Wigan set to play Roosters in Sydney

The World Club Challenge is set to be played Down Under for the first time since 1994, when Wigan take on Sydney Roosters in February.

Discussions have been ongoing for several weeks, and the Super League and NRL champions will meet at the Allianz Stadium on February 22.

Wigan were the last English club to make the trip to play the annual contest Down Under, defeating Brisbane 20-14 almost 20 years ago.

The competition was shelved from then until 2000, although there was the expanded World Club Championship in 1997, and has since been held in England.

Leeds, Wigan and Bradford hold the record for most victories, with three each, although the Roosters could join them with a win, having won it back in 2003 and in 1976 as Eastern Suburbs.

To accommodate their trip to Australia, Wigan will kick-off their Super League campaign with a stand-alone fixture against Huddersfield Giants on February 7, and their Round 2 clash with Widnes, scheduled for the same weekend as the World Club Challenge, will be re-arranged for later in the season.

Wigan are yet to confirm the dates and their plans, with exact details still being finalised, but the move was revealed by the NRL this morning.