Rugby League War of the Roses

The War of the Roses (also known in its later years as the County of Origin Series) was the annual inter-county rugby league match between the historic counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The fixture began in 1895 as part of the County Championship until 1983 and continued as a stand-alone fixture until 2003 when the game was last played.

The match achieved prominence because the two counties are considered the 'heartland' of rugby league in Europe and are therefore traditionally the two strongest teams. Furthermore, the neighbours share a historic rivalry originating in the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) from which the series takes its name.