European Club Challenge

Wheelchair rugby league competition

This article is about the wheelchair rugby league competition. For the challenge match between Widnes Vikings and Saint-Estève, see 1989 European Club Challenge.

Wheelchair Super LeagueCurrent season, competition or edition:
2024 European Club Challenge

Sport| Wheelchair rugby league
Founded| 2023; 2 years ago (2023)
No. of teams| 2
Country|  England
France
Wales
Most recent
champion(s)|  Catalans Dragons
Most titles|  Catalans Dragons
(2 titles)

The European Club Challenge is a single match wheelchair rugby league competition played between the previous season's British Super League and French Elite 1 champions. The competition was established in 2023 and is similar in concept to the World Club Challenge in the running game.[1]

The competition was originally proposed in 2011.[2] In 2015, a European Cup competition took place between Catalans Dragons and Leyland Warriors. It was played over two legs with both being won by the French team; 40–30 in England and 54–20 in France.[3][4]

Catalans Dragons are the most successful club in the competition, winning two out of two titles, one shared and one outright.[5]

## Results

[edit]

2023 European Club Challenge

25 August 2023
19:30 CEST (UTC+02:00)[6]

Catalans Dragons | 32–32  | Halifax Panthers

|
|

Tries: G. Clausells, N. Clausells (4), Dore
Goals: N. Clausells (4/6)
| report
| Tries: Bourson (2), Hawkins (2), Holt
Goals: Boardman (6)

Sports Complex Germanor, Cabestany

Team details Catalans Dragons | Position | Halifax Panthers

|
|

Name | Number | Number | Name
Gilles Clausells | 1 |

Starter

| 1 | Wayne Boardman
Joel Lacombe | 2 |

Starter

| 2 | Jeremy Bourson
Nicolas Clausells | 3 |

Starter

| 3 | Seb Bechara
Arno Vargas | 4 |

Starter

| 4 | Nathan Holmes
Damien Dore | 5 |

Starter

| 5 | Rob Hawkins
Victor Puly | 6 |

Interchange

| 6 | Jordan Holt
Fabian Plaza | 7 |

Interchange

| 7 | Thomas Martin
Joel Gelade Panzo | 8 |

Interchange

| 8 | Kieron Johnston
Gilles Clausells |  |

Coach

|  | Wayne Boardman

* * *

2024 European Club Challenge

6 April 2024
18:00 BST (UTC+01:00)[7]

Wigan Warriors | 28–68  | Catalans Dragons

|
|

Tries: D. Roberts (3), Rigby (2)
Goals: D. Roberts (4/5)
| report
| Tries: Dore (5), Bourson (5), Bechara, Vargas
Goals: Bechara (10/13)

Robin Park Arena, Wigan
Referees: David Butler, Djamel Merzouk
Player of the Match: Arno Vargas

Team details Wigan Warriors | Position | Catalans Dragons

|
|

Name | Number | Number | Name
Chris Greenhalgh | 1 |

Starter

| 10 | Seb Bechara (c)
Nathan Roberts | 4 |

Starter

| 12 | Jeremy Bourson
Declan Roberts (c) | 7 |

Starter

| 28 | Damien Dore
Adam Rigby | 8 |

Starter

| 8 | Victor Puly
Phil Roberts | 9 |

Starter

| 10 | Arno Vargas
Martin Lane | 3 |

Interchange

| 1 | Gilles Clausells
Mark Williams | 10 |

Interchange

| 2 | Joel Lacombe
Matt Wooloff | 15 |

Interchange

| 9 | Joel Gelade Panzo
|  |

Interchange

| 13 | Cyril Torres
Chris Greenhalgh |  |

Coach

|  | Gilles Clausells

## Titles

[edit]

Club | No. | Years

|
|

Catalans Dragons | 2 | 2023, 2024
Halifax Panthers | 1 | 2023

Italics indicates shared title

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Halifax Panthers to represent England in inaugural European Wheelchair Rugby League Club Championship". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
2. ^ "New Wheelchair Rugby League structure unveiled". www.sportfocus.com. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
3. ^ "XIII Fauteuil – F. PLAZA : "Faire participer tout le monde à la fête!"". FFRXIII (in French). 4 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
4. ^ "Dragons wheelchair team champions". Catalans Dragons. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
5. ^ "Catalans beat Wigan to become European champions". 6 April 2024.
6. ^ "European Championship : les Handi Dragons visent un quatrième titre". FFRXIII (in French). 24 August 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
7. ^ "European Wheelchair Rugby League Club Championship: Wigan bid for glory against Catalans". BBC Sport. 5 April 2024.

* v
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Wheelchair rugby league

World Cup|

* 2008
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* 2026

International|

* World Rankings
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* Fassolette-Kielty Trophy

National teams|

* Australia
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* New Zealand
* Scotland
* United States
* Wales

Domestic / Club
Competitions|

* European Club Challenge

ARL|

* Wheelchair State Challenge

FFR|

* Elite 1

RFL|

* Super League
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* Championship
* 2024
* Challenge Cup

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