Wembley Stadium
The UK's National Stadium, Wembley. It is primarily a football stadium, of course, but rugby has a rather long-standing relationship with this magnificent place.
It is probably best known in rugby circles for the 13-man code. The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final was first played at the old Wembley in 1929 and, apart from various interruptions and the period when the stadium was being rebuilt, Wembley has remained synonymous with the competition. The new stadium welcomed the Challenge Cup back in 2007, and rugby league continues to take over the place for Finals Day.But it isn't exclusively a rugby league venue. The 15-man game has also made occasional appearances here, including the 1992 Rugby World Cup Final, when Australia beat England, and the 2015 Rugby World Cup, when Wembley hosted several matches.
In November 2025 it played host to South Africa verses Japan.
I've always thought there is something slightly strange about watching rugby at Wembley. You arrive at what is unquestionably England's great football stadium, surrounded by all the football history and paraphernalia, and then find yourself watching a game of rugby. Yet once the teams come out and the crowd gets going, it somehow doesn't seem strange at all.
The scale of the place is, naturally, enormous. With around 90,000 seats, it is far bigger than the vast majority of rugby grounds, and the huge arch has become one of London's most recognisable landmarks. The facilities are what you would expect from a modern national stadium, with plenty of food and drink outlets and good views from virtually anywhere in the bowl.
For rugby league, though, Wembley is more than just a big stadium. It has become part of the fabric of the Challenge Cup itself. The famous final-day atmosphere, the singing and the tradition of Abide with Me all help make it one of the great occasions in the rugby calendar. Even today, Rugby League Commercial describes Wembley as a special occasion for the sport.For rugby union supporters, it is more of a treat. You don't come here every weekend to watch a club side, and that is probably part of the appeal. When the 15-man game arrives at Wembley, it is because something rather special is happening.
It may be the UK's national football stadium, but it has also been the stage for some enormous rugby occasions over the years.
Football may be Wembley’s main tenant, rugby league its regular guest and rugby union the occasional visitor — but when rugby does arrive, it certainly knows how to fill the place.
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