Inside Super League’s global gamble: Paris showpiece, Dublin confirmation nears
The Super League trophy at Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris, where Catalans Dragons will host Wigan Warriors.
Wigan Warriors are among the driving forces behind Super League’s bold push onto the world stage – with Paris next on the agenda.
Two of the clubs leading that global charge – Wigan and Catalans Dragons – will meet in the French capital on June 6 at Stade Jean-Bouin, with around 15,000 expected to attend, including a staggering 5,000 travelling Wigan fans.
It’s the latest chapter in a growing partnership between the two clubs, who previously took Super League to Barcelona’s Camp Nou in 2019, drawing a record 31,555 crowd for a regular-season game.
Wigan also spearheaded Super League’s Las Vegas partnership with the NRL, joining the landmark showcase for the first time in 2024 alongside Warrington Wolves. More recently, Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos represented the northern hemisphere in the United States earlier this year.
Now there’s less than 60 days to go until Super League’s return to Paris, with the bold new era having kicked-off in the iconic city when Paris St Germain took on Sheffield Eagles in March 1996.
Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski believes the sport must continue to evolve.
“We have to sell better stories, now more than ever. I get asked questions from our players about the direction of the sport and we can’t keep expecting to turn up every season and thinking it’s just the same. Every other sport is doing things differently and we’re no different to that,” Wigan CEO Radlinski said.
“I get asked more questions about where to go next – so there’s an appetite for our fans to travel and it’s about growing our brand as well, and promoting the great game of rugby league.
“A June weekend in Paris provides loads of great moments for Wigan fans to travel and memories with their friends and families. They always do us proud on those occasions. I’m really looking forward to it.”
An email exchange between Radlinski and NRL officials helped spark Super League’s involvement in Las Vegas, with Australian bosses impressed by the travelling English support. Talks between the two competitions over a future partnership remain ongoing, with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo set to fly out to England in the coming weeks.
Radlinski continued: “At the start when you have those ideas but you’re not quite sure how they’re going to land, but you explain what you’re trying to do and why you have to try to do it – new eyeballs on the club et cetera, then people come with you on a journey.
“Vegas opened a lot of people’s eyes. Barcelona was a memory – 30,000 people was just insane. Hopefully we’ll get some really good numbers in Paris, too.”
Wigan’s vision is set to continue into 2027, with Warrington planning to take a home fixture to Dublin – a return of the favour following their Vegas partnership.
Confirmation is expected soon, with the game likely to take place at RDS Arena, home to Irish rugby union giants Leinster.
Radlinski explained: “When we went to Las Vegas, we agreed on a joint venture with Warrington. It was our home game in Vegas, so we talked with Karl Fitzpatrick and Simon Moran and they agreed to take one of their home games on the road.
“They’ve always wanted to have a game in Dublin, and we’re getting close to finalising that. Hopefully in the next few weeks we can get the date nailed down, and then start planning more for that as well.”