The 745 Game 2026 rules: Rugby league and rugby union combined format explained

Always wanted to see who would win in a cross-code match between rugby league and union players? Well, Sunday is your lucky day.

The 745 Game will bring the rugby community together and pit legends from the sport's two codes against each other in a 13-a-side match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

The charity match, which is a tribute to Rob Burrow (no. 7), Ed Slater (no. 4), and Doddie Weir (no. 5), returns for a third year to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease.

The 745 Game is a hybrid of rugby league and union rules, which were developed by Burrow and Slater, originally dreamed up in a WhatsApp conversation between the pair.

Famous faces from both codes will take to the pitch this weekend in the third edition of the fixture but what exactly are the rules for the cross-code charity match?

Radio Times has broken down the format of The 745 Game.

The charity match, which will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 from 5:30pm on Sunday 27 September 2026, is cross-code and combines rules from both rugby league and rugby union.

The rules are as follows:

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Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.