World Club Challenge expansion back on the agenda

Plans for an expanded World Club Challenge are once again back on the agenda, ahead of Leeds’ clash with Melbourne on Friday.

It could be the last version of the event in its current guise, with talks about taking it Down Under and expanding the competition to six teams as early as next season.

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington said: “It’s all meant to integrate with the international calendar.

“If there’s an international tournament in one hemisphere, then the World Club Challenge will be in the other.

“Down the track, we see this becoming a valuable TV commodity and hopefully a vehicle for promoting rugby league in new markets, such as Dubai or Hong Kong.”

Friday’s game marks the 13th consecutive year the World Club Challenge has been held in England.