Easter is approaching. For those of you who follow Super League, that can only mean one thing… it’s Rivals Round!
Over the course of one weekend, old wounds will be reopened, families torn apart and cities torn in half as enemies battle each other for 80 minutes.
Everywhere you look, history is written. Beyond Hull, the east and west are clearly separated. This game will be circled as a must-win on the calendar.
Billinge Hill separates St Helens from Wigan. Families live across the border in the two towns, which are about 10 miles apart. Your grandma may support Wigan, but if you support St Helens, for one day, a line will be drawn in the sand.
And Bradford Bulls vs Leeds Rhinos is back. The Bulls are back and the two Yorkshire giants will clash in Super League for the first time since 2014.
The weekend concludes with another classic derby as Castleford Tigers host Wakefield Trinity.
Coaches may say there is respect between the clubs, that they admire each other’s play, or that they have just played a good game. Why not ask your fans? they are lying.
When friends or on the terrace discuss the team’s chances for the Super League season, they will say, “As long as we win that much on Good Friday, we don’t care.”
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Jack Welsby, who provoked Wigan fans after scoring against St Helens, was particularly pleased when Sam Tomkins reminded him of his old antics in the comments, such as this example from back in 2012.
Objectivity is lost, and fans are so passionate about their team that they are unable to communicate with people of the opposite color until after the game is over.
Next week, with subjectivity and tribalism firmly entrenched, let’s see what Rivals Round has in store…
250th: Hull KR v Hull FC, Friday 3 April, 12pm (12.30pm KO)
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Hull KR’s Elliot Minchella was charged with this tackle during a heated Hull derby.
In the only rivalry in which both clubs hail from the same city, Hull FC’s match against Hull KR will be a lesson in intensity, deep-seated contempt and an opportunity to show who is No. 1, not just in the city.
Forget about the Super League table, a 1-0 win against Derby was the main objective over the Easter weekend, with even more history at stake as the two Hull teams meet for the 250th time.
The Rivals round begins at Hull Derby, giving the Black and Whites and Robins 80 minutes of time to seize the chance to say ‘this city is ours’.
Add in the special factor of Hull KR being the reigning Super League champions and even world champions, and Hull FC will be more motivated than ever to knock them off their perch.
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Speaking to Jenna Brooks on Sky Sports’ The Bench podcast, Hull KR’s Jez and Hull FC’s Davey Litten discuss who their families will support when the cousins meet.
Both teams had mixed starts to the season. Hull FC has 3 wins and 3 losses, KR has 2 wins and 3 losses.
But they are all confident after their respective big wins. John Cartwright’s Hull FC, who have won back-to-back games against Leeds and Catalonia, will be hoping to show they can fly high. By defeating St Helens, the Robins made a statement that they are still here.
We’ll find out on Friday who will make the next statement.
St Helens vs Wigan Warriors, Friday 3 April, 2:30pm (3pm KO)
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St Helens and Wigan players were involved in a huge brawl during a Super League match on Good Friday 2004.
The 19th Earl of Derby is thought to have given the name ‘Derby’ to just two sporting events. One, of course, is horse racing at Epsom.
What about the other one? Wigan Warriors vs St Helens.
Wigan Warriors and St Helens are two teams that often come up first when discussing which Super League clubs produce the most academy products. Historically, it’s that element that makes this match, which dates back to 1895, so volatile.
Yes, Super League teams are full of Australian stars and players who have embraced this city as their own and are firmly invested in the game. But at the heart of Saints vs. Wigan are local lads playing for their hometown. As well as hurling insults on the terraces, they ended up battling their arch-enemies in a symbolic clash on Good Friday.
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Let’s take a look back at Welsby’s dramatic last-minute try that sealed victory between St Helens and Wigan Warriors in the 2020 Grand Final.
Add to that the fact that St Helens are coming back from a 52-10 defeat at Hull KR and Wigan are bouncing back from a crushing defeat at Huddersfield, and both teams need a Good Friday win.
Talk about a concoction made for top-notch drama!
Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos, Friday 3 April, 8pm
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The iconic Super League Derby is back! For the first time since 2014, you can watch this grudge match.
The derby was typical of the early 2000s, when neighboring Yorkshire cities with big stars battled it out in front of packed houses at Odsal and Headingley. It was bruised, it was tough, and 34 players gave it their all, knowing that after 80 minutes they could walk around town being treated like heroes and be done with it.
Odsal will host the game for the first time in 12 years as head coach Kurt Haggerty’s Bulls continue their strong charge from the start. Despite their heavy defeat at Castleford, they sit sixth in the table and know a derby win would solidify them as a strong early surprise package.
It’s a welcome return for the Rhinos to have a rival in front of them, and it’s also a chance to sit back and remind the Bulls that they are the big boys of Super League and if anyone owns this area, it’s them.
Their strong win against Warrington will put them in a good position.
It will be interesting to see if the Rhinos can continue their rampage or if the Bulls will mount another onslaught.
Catalans Dragons vs. Toulouse Olympique, Saturday, April 4, 6:00 p.m.
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There will also be another derby in France as the Catalans Dragons host the Olympic Games in Toulouse, also in France.
The two teams have only faced each other twice, when Toulouse were in the Super League in 2022.
The Dragons took the spoils in both.
Currently, only two points separate Catalonia in 8th place and Toulouse in 10th place.
This French rivalry will be reignited in front of Perpignan’s always intense atmosphere.
Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Trinity, Sunday 5th April, 3pm
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Highlights of Wakefield Trinity vs Castleford Tigers in Super League
What better way to end the Rivals Round and Easter weekend than with the West Yorkshire derby between Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity.
This frenetic derby has more history than Wakefield relegating Castleford on the final day of the 2006 Super League season. Its history is deeper.
This Yorkshire rivalry is steeped in storylines and intertwined histories, and another chapter is set to be written on Sunday night.
Castleford go into this contest on the back of a much-needed win over Bradford. Wakefield has improved going into the season and sits in 4th place with 4 wins and 2 losses.
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Wakefield Trinity prop Caius Fertili scores after running 70 meters against Castleford Tigers
Trinity head coach Darryl Powell knows the Tigers well, having coached them to the 2017 Grand Final. Now he takes Wakefield’s team back to the old turf once again, but this time against the enemy.
Castleford head coach Ryan Carr gave an enthusiastic speech after their last win about how they showed their identity in the way they played. He will have to look at it again when his old enemy appears before him.
What other games are there this weekend?
There are two other games to enjoy on Saturday, April 4th, with Catalunya Dragons vs. Toulouse Olympique. Huddersfield Giants host York Knights at 3pm, before taking on Warrington Wolves and Leigh Leopards at 3pm as well.
Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+.
2026 Super League – Important dates and highlights
Rivals Round: 3rd April – 5th April Super League in Paris: Saturday 6th June: Catalans Dragons vs. Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30 UK (Sky Sports) Magic Weekend: 4th July – 5th July Rivals Round Turnaround: 23rd July – 26th July Elimination Playoffs: 19th September – 20th September Playoff Semi-Finals: September 26-September 27 Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League match live this season. Exclusively live, including two matches from each round, the remaining five matches will be shown weekly on Sky Sports+.
