/leedsrhinos/status/1210223047308988421?lang=en[bare URL]
  6. ^ https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/leeds-rhinos-34-6-wakefield-trinity-player-ratings-and-major-talking-points-47190/


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