# Festive Challenge > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Festive_Challenge > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Festive_Challenge.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festive_Challenge > Source revision: 1344248022 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Rugby_Football_League) | champion = {{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) (14th title) | season = | most_champs = {{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) | count = 14 | website = | TV = | qualification = | related_comps = }} The '''Festive Challenge''' is an annual friendly [rugby](/source/rugby_football) match played between [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) and [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) that is played on [Boxing Day](/source/Boxing_Day).{{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 }}{{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}} ==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](/source/Super_League) in 1996 and the switch to a summer season. Following the [winter of 1962–1963](/source/Winter_of_1962%E2%80%931963_in_the_United_Kingdom), which caused the postponement of many sports fixtures, undersoil heating was installed at [Headingley](/source/Headingley_Rugby_Stadium). 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.](/source/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.{{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}} In 1995, Leeds defeated Castleford at Headingley in their final competitive Boxing Day match before the move to the summer era.{{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}} ===Establishment=== In 1996, [Gary Hetherington](/source/Gary_Hetherington), the recently appointed chief executive at Leeds, wanted to continue the tradition of a Boxing Day game so a friendly against [Halifax](/source/Halifax_Panthers) was played as the first "festive challenge". In the following years Leeds played Halifax three more times and faced [Bradford Bulls](/source/Bradford_Bulls) in 1999.{{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}} Between 2001 and 2003 Leeds played [Castleford Tigers](/source/Castleford_Tigers) and defeated them in all three matches.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}} ===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.{{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}} The 2010 event was postponed to New Year's Day due to poor weather.{{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}} 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.{{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}} {{-}} ==Results== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |Year |Winner |Score |Runners up |Venue |- |2004 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |32–12 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |rowspan=13|[Headingley Stadium](/source/Headingley_Rugby_Stadium) |- |2005 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |42–18{{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}} |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2006 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |22–14 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2007 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |26–18 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |- |2008 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |22–16 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |- |2009 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |32–12 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2010{{efn|Postponed to New Year's Day 2011}} |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |40–22 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2011 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |26–10 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2012 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |40–26 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2013 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |18–18 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2014 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |50–28 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2015 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |14–6 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |- |2016 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) | 30–6 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |- |2017 |{{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) | 17–10{{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}} |{{leagueicon|Wakefield |16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |[Belle Vue](/source/Belle_Vue_(Wakefield)) |- |2018 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |10–4{{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}} |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |rowspan=2|[Headingley Stadium](/source/Headingley_Rugby_Stadium) |- |2019 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |30–4{{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}} |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |- |2020 |colspan=4{{N/A|Cancelled due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom)}} |- |2021 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |34–6{{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 }} |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |rowspan=5|[Headingley Stadium](/source/Headingley_Rugby_Stadium) |- |2022 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |32–20{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_DBWPbNcJYI | title=FULL MATCH | 2022 Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge | website=[YouTube](/source/YouTube) }} |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |- |2023 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |41–22{{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 }} |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2024 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |18–16https://www.therhinos.co.uk/article/21211/leeds-rhinos-18-wakefield-trinity-16 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |- |2025 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |18–10https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/boxing-day-round-up-rugby-league-leeds-rhinos |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |} === Winners === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |Team |Wins |Years |- |1 |{{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [Leeds Rhinos](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) |14 |2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 |- |2 |{{leagueicon|wakefield|16}} [Wakefield Trinity](/source/Wakefield_Trinity) |6 |2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022 |} ==Sponsors== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |Period |Sponsor |Name |- |2009 |[Cravendale](/source/Cravendale) |'''Cravendale Festive Challenge''' |- |2011–2013 |Heatshot |'''Heatshot Festive Challenge''' |- |2014 |[Tetley's](/source/Tetley's_Bitter) |'''Tetley's Festive Challenge''' |- |2015– |Wetherby Whaler |'''Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge''' |} ==See also== {{Portal|Sports|England}} *[Boxing Day Challenge](/source/Boxing_Day_Challenge) *[West Yorkshire derbies](/source/West_Yorkshire_derbies) *[Derbies in the Rugby Football League](/source/Derbies_in_the_Rugby_Football_League) ==Notes== {{noteslist}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{Leeds Rhinos}} {{Wakefield Trinity}} Category:Boxing Day Category:Leeds Rhinos Category:Wakefield Trinity --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Festive Challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festive_Challenge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festive_Challenge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.