Rugby League: Wembley set for pounds 2m gate

WEMBLEY is guaranteed its first pounds 2m gate for a Silk Cut Challenge Cup final on 30 April, writes Dave Hadfield. The anticipated receipts, which will also be a record for a rugby league match anywhere in the world, are assured now that the League has sold its allocation of nearly 50,000 tickets.

The only tickets remaining are the 14,800 allocated to each of the finalists, Wigan and Leeds, all of which will be sold to fill Wembley to its 78,000 capacity. 'It's the dream final,' the League's Harry Gration said. 'The interest since it was confirmed that Leeds will play Wigan has been enormous.'

It will be only the second time that the two biggest clubs in the game have met in a major final, the first being in the then John Player Trophy in 1983. Wigan, beaten by Hull and Sheffield Eagles in their last two league games to loosen their grip on the First Division championship they have held for the last four years, hope to have Dean Bell and Phil Clarke available for the Good Friday derby at St Helens.