Leeds Rhinos–Wakefield Trinity rivalry

The Leeds Rhinos – Wakefield 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.

Leeds Rhinos – Wakefield Trinity
The 2008 Festive Challenge
LocationWest Yorkshire, England
Teams Leeds Rhinos
Wakefield Trinity
First meeting21 February 1903 (Leeds Rhinos 13–0 Wakefield Trinity)
Latest meeting27 March 2021 (Leeds Rhinos 28–22 Wakefield Trinity)
StadiumsHeadingley
Belle Vue
Statistics
Meetings total123
Most winsLeeds Rhinos (84)

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
As of the end of the 2021 season
Leeds Rhinos Honour Wakefield Trinity
Rank No. No. Rank
3rd 11 League Championships 2 14th
2nd 14 Challenge Cup 5 7th
4th 2 Premiership 0 —
3rd 2 League Cup 0 —
— 0 Charity Shield 0 —
3rd 3 World Club Challenge 0 —
1st 15 Yorkshire League 7 3rd
1st 17 Yorkshire Cup 10 4th
5th 1 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy 0 —

Festive Challenge
The Festive Challenge
SportRugby league
Number of teams2
CountryEngland (RFL)
Holders Leeds Rhinos (5th title)
Most titles 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 Leeds Rhinos 32–12 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Headingley Stadium
2010[lower-alpha 1] Leeds Rhinos 40–22 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2011 Leeds Rhinos 26–10 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2012 Leeds Rhinos 40–26 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2013 Leeds Rhinos 18–18 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2014 Leeds Rhinos 50–28 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
2015 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 14–6 Leeds Rhinos
2016 Wakefield Trinity 30–6 Leeds Rhinos
2017 Leeds Rhinos 17–10 Wakefield Trinity Belle Vue
2018 Leeds Rhinos 10–4[4] Wakefield Trinity Headingley Stadium
2019 Wakefield Trinity 30–4[5] Leeds Rhinos
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Leeds Rhinos 34–6[6] Wakefield Trinity Headingley Stadium

Winners
Team Wins Years
1 Leeds Rhinos 7 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021
2 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 24 December 2015.
  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
  5. @leedsrhinos (26 December 2019). "📺 Rising star Alex Sutcliffe was in outstanding form on Boxing Day as the Rhinos defeated Wakefield 30-4 in the Wet…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. "Leeds Rhinos 34-6 Wakefield Trinity: Player ratings and major talking points". 26 December 2021.


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