{{Short description|Annual British rugby match}} {{Infobox rugby league football competition | name = The Festive Challenge | current_season = | logo = File:Leeds Rhinos1.jpg | pixels = 200 | caption = The 2008 Festive Challenge | founded = | teams = 2 | country = {{flagicon|ENG}} | gov_body = RFL | champion = {{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos (14th title) | season = | most_champs = {{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | count = 14 | website = | TV = | qualification = | related_comps = }}
The '''Festive Challenge''' is an annual friendly rugby match played between Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity that is played on Boxing Day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/28101.php#.VolFdlLbCUk |title=Rhinos name strong side for Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224171356/http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/28101.php#.VolFdlLbCUk |archivedate=2015-12-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/10109994/wakefield-wildcats-beat-leeds-rhinos-in-boxing-day-friendly|title=Wakefield Wildcats beat Leeds Rhinos in Boxing Day friendly|author=Andy Charles|work=Sky Sports}}</ref>
==History== ===Background=== 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.<ref name=YEP19dec2023>{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos-news-as-all-time-greats-set-for-boxing-day-headingley-reunion-v-wakefield-trinity-445054 |title=Leeds Rhinos news as all-time greats set for Boxing Day Headingley reunion v Wakefield Trinity |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=19 December 2023 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref> In 1995, Leeds defeated Castleford at Headingley in their final competitive Boxing Day match before the move to the summer era.<ref name=YEP25dec2020>{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos-boxing-day-blues-for-one-year-only-3077755 |title=Leeds Rhinos' Boxing Day blues - for one year only |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=25 December 2020 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref>
===Establishment=== 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.<ref name=YEP19dec2023/><ref name=YEP25dec2020/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8060271.lowes-misses-rhinos-clash/ |title=Lowes misses Rhinos clash |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |date=23 December 1999 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref> Between 2001 and 2003 Leeds played Castleford Tigers and defeated them in all three matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/walker-strolls-through-class-debut-9180609.html |title=Walker strolls through class debut |newspaper=The Indepepndent |date=27 December 2001 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.castigers.com/cgi-bin/showreport.cgi?matchref=1&year= |title=Leeds Rhinos 20 Cas Tigers 2 (Thu 26th Dec) |website=www.castigers.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030504091130/http://www.castigers.com/cgi-bin/showreport.cgi?matchref=1&year= |archive-date=4 May 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/mathers-plays-despite-tragedy-84033.html |title=Mathers plays despite tragedy |newspaper=The Independent |date=27 December 2023 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref>
===Leeds and Wakefield=== {{multiple image | align = right | perrow = 2 | direction = horizontal | image1 = Tetley's Festive Challenge (26th December 2014) 001.JPG | width1 = 150 | alt1 = | image2 = Tetley's Festive Challenge (26th December 2014) 002.JPG | width2 = 150 | alt2 = | image3 = Tetley's Festive Challenge (26th December 2014) 003.JPG | width3 = 150 | alt3 = | image4 = Tetley's Festive Challenge (26th December 2014) 004.JPG | width4 = 150 | alt4 = | footer = Festive Challenge 2014 }} The first festive challenge between Leeds and Wakefield was played in 2004.<ref name=BBC27dec20104>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2004/12/27/sport_rhinos_wakefield_20041226_report_feature.shtml |title=Leeds Rhinos 46–6 Wakefield |publisher=BBC |date=27 December 2004 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref>
The 2010 event was postponed to New Year's Day due to poor weather.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12211/6610764/rhinos-move-festive-friendly |title=Rhinos move festive friendly |publisher=Sky Sports |date=24 December 2010 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/construction-work-sees-leeds-wakefield-boxing-day-clash-switched-to-belle-vue-1078789 |title=Construction work sees Leeds-Wakefield Boxing Day clash switched to Belle Vue |newspaper=Wakefield Express |date=26 September 2017 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref>
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==Results== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |Year |Winner |Score |Runners up |Venue |- |2004 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |32–12<ref name=BBC27dec20104/> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |rowspan=13|Headingley Stadium |- |2005 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |42–18<ref name=LR2023preview>{{cite web|url=https://www.therhinos.co.uk/article/19722/match-preview-wetherby-whaler-festive-challenge |title=Match Preview: Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge |publisher=Leeds Rhinos |date=26 December 2023 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |- |2006 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |22–14<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |- |2007 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |26–18<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |- |2008 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |22–16<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |- |2009 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |32–12<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |- |2010{{efn|Postponed to New Year's Day 2011}} |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |40–22<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |- |2011 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |26–10<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |- |2012 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |40–26<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |- |2013 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |18–18<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |- |2014 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |50–28<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |- |2015 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |14–6<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |- |2016 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity | 30–6<ref name=LR2023preview/> |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |- |2017 |{{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | 17–10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.totalrl.com/rhinos-ease-boxing-day-victory-wakefield/ |title=Rhinos ease to Boxing Day victory at Wakefield |website=Total Rugby League |date=26 December 2017 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref> |{{leagueicon|Wakefield |16}} Wakefield Trinity |Belle Vue |- |2018 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |10–4<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos-10-wakefield-trinity-4-rhinos-hit-back-to-retain-festive-challenge-honours-176622 |title=Leeds Rhinos 10 Wakefield Trinity 4: Rhinos hit back to retain Festive Challenge honours |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=26 December 2018 |access-date=14 May 2024}}</ref> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity |rowspan=2|Headingley Stadium |- |2019 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity |30–4<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/50924914 |title=Luke Gale: Leeds Rhinos half-back returns in festive Wakefield Trinity run-out |work=BBC Sport |date=27 December 2019 |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref> |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |- |2020 |colspan=4{{N/A|Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic}}<ref name=YEP25dec2020/> |- |2021 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |34–6<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/leeds-rhinos-34-6-wakefield-trinity-player-ratings-and-major-talking-points-47190/ | title=Leeds Rhinos 34-6 Wakefield Trinity: Player ratings and major talking points | date=26 December 2021 }}</ref> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity |rowspan=5|Headingley Stadium |- |2022 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity |32–20<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_DBWPbNcJYI | title=FULL MATCH | 2022 Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge | website=YouTube }}</ref> |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |- |2023 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |41–22<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/five-key-takeaways-leeds-rhinos-28349833 | title=Five key takeaways as Leeds Rhinos come from behind to beat Wakefield Trinity | date=26 December 2023 }}</ref> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity |- |2024 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |18–16<ref>https://www.therhinos.co.uk/article/21211/leeds-rhinos-18-wakefield-trinity-16</ref> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity |- |2025 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |18–10<ref>https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/boxing-day-round-up-rugby-league-leeds-rhinos</ref> |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity |}
=== Winners === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |Team |Wins |Years |- |1 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos |14 |2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 |- |2 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity |6 |2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022 |}
==Sponsors== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |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== {{Portal|Sports|England}} *Boxing Day Challenge *West Yorkshire derbies *Derbies in the Rugby Football League
==Notes== {{noteslist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Leeds Rhinos}} {{Wakefield Trinity}}
Category:Boxing Day Category:Leeds Rhinos Category:Wakefield Trinity