Rugby League Charity Shield (Great Britain)

Charity Shield
SportRugby league
Inaugural season1985-86
Ceased1995-96
Number of teams2
Country United Kingdom
HoldersWigan (1995-96)
Most titlesWigan (4 titles)
Related competitionRFL Championship
Challenge Cup
Premiership

The Rugby League Charity Shield was a trophy for British rugby league clubs that was held as a one-off match at the beginning of a new season. It was modelled on English football's Charity Shield, and was held between 1985 and 1995. Normally the team that had won last season's championship would play the team that currently held the Challenge Cup. In years where the same team won both trophies the following season's Charity Shield was between them and the Premiership winners. In years where one team won all three competitions then the match would be between them and the second placed team in the championship.

The Charity Shield was held at a variety of venues; the Okells Bowl in Douglas on the Isle of Man was used initially with some regularity.

Results

Year Date Winners Score Runner-up Venue Attendance
1985–86 25 August 1985 Wigan 34 - 6 Hull Kingston Rovers1 Isle of Man 4,066
1986–87 24 August 1986 Halifax1 9 - 8 Castleford Isle of Man 3,276
1987–88 23 August 1987 Wigan1 44 - 12 Halifax Isle of Man 4,757
1988–89 21 August 1988 Widnes1 20 - 14 Wigan Isle of Man 5,044
1989–90 27 August 1989 Widnes1 27 - 22 Wigan Anfield, Liverpool 17,263
1990–91 19 August 1990 Widnes2 24 - 8 Wigan1 Vetch Field, Swansea 11,178
1991–92 25 August 1991 Wigan1 22 - 8 Hull2 Gateshead 10,248
1992–93 23 August 1992 St. Helens3 17 - 0 Wigan1 Gateshead 7,364
1993–94 Not played
1994–95 Not played
1995–96 13 August 1995 Wigan1 45 - 20 Leeds3 Royal Showground, Dublin 5,716

Footnotes

  1. Denotes that team were previous season's champions
  2. Denotes that team were previous season's Premiership winners
  3. Denotes that team were previous season's championship runners-up