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will have a new set of fans watching on when they bid to land a record fourth World Club Challenge by beating on Sunday.

The day after former Wigan full-back Chris Ashton carries the hopes of 80,000 at Twickenham as , Ashton and his union mates will be glued to their televisions, watching the Warriors take their own shot at world glory.

Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan received a request from England manager Martin Johnson before the Super League season began to bring his players north in order to witness the Warriors and the Australian champions doing battle.

A logistical headache will stop the union boys travelling but they will still be watching from afar.

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One of rugby league's most famous clubs inched closer to the brink than ever before this week. Wakefield Trinity's plunge into administration resulted in stalled takeovers, multiple player sales and wholesale staff redundancies, not to mention real fears that a famous 137-year sporting history could be over.

But then came a move that has given fresh hope to the club's fans.

I had received numerous calls on Wednesday amid frenzied speculation that Wakefield's coach, John Kear, and entire playing staff had been laid off. There were also rumours that the club would be wound up the next day.

My immediate thoughts drifted back to Could this be a similar story for Wakefield?

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Super League is back and, for the first time ever, the season starts with 14 teams playing seven matches over two days under just one roof.

with the derby-day format restored and the Rugby Football League banking on a winter without rugby league to ensure a multitude of bums on Millenium Stadium seats.

After a couple of indifferent years at Murrayfield, there were suggestions that the RFL may ditch the Magic Weekend format. But the unique sporting occasions lives on and is back at its original home. And I can already picture the grimaces on the faces of the Welsh Rugby Union as they assess the state of their pitch ahead of their next home Six Nations match against Ireland on 12 March.

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