Wigan Warriors and Hull KR renew their fierce rivalry on the sport’s biggest stage as they meet in the 2026 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. With both sides dominating English rugby league over the past two years, this latest chapter promises drama, intensity, and a battle between the game’s very best.
Related
- Challenge Cup Results → /challenge-cup/
- Super League Coverage → /super-league/
Matchday Details
Wigan Warriors vs Hull KR
Saturday, May 30 – 3:00 pm (BST) – Wembley Stadium
📺 Broadcast: BBC One, BBC iPlayer
Referee: L. Moore
Reserve Referee: J. Smith
Touch Judge 1: M. Griffiths
Touch Judge 2: M. Craven
Video Referee: C. Kendall
Reserve Touch Judge: M. Lynn
| Wigan Warriors Player | Wigan Warriors Squad No. | Hull KR Squad No. | Hull KR Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Field | 1 | 2 | Tom Davies |
| Zach Eckersley | 2 | 3 | Peta Hiku |
| Adam Keighran | 3 | 4 | Oliver Gildart |
| Jake Wardle | 4 | 5 | Joe Burgess |
| Bevan French | 6 | 6 | Mikey Lewis |
| Harry Smith | 7 | 7 | Tyrone May |
| Ethan Havard | 8 | 8 | Sauaso Sue |
| Brad O’Neill | 9 | 9 | Jez Litten |
| Luke Thompson | 10 | 10 | Tom Amone |
| Junior Nsemba | 11 | 11 | Dean Hadley |
| Liam Farrell | 12 | 12 | James Batchelor |
| Kaide Ellis | 13 | 13 | Elliot Minchella |
| Sam Walters | 14 | 14 | Jack Broadbent |
| Patrick Mago | 15 | 15 | Sam Luckley |
| Oliver Partington | 17 | 16 | Jai Whitbread |
| Jack Farrimond | 19 | 17 | Rhyse Martin |
| Sam Eseh Jr | 20 | 18 | Jack Brown |
| Tom Forber | 22 | 19 | Karl Lawton |
| Kian McDermott | 23 | 20 | Jordan Dezaria |
| Taylor Kerr | 25 | 21 | Noah Booth |
| Lukas Mason | 27 | 22 | Bill Leyland |
| Noah Hodkinson | 28 |
Match Preview
Wigan and Hull KR will face each other in their third major final in three years, and this will be the first one under the Wembley arches in Challenge Cup Final history. The Warriors won the first final between the two sides in 2024 to complete all four trophies in a calendar year, and Hull KR got their revenge a year later to become the fifth team to lift the Super League trophy. Every trophy on offer has been won by one of these two sides since August 2023, so this is the benchmark of English Rugby League at this moment in time.
The major news coming from the Wigan camp is that 2023 Man of Steel winner Bevan French has been named in the squad for the first time since March 7 after tearing his hamstring in an away win against Super League newcomers Toulouse Olympique. It remains to be seen whether he will actually appear for the Cherry and Whites at Wembley, or if it is a mind game from Matt Peet ahead of the all-important clash on Saturday.
Hull KR appear to have come out of last week’s controversial game against Wigan unscathed, as Dean Hadley, Karl Lawton, and Jai Whitbread have all been named in the 21-man squad. Hadley looked to tweak his hamstring in the 62–4 win against a youthful Warriors side, but trained fully on Wednesday, as reported elsewhere. Lawton and Whitbread have both overcome knocks to be included in the squad. Tyrone May didn’t feature in last week’s win but has been given every chance to be ready for Saturday’s clash.
This game will be won and lost in the halves. Mikey Lewis is one of the best players in the league, and everyone knows it, but in the opposing line is one of the most underrated players in the Super League. Harry Smith proved how much Wigan missed him after he missed three games earlier this season following a ban. Wigan looked lost without Smith, and they are a different team with him in the number seven position.
Hull KR have the form going into the final, and that could help the Robins lift a fifth trophy in a row. However, this game will be nothing like last Thursday’s fixture between the two sides; it will be decided in moments, and you won’t be able to take your eyes off it for a minute.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Hull KR by 4.
Bold call: Harry Smith to win Lance Todd Trophy on the losing side.
