The World Club Challenge will be contested on Australian soil for the first time in two decades, when the NRL Premiers Sydney Roosters host English Super League Champions, Wigan Warriors, on Saturday February 22, 2014 at Allianz Stadium with the match kicking off at approximately 7.30pm AEDST (8.30am GMT).
The Roosters and Warriors have been in regular contact with the NRL as preparations for the match get underway and can now confirm details of the game.
"This is a great event for all Rugby League fans who have waited a long time to have the opportunity to attend a match like this in Australia," said Paul Kind, NRL Head of Marketing and Commercial.
"The NRL is working with the Roosters and Wigan and we are very excited about the Roosters plans to stage the World Club Challenge at Allianz Stadium in the lead-up to the 2014 Telstra Premiership season kicking off soon after."
Roosters Chief Operating Officer Football, Brian Canavan, added: "We are very proud to be contesting the World Club Challenge, and especially that we will be doing so here in Australia and at our home ground."
Wigan Chairman and Owner, Ian Lenagan, commented: "Wigan has a great tradition in the World Club Challenge having won the very first one on English soil back in 1987 against Manly and the last one in Australia almost 20 years ago. We are delighted to be taking our Club to Australia for this huge event."
The winner of the match will claim the title of the world's best rugby league Club side, and Roosters and Warriors Members have an exclusive opportunity to pre-purchase tickets at a discounted price before they are released for public sale.
From Monday, November 25 to January 7, Roosters and Warriors Members will be able to claim their seat to the clash, the first World Club Challenge to be played in Australia since the 1994 match between Wigan and the Broncos at Brisbane's then ANZ Stadium.
Non-members will be able to buy tickets when they are released to the general public from January 13, 2014.
"We had record levels of support at our home games in 2013, and the World Club Challenge is an amazing opportunity for Roosters supporters to cheer on their side as they run out at Allianz Stadium for the first time in 2014 against the Super League champions," said Mr Ted Helliar, Roosters Chief Operating Officer Commercial.
"It will be here before we know it, and the best way for Roosters and Wigan fans to ensure they get the best seat in the house is to purchase their 2014 Club Membership and then take advantage of the exclusive priority purchasing period," he added.
To purchase a Wigan Warriors Seasonal Membership, [click here]
Sydney Roosters Assistant Coach Craig Fitzgibbon was a member of the last Tricolours side to contest a World Club Challenge, when the Roosters beat St Helens 38-0 in 2003.
"As a player it was a fantastic experience to travel to England to represent the Roosters in the World Club Challenge, but now I'm a member of the coaching staff, I'm happy it's going to be played here in our backyard to help with our preparation," said Fitzgibbon.
"The World Club Challenge is a great spectacle. The players are really looking forward to the game are keen to maintain and build on the standards they set last season.
"Wigan are a strong outfit and it's definitely going to be a challenge for us at that time of year, but we'll be playing to win," he added.
The Roosters won the first World Club Challenge which was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in June 1976, beating St Helens 25-2.
Wigan Warriors Head Coach Shaun Wane was man of the match in the 1987 World Club Challenge 8-2 victory against Manly, in front of almost 37,000 fans at the Cherry & White's famous old Central Park ground.
"It is great that the World Club Challenge returns to Australia after the UK has hosted the competition successfully for a number of years" he said.
"The Roosters are a champion side but we are excited about travelling to Sydney for the game and the challenge that lies before us as we aim to be crowned World Club Champions for a fourth time."
