St Helens R.F.C.–Wigan Warriors rivalry

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St Helens R.F.C. – Wigan Warriors rivalry
Super League XXVII Wigan Warriors 30–10 St Helens
StadiumsTotally Wicked Stadium
DW Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total377
Most winsWigan (216)
All-time series (RFL-1 and SL only)257
Regular season series243
Largest victorySt. Helens 75 – 0 Wigan[1]

The St Helens R.F.C. – Wigan Warriors rivalry is a historic local rivalry between the rugby league clubs St Helens and the Wigan Warriors, based in North West England. The rivalry is born out of relative proximity of the two towns, but as two of the most successful clubs in British rugby it has become a marquee event in the calendar.

The sporting term of "Derby" or "Derbies" as used in all other sporting rivalries originates from this sporting fixture as a result of its early association with the Earl of Derby and the Stanley family's estate in Knowsley.[2]

Initially at least one fixture was played on Boxing Day annually and was known as the Boxing Day Derby, later the second fixture settled on Good Friday. Following the leagues decision to move the competition from winter to the summer the Good Friday Derby remains the one traditionally fixed game in the calendar.

History

The Totally Wicked Stadium (left) and the DW Stadium (right) are the homes of The Saints and The Warriors.
See also:
History of Wigan Warriors

St Helens and Wigan are two of the original twenty-two northern rugby clubs that broke away from the Rugby Football Union to form the Northern Union in 1895, which gave birth to the modern day sport of rugby league.[3] The two clubs first encounter in the newly formed league was in the first season of the new code. The fixture was played at St Helens' Knowsley Road ground and ended in a 0-0 draw.[4] The clubs have since faced each other over 300 times in all competitions, and the rivalry has grown to become rugby league's biggest derby encounter.

Over the years the two clubs have become very successful. Wigan are the most successful club in British rugby league, having won 22

2010
.

Locations of St Helens and Wigan on maps of Merseyside (left) and Greater Manchester (right).

Traditional dates

In keeping with tradition, derby fixtures within the

Festive Challenge emerge in keeping with the Boxing Day tradition. The Super League however has kept to the tradition of having derbies on Good Friday with St Helens and Wigan not competing a Good Friday Derby on only three occasions since the summer switch.[6]

The Original Sporting Derby

The term "Derby" applied to only two sporting events originally. The

Lord Stanley of Preston.[7]

Head to Head

Statistics correct as of 29/1/21[a]

In all competitions, competitive and uncompetitive:

Played St Helens Drawn Wigan
376[b] 141 18 215

Matches by competition

Competition Played
League (Inc. RFL-1 and SL) 257[c]
Challenge Cup 28
League Cup
 2
Charity Shield 1
Premiership 11
Lancashire League 17
Lancashire Cup 17
Yorkshire Cup 4
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy 6
Wartime Emergency League 14
Lancashire Wartime Emergency League 4
Friendlies 15

Meetings in major finals

Collective Honours

See also: List of St Helens R.F.C. seasons and List of Wigan Warriors seasons
As of the 2024 season
St Helens Honour Wigan Warriors
Rank No. No. Rank
2nd 17 League Championships 23 1st
2nd 16 League Leaders 22 1st
3rd 13 Challenge Cup 20 1st
3rd 4 Premiership 6 1st[d]
6th 1
League Cup
 8 1st
3rd 1 Charity Shield 4 1st
3rd 3 World Club Challenge 5 1st
2nd 8
Lancashire League
 18 1st
2nd 11 Lancashire Cup 21 1st
2nd[e] 2 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy 1 5th
Both teams have also received the BBC Sports Team of the Year Award once.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Source for matches played up to 27/9/19.[8]
  2. ^ Two of these fixtures were abandoned
  3. ^ Regular Season: 243; Playoffs: 14
  4. ^ Join first with Widnes Vikings
  5. Leigh Centurions
    .

References

General
Inline
  1. TheGuardian.com
    . 27 June 2005.
  2. ^ Wilson, Andy (2014-10-10). "Wigan and St Helens grow own products for Super League Grand Final". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  3. ^ "Rugby Football History".
  4. ^ "Wigan Warriors Rugby League Fan Site - www.cherryandwhite.co.uk".
  5. ^ "Rugby League on Christmas Day". 25 December 2017.
  6. ^ "A Good Friday tradition - Wigan v Saints".
  7. ^ "Lord Stanley (of Preston)". Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  8. ^ "Wigan Warriors Rugby League Fan Site - www.cherryandwhite.co.uk".
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