Legends turn out for Super League 30th birthday celebrations

Super League celebrates its 30th birthday in style when Leeds Rhinos host Warrington Wolves on Sunday – with the new season having already quickly captured imaginations. 

It was on March 29 1996 when the bright new era of summer rugby league got underway with Paris St Germain’s famous win over Sheffield Eagles in the French capital. 

Leeds and Warrington faced each other on the same day at Headingley and those clubs reunite to mark the anniversary this weekend. 

Rugby league legends Adrian Morley and Iestyn Harris, who were both still just gifted teenagers when playing for Rhinos and Wolves respectively that afternoon, will bring out the match ball together ahead of kick-off. 

Iconic Super League figures such as Leeds great Danny McGuire and St Helens hero James Roby will be in attendance along with Elliot Minchella, the captain of reigning champions Hull KR. 

Channel 4’s The Last Leg host – and current RFL president – Adam Hills will also be watching at Headingley alongside Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons. 

Across the Birthday Round 6, which starts tonight with Castleford Tigers hosting Bradford Bulls, fans of all clubs are encouraged to wear retro kits to help celebrate and upload images here.

Hull FC players are joining the party - they will arrive for Sunday’s game against Catalans Dragons donning retro match jerseys! - while all clubs across the Round will also be presented at kick-off with specially designed pennants to mark 30 years of Betfred Super League. 

Recently-crowned World Club Challenge victors Hull KR entertain high-flying St Helens on Friday night when York Knights – the newest club in Super League after being promoted for the first time this year – bid to quickly pick up their third victory when facing Wakefield Trinity. 

More history will be made at leaders Wigan Warriors versus Huddersfield Giants on Saturday when Tara Jones becomes the first woman to referee a men’s Super League game – at the end of a memorable week which also saw her visit Windsor Castle to receive an MBE. 

Leigh Leopards and Toulouse Olympique, two clubs who didn’t enter Super League until 2005 and 2022 respectively, illustrating the growing diversity of the competition, are also in action on Saturday. 

There has already been some explosive, thrilling and exhilarating action this season, watched by bumper crowds in stadiums and audiences at home, as the competition lives up to its League Hits Different promise. 

RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones said: “Super League is rightly excited to celebrate its 30th birthday this weekend. 

“Rugby league has come so far since the inaugural season of summer action, producing consistently compelling action and narratives, brilliant moments, amazing players and staggering feats of athleticism. 

“All players and clubs are looking forward to continuing that in the Birthday Round as rugby league backs up its bid to become even faster and more engrossing in 2026. 

“AMT Headingley will host the official birthday celebrations but there’s so much to look forward to across the competition as the season gets into full swing.” 

The ‘sold-out’ signs have already gone up at St Helens [v Wigan] and Hull KR [v Hull FC] for next week’s Rivals Round. 

And more than 5,000 tickets for Magic WKND have been sold in the last fortnight alone, taking sales past the 65,000 mark and on course for the event’s biggest crowd in its history. 

With just 100 days to go until the Super League bonanza, the ‘early bird’ deadline for Magic at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium is tonight at midnight [Thursday Mar 26].