- British Super League clubs Wigan Warriors and Hull FC will play in the 2017 Challenge Cup Final 26 August;
- The two historic teams will tour NSW in February next year;
- WIN Stadium, Wollongong, will host the first Super League game ever played outside Europe on Saturday 10 February – Wigan v Hull;
- The two clubs will also feature in a massive double-header at Stadium Australia on Saturday 17 February, with South Sydney Rabbitohs v Wigan and St George Illawarra Dragons v Hull.
Julian Keith
AUSTRALIA-bound Super League clubs the Wigan Warriors and Hull FC will square off in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 26 August.
The next time the two teams see each other will be in the historic first-ever Super League game outside of Europe to be played at WIN Stadium, Wollongong, on Saturday 10 February.
One week later on Saturday 17 February the two clubs will participate in an international rugby league double-header at Stadium Australia against NRL club’s the St George Illawarra Dragons and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The events have been secured by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, in partnership with Wigan Rugby League Football Club and Destination Wollongong.
St George Illawarra Dragons v Hull FC is likely to kick off the big day at Stadium Australia late afternoon (timing TBC), with South Sydney Rabbitohs v Wigan Warriors from early evening.
The double-header will kick-off the rugby league season at Stadium Australia in spectacular style with fans expected to flock to the classic-format event.
Tickets are expected to go on sale late August following the Challenge Cup Final, stay tuned for more information.
It’s fitting that just a week after announcing their plans to visit Australia, the two famous clubs booked their place in their country’s showpiece event.
Wigan coach Shaun Wane knows his side must lift their game in order to beat the defending champions Hull FC.
“To get back to Wembley is fantastic, but we have got there and that is it, there is another job to do,” Wane told Sky Sports.
“We are going to have to improve on that today if we are going to beat Hull.”
Wigan will be looking to add to their record of 20 Challenge Cup wins while Hull will be hoping to build on their win in 2016.
The two teams have met three times before in the Final, with Wigan prevailing on all three occasions – the most recent being a 16-0 thumping in 2014.
Wigan are no stranger to NRL opponents, having played the Cronulla Sharks, Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons in the last six years as part of the World Club Challenge.
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