Big Matches in Manchester

Manchester has been the site of a number of important rugby matches since the earliest days of the sport. These games are community events. They are not just about the players, but about the backroom staff, match-day volunteers, the crowd, the mascots – everyone.

Be a part of Kick Off!
If you or your family or friends have been involved in any of these matches, please get in touch and share your memories! 

Here are just a few of the games held in Manchester over the years.

Calcutta Cup, Whalley Range
No. 2 – 28th February 1880 – England 9-3 Scotland (the first time in England)
No. 4 – 3rd March 1882 – England 0-2 Scotland
No. 8 – 5th March 1887 – England 1-1 Scotland

England v Ireland, Home Nations, Whalley Range
10th February 1881 – England 2 goals – 0 Ireland
10th February 1883 – England 1 goal – 0 Ireland
7th February 1885 – England 2 minors – 1 minor Ireland
6th February 1892 – England 7-0 Ireland

Calcutta Cup, Fallowfield Stadium
No. 16 – 13th March 1897 – England 12-3 Scotland (The last played outside of London, Glasgow, or Edinburgh)

The Fallowfield Challenge Cup Finals, Fallowfield Stadium
29th April 1899 – Oldham 19-9 Hunslet
28th April 1900 – Swinton 16-8 Salford

Rugby League Championship Grand Final, Maine Road, 1939-1956
1939 – Salford 8-6 Castleford, 69504
1946 – Wigan 13-4 Huddersfield, 67136
1947 – Wigan 13-4 Dewsbury, 40599
1948 – Warrington 15-5 Bradford Northern, 69,143
1949 – Huddersfield 13-12 Warrington, 75,194
1950 – Wigan 20-2 Huddersfield 65065
1951 – Workington Town 26-11 Warrington, 61618
1953 – St Helens 24-14 Halifax 51083
1954 – Warrington 8-7 Halifax 36519
1955 – Warrington 7-3 Oldham 49434
1956 – Hull 10-9 Halifax 36675

The Ashes, Old Trafford,
25th October 1986 – Great Britain 16-38 Australia, 50583
10th November 1990 – Great Britain 10-14 Australia, 46615
5th November 1998 – Great Britain 8-38 Australia, 43930

Rugby League Challenge Cup Semi-Final, Maine Road, 25th March 1989
Wigan 13-6 Warrington, 26529

Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final, Old Trafford, 21st October 1995
England 25-10 Wales, 30042

Super League Grand Final, Old Trafford, 1998-Present
1998 – Wigan 10-4 Leeds. Attendance: 43533
1999 – St Helens 8-6 Bradford 50717
2000 – St Helens 29-16 Wigan 58132
2001 – Bradford 37-6 Wigan 60164
2002 – St Helens 19-18 Bradford 61138
2003 – Bradford 25-12 Wigan 65537
2004 – Leeds 16-8 Bradford 65547
2005 – Bradford 15-6 Leeds 65728
2006 – St Helens 26-4 Hull 72582
2007 – Leeds 33-6 St Helens 71352
2008 – Leeds 24-16 St Helens 68810
2009 – Leeds 18-10 St Helens 63259
2010 – Wigan 22-10 St Helens 71526
2011 – Leeds 32-16 St Helens 69107
2012 – Leeds 26-18 Warrington 70676
2013 – Wigan 30-16 Warrington 66281
2014 – St Helens 14-6 Wigan 70102
2015 – Leeds 22-20 Wigan 73512
2016 – Wigan 12-6 Warrington 70202
2017 – Leeds 24-6 Castleford 72827

Rugby League World Cup Final, Old Trafford
25th November 2000 – Australia 40-12 New Zealand, 44329
30th November 2013 – New Zealand 2-34 Australia, 74468

Rugby Union World Cup, Manchester City Stadium, 10th October 2015,
England 60-3 Uruguay, 50778

And many more!