[3] Although Widnes initially vouched to go on with the European Challenge regardless,[3] the English club soon lost interest in the lesser continental event, and asked it to be axed so that the dates could be filled with outstanding championship fixtures that had been displaced by Trophy games earlier in the season.

The information was belatedly relayed to Widnes, aggravating their already disinterested coach Doug Laughton, who unsuccessfully pleaded with management to pull the plug on the event.

[14] Although the European Club Challenge's new date fell shortly after the conclusion of England and France's 1988–89 championships, it was decided in advance to stick with the original participants, Widnes and Le Pontet, as chosen based on the 1987–88 results.

[15] While the French representatives were not viewed as a serious threat to any respectable RFL team, Le Pontet's players were preceded by a reputation for unruly behaviour, following several incidents in the later stages of their domestic season.

Laughton and referee Ray Tennant warned the Gallic side to curb its temper or there would be little chance of renewing the ECC experiment in subsequent years.

[16] However, at just three days' notice, Widnes were informed that Le Pontet had decided to withdraw, arguing that they had been victimized by unfair disciplinary rulings during and after their upset loss against St. Estève in the 1989 French championship final.

[18] Fullback: David Marsh Threequarters: Rick Thackray, Darren Wright, Jonathan Davies, Brimah Kebbie Halfbacks: Tony Myler (fly-half), Paul Hulme (scrum-half) Forwards: Kurt Sorensen (c), Phil McKenzie, Joe Grima, Mike O'Neill, Emosi Koloto, Richard Eyres Reserves: Derek Pyke, Paul Moriarty, David Smith[19] Saint-Estève's team was also somewhat different than the one that played in French championship final.

Widnes' veteran prop Mike O'Neill struggled to find anything positive to say about the opposition, assessing that Saint-Estève was "only a little better than you see in amateur rugby league at home.

"[18] Following the lopsided display, it was accepted that the French league had fallen too far behind professional standards, and that no representative of the country was likely to receive consideration for future World Club Challenges.