Leeds to host 2012 World Club Challenge

Super League champions Leeds Rhinos have pulled off a major coup as they will have home advantage in next year's Heinz Big Soup World Club Challenge  with NRL premiers Manly Sea Eagles.

The World Club Challenge will be staged at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Friday, February 17 (8pm).

Leeds, were keen to host the fixture on their regular match-day, but the Sea Eagles had originally been keen to play at Leeds United's Elland Road, which has a  capacity of 40,000 - around twice that of Headingley.

It will be Rhinos' fifth World Club Challenge , their second against the Sea Eagles and their first away from Elland Road, where previous attendances have ranged from 37,028 to 27,697.

Leeds Chief Executive Gary Hetherington said: