Rugby league fans will be able to relive classic matches in their entirety over the coming weeks as Sky Sports digs out some of the most memorable clashes from its archives.
With no live matches to broadcast due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sky Sports will instead show selected classic matches every Friday evening from 8 May.
Kicking things off will be the unique 1996 Clash of the Codes challenge matches between Super League champions Wigan against English rugby union champions Bath.
This was a one-off challenge played over two games – one of league and one of union – with whoever had the highest aggregate score, crowned the winners. First up was the league match played at Manchester’s Maine Road, while two weeks later the union rematch took place at Twickenham.
The Wigan team of that era was regarded as one of the greatest sides ever, with the likes of Martin Offiah, Kris Radlinski and Terry O’Connor as well as Jason Robinson, Va”aiga Tuigamala, Scott Quinnell, Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards, all who went onto have massive impacts in the 15-man game, while the Bath rugby union side included England internationals Mike Catt, Andy Robinson, Jon Sleightholme, Phil de Glanville and Steve Ojomoh.
Fans will be able to relive both matches on 8 May from 7pm, featuring the original Sky Sports coverage and commentary from Eddie Hemmings, Miles Harrison, Mike Stephenson, Stuart Barnes and Jamie Salmon.
Following on the Clash of the Codes, Sky Sports Arena will broadcast a classic rugby league clash each Friday between 8pm and 10pm.
This includes memorable Sky-televised Super League matches from the past two decades, as well as Retro Magic Weekend and Retro Summer Bash matches. Full details of all matches to come over the next few weeks can be found below.
For a full overview of all forthcoming rugby league programming across the major UK TV channels, including magazine shows, documentaries and classic matches, visit SOTB’s dedicated Rugby League On The Box page – sotb.in/rugbyleague.
Latest developments and up-to-date information on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on sport can be found via live blogs on BBC Sport or Sky Sports.
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FRIDAY 8th MAY
Clash of the Codes 1996
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19:00 |
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Clash of the Codes 1996
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21:00 |
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FRIDAY 15th MAY
Rugby League Retro
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20:00 |
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FRIDAY 22nd MAY
Rugby League Retro
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20:00 |
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23-24 MAY
Retro Magic Weekend
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FRIDAY 29th MAY
Rugby League Retro
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20:00 |
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30-31 MAY
Retro Summer Bash
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