The Lance Todd Trophy is a trophy in rugby league, awarded to man of the match in the annual Challenge Cup Final.[2]
 | |
| Awarded for | Challenge Cup Final man of the match |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Presented by | Reds Devils Association |
| History | |
| First award | 1945–46 |
| Most recent | Jack Farrimond[1] |
Introduced in 1945–46, the trophy was named in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War.[3] After Todd's death a fund, the Lance Todd memorial Trophy Fund, was established by Australian journalist and rugby league official Harry Sunderland.[4] The trophy's winner is selected by the members of the Rugby League Writers' Association present at the game. Until 1957 there was no permanent trophy, instead the winner was given a cash prize with which to buy themselves a memento.[4] In 1956 the Red Devils Association, the official body representing ex-Salford players, decided to pay for a permanent trophy to be awarded to the winner and the first recipient of the new trophy was Jeff Stevenson in 1957.[4] The trophy is presented at a celebratory dinner at the Salford Community Stadium, home of the Salford Red Devils. As of 2026, no Salford player has won this award.[2]
The first winner of the trophy was Wakefield Trinity Centre, Billy Stott in 1945–46.[2][5] St. Helens' Sean Long made history in 2006 becoming the first player to win the Lance Todd Trophy three times, having won in 2001 and 2004. Long's record was equalled by Warrington's Marc Sneyd in 2025,[6] having previously won the trophy with Hull F.C. in 2016 and 2017. Four players have won the trophy twice: Warrington's Gerry Helme in 1949–50 and 1953–54; Wigan's Andy Gregory in 1987–88 and 1989–90; and Martin Offiah in 1991–92 and 1993–94; St. Helens' Paul Wellens in 2007 (jointly) and 2008. Sneyd and Wellens are the only players to win the award in consecutive finals.
Halifax's former Australian international fullback Graham Eadie and Wigan's 1984-85 Australian import stand-off Brett Kenny are the only players to win both the Lance Todd Trophy and the Clive Churchill Medal as the player of the match in the Sydney Premiership Grand Final. Eadie won the Lance Todd in 1986–87 and was (retrospectively) twice awarded the Churchill after Manly-Warringah's premiership wins in 1976 and 1978 while 1984–85 trophy winner Kenny was retrospectively awarded the Churchill for Parramatta's Grand Final wins in 1982 and 1983.
The first player to win the trophy on the losing side was Frank Whitcombe of Bradford Northern in the 1947–48 final against Wigan; he was also the first forward to win the award. Robbie Paul, Gary Connolly, Kevin Sinfield, Niall Evalds, Chris McQueen and Marc Sneyd have all won the award since 1996, despite each of them finishing on the losing side.
The youngest player to win the trophy was Huddersfield's Peter Ramsden who won it on his 19th birthday in 1952–53.[7]
The trophy has been shared on two occasions, first in 1964–65 by Ray Ashby (Wigan) and Brian Gabbitas (Hunslet), and most recently in 2007 by St Helens duo Paul Wellens and Leon Pryce.
Winners
edit† = Won Lance Todd Trophy whilst on losing team
Awards by club
edit| Club | Number of winners |
|---|---|
 Barrow Raiders |
1 |
 Bradford Bulls |
4 |
 Castleford Tigers |
4 |
 Catalans Dragons |
2[a] |
 Featherstone Rovers |
3 |
 Halifax |
1 |
 Hunslet |
1[b] |
 Hull F.C. |
3 |
 Hull Kingston Rovers |
1 |
 Huddersfield Giants |
4 |
 Leeds Rhinos |
8 |
 Leigh Leopards |
2 |
 Sheffield Eagles |
1 |
 St Helens |
12[a] |
 Wakefield Trinity |
4 |
 Warrington Wolves |
8 |
 Widnes Vikings |
5 |
 Wigan Warriors |
19[b] |
 Workington Town |
1 |
Winners by playing position
edit| Position | Number of winners |
|---|---|
| Centre | 5 |
| Fullback | 15[a][b] |
| Hooker | 3 |
| Loose forward | 6 |
| Prop | 8 |
| Scrum-half | 17 |
| Second-row | 7 |
| Stand-off | 15[a][b] |
| Wing | 7 |
Notes
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "French's cup return 'had been planned for a while'". BBC Sport. 30 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 RFL. "Lance Todd Trophy". Rugby Football League. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
- ↑ "The History Of Rugby League". Rugby League Information. napit.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 Morris, Graham (Autumn 2019). "Lance Todd Trophy; the first decade of awards: 1946-1956". Rugby League Journal (68): 24.
- ↑ BBC Sport (2008-08-26). "Lance Todd Trophy winners". BBC. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
- ↑ Willacy, Gavin (9 June 2025). "Marc Sneyd won his personal battle but Warrington lost the cup final". The Guardian.
- ↑ news.bbc.co.uk (11 May 2004). "Cup final facts". BBC Sport. UK: BBC. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
- Lance Todd Wigan Career Page on the Wigan RL Fansite.