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Super League side to host international rugby union fixture in rare code switch

Wakefield Trinity

Wakefield Trinity’s DIY Kitchens Stadium is set to swap code for culture this autumn, with the Super League club confirmed to host a major international Rugby Union fixture.

The Belle Vue ground will welcome the World Rugby Nations Cup clash between the Zimbabwe Sables and Samoa on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 PM.

For fans unfamiliar with the cross-code tournament, the Nations Cup is a global biennial tier-two competition launched by World Rugby to provide emerging international unions with meaningful, competitive fixtures outside of the main World Cup cycle.

Running alongside the top-tier Nations Championship, the tournament is designed to give countries outside the traditional powerhouse bracket regular, worthwhile Test match exposure on the international stage.

The tournament features twelve teams split into two geographically aligned pools of six: Pool A houses the Americas-Pacific nations such as Samoa, Canada, and the USA, while Pool B comprises European, African, and Asian sides, including Zimbabwe, Georgia, and Spain.

Under the competition’s format, teams play their fixtures across the July and November international windows against opponents from the opposite pool, similar to the format used in this year’s Rugby League World Cup. This cross-pool structure brings Pool A’s Samoa up against Pool B’s Zimbabwe at Belle Vue. The Trailfinders Sports Ground, former home of the London Broncos, will also host a fixture.

The fixture represents another notable event staged at the redeveloped Belle Vue ground outside of the domestic rugby league calendar.

With the stadium undertaking a modernisation project in recent years, Trinity’s home has occasionally accommodated alternative sporting fixtures alongside its primary role as a Betfred Super League venue, including athletics, lacrosse and football.

Tickets for the November clash at the DIY Kitchens Stadium are currently on sale, with general admission starting from £25 for the West Stand.

RIP Sir Billy, under-the-radar challengers, Hull KR’s controversial call and more – Click here to watch this week’s episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show

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