European Club Challenge
{{Short description|Wheelchair rugby league competition}}
{{About|the wheelchair rugby league competition|the challenge match between Widnes Vikings and Saint-Estève|1989 European Club Challenge}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Wheelchair Super League
| current_season = 2024 European Club Challenge
| logo =
| logo_size = 250px
| sport = Wheelchair rugby league
| country = {{ENG}}
{{FRA}}
{{WAL}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|2023}}
| teams = 2
| promotion =
| relegation =
| levels =
| domestic_cup =
| league_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions = {{leagueicon|Catalans|14}} Catalans Dragons
| most_champs = {{leagueicon|Catalans|14}} Catalans Dragons
(2 titles)
| TV =
| website =
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62011/halifax-panthers-to-represent-england-in-inaugural-european-wheelchair-rugby-league-club-championship|title=Halifax Panthers to represent England in inaugural European Wheelchair Rugby League Club Championship|website=www.rugby-league.com|access-date=7 April 2024}}
The competition was originally proposed in 2011.{{Cite web |date=28 February 2011 |title=New Wheelchair Rugby League structure unveiled |url=http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?id=39826 |access-date=5 November 2023 |website=www.sportfocus.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517174423/http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?id=39826 |archive-date=17 May 2023}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.ffr13.fr/xiii-fauteuil-f-plaza-faire-participer-tout-le-monde-a-la-fete/ |title=XIII Fauteuil – F. PLAZA : "Faire participer tout le monde à la fête!" |language=fr |website=FFRXIII |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=21 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.catalansdragons.com/en/articles-9/105-3273-dragons-wheelchair-team-champions/ |title=Dragons wheelchair team champions |website=Catalans Dragons |date=23 May 2015 |access-date=21 March 2024}}
Catalans Dragons are the most successful club in the competition, winning two out of two titles, one shared and one outright.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/68753474.amp | title=Catalans beat Wigan to become European champions | date=6 April 2024 }}
Results
{{rugbyleaguebox
|bg =
|event = 2023 European Club Challenge
|date = 25 August 2023
|time = 19:30 CEST (UTC+02:00){{cite web|url=https://www.ffr13.fr/european-championship-les-handi-dragons-visent-un-quatrieme-titre/ |title=European Championship : les Handi Dragons visent un quatrième titre |language=fr |website=FFRXIII |date=24 August 2023 |access-date=9 April 2024}}
|team1 = Catalans Dragons
|try1 = G. Clausells, N. Clausells (4), Dore
|goal1 = N. Clausells (4/6)
|score = 32–32
|report = [https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62078/wheelchair-rugby-league-european-club-challenge report]
|team2 = Halifax Panthers
|try2 = Bourson (2), Hawkins (2), Holt
|goal2 = Boardman (6)
|stadium = Sports Complex Germanor, Cabestany
|attendance=
|referee =
|touch =
|manofmatch=
|potmaward =
|potmwinner=
}}
{{Wheelchair rugby league match squad
| collapsed = y
| align = center
| hometeam = Catalans Dragons
| awayteam = Halifax Panthers
| squadsize = 8
| homeBorder =
| homeBGcolour =
| homeFGcolour =
| awayBorder =
| awayBGcolour =
| awayFGcolour =
| homeCoach = Gilles Clausells
| homeStart1 = Gilles Clausells
| homeStart2 = Joel Lacombe
| homeStart3 = Nicolas Clausells
| homeStart4 = Arno Vargas
| homeStart5 = Damien Dore
| homeIN1 = Victor Puly
| homeIN2 = Fabian Plaza
| homeIN3 = Joel Gelade Panzo
| awayCoach = Wayne Boardman
| awayStart1 = Wayne Boardman
| awayStart2 = Jérémy Bourson
| awayStart3 = Seb Bechara
| awayStart4 = Nathan Holmes
| awayStart5 = Rob Hawkins
| awayIN1 = Jordan Holt
| awayIN2 = Thomas Martin
| awayIN3 = Kieron Johnston
| source =
}}
----
{{rugbyleaguebox
|bg =
|event = 2024 European Club Challenge
|date = 6 April 2024
|time = 18:00 BST (UTC+01:00){{cite news |title=European Wheelchair Rugby League Club Championship: Wigan bid for glory against Catalans |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/68698174 |work=BBC Sport |date=5 April 2024}}
|team1 = Wigan Warriors
|try1 = D. Roberts (3), Rigby (2)
|goal1 = D. Roberts (4/5)
|score = 28–68
|report = [https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/04/06/warriors-beaten-in-wheelchair-european-championship/ report]
|team2 = Catalans Dragons
|try2 = Dore (5), Bourson (5), Bechara, Vargas
|goal2 = Bechara (10/13)
|stadium = Robin Park Arena, Wigan
|attendance=
|referee = David Butler
|referee2 = Djamel Merzouk
|touch =
|manofmatch= Arno Vargas
|potmaward =
|potmwinner=
}}
{{Wheelchair rugby league match squad
| collapsed = y
| align = center
| hometeam = Wigan Warriors
| awayteam = Catalans Dragons
| squadsize = 9
| homeBorder =
| homeBGcolour =
| homeFGcolour =
| awayBorder =
| awayBGcolour =
| awayFGcolour =
| homeCoach = Chris Greenhalgh
| homeStart1 = Chris Greenhalgh
| homeStart1num = 1
| homeStart2 = Nathan Roberts
| homeStart2num = 4
| homeStart3 = Declan Roberts (c)
| homeStart3num = 7
| homeStart4 = Adam Rigby
| homeStart4num = 8
| homeStart5 = Phil Roberts
| homeStart5num = 9
| homeIN1 = Martin Lane
| homeIN1num = 3
| homeIN2 = Mark Williams
| homeIN2num = 10
| homeIN3 = Matt Wooloff
| homeIN3num = 15
| homeIN4 =
| homeIN4num =
| awayCoach = Gilles Clausells
| awayStart1 = Seb Bechara (c)
| awayStart1num = 10
| awayStart2 = Jérémy Bourson
| awayStart2num = 12
| awayStart3 = Damien Dore
| awayStart3num = 28
| awayStart4 = Victor Puly
| awayStart4num = 8
| awayStart5 = Arno Vargas
| awayStart5num = 10
| awayIN1 = Gilles Clausells
| awayIN1num = 1
| awayIN2 = Joel Lacombe
| awayIN2num = 2
| awayIN3 = Joel Gelade Panzo
| awayIN3num = 9
| awayIN4 = Cyril Torres
| awayIN4num = 13
| titleIN4 =
| source =
}}
Titles
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Club | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| {{leagueicon|Catalans|14}} Catalans Dragons | 2 | 2023, 2024 |
| {{leagueicon|Halifax|14}} Halifax Panthers | 1 | 2023 |
Italics indicates shared title