Wednesday 26 July 2017 12:55, UK
A Super League game will be played outside Europe for the first time when Wigan Warriors take on Hull FC at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium in 2018.
Wigan and Hull FC will compete in an official Super League fixture on February 10, 2018, in what will be a home fixture for the Warriors.
The following week, the two English clubs will then take part in the first double-header games between Super League and NRL teams at a single venue when Wigan face South Sydney Rabbitohs and Hull play St George Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium, Sydney on Saturday, February 17, 2018.
Wigan and Hull will both return to the UK to participate in the World Club Challenge or Series on the weekend of February 24/25, should either team qualify.
New South Wales Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall, said: "Australia is mad for rugby league and I am thrilled the NSW Government has secured these exclusive matches for Sydney and Wollongong which will drive visitors to both areas.
"The two Super League sides will spend two weeks in the State with the three-match tour expected to attract close to 5,000 interstate and overseas visitors to NSW, injecting more than $7m into the local visitor economy.
"We have a stellar line-up of rugby league events already scheduled in NSW, with this tour following the 2017 NRL Grand Final in October and Women's Rugby League World Cup in November and joining Game II of the State of Origin series in the 2018 major events calendar."
Wigan have entered into an official partnership with the New South Wales Government in order to facilitate the venture and Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan feels it has the potential to create a lot of revenue for the club.
"This announcement is one of the most innovative and exciting in the history of Wigan Rugby League Club," Lenagan said.
"The opportunities to create new and increased core business from sponsorships and partnerships together with Wigan brand development, the increased profile with NRL players and opportunity for our fans makes this the biggest single commercial contract in the history of the club."
Tickets and travel packages for both games will go on sale at the end of August with 5,000 UK fans expected to travel with the teams.
