Christchurch’s Te Kaha Stadium to Host Rugby League World Cup Matches

Christchurch’s new Te Kaha Stadium will host two significant matches during the upcoming Rugby League World Cup. The fixtures, featuring the New Zealand women’s team, the **Kiwi Ferns**, and the men’s team, the **Kiwis**, were confirmed with the release of the tournament schedule on Sunday. This marks Christchurch as the sole host city in New Zealand for an event that also spans **Australia** and **Papua New Guinea**.

On **October 25, 2024**, the Kiwi Ferns will face **France** at **15:50** local time, followed by the Kiwis taking on the **Cook Islands** at **18:05**. This will be the second match played at the new **30,000-capacity** roofed stadium for some players, including those from the **Warriors**, who are set to compete against the **North Queensland Cowboys** on **June 21**.

Warriors and Kiwis fullback **Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad** expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming matches, stating, “Everyone down there loves their rugby league so for us to play a World Cup game in Christchurch will be amazing. It’s going to be packed out with black and white fans, and everyone is going to get behind us.”

The Kiwis will kick off the tournament against the defending champions, the **Kangaroos**, in **Sydney** on **October 15, 2024**. Following their match against the Cook Islands, they will also face **Fiji** on the **Gold Coast** on **October 31**, with semifinals scheduled for **November 7** and **8**. The Kangaroos are aiming for their fourth consecutive World Cup title, while the Kiwis remain the last non-Australian champions, having won in **2008**.

The Kiwi Ferns will start their campaign against Fiji in **Newcastle** on **October 18**, followed by their match against France and a subsequent game against **Papua New Guinea** on the Gold Coast on **October 31**. The women’s semifinals will also take place on **November 7** and **8**, leading up to the grand finals held at **Suncorp Stadium** in **Brisbane** on **November 15**.

In addition to the Rugby League World Cup events, the Te Kaha Stadium will debut at the **Super Rugby** level when the defending champions, the **Crusaders**, face the **New South Wales Waratahs** on **April 24, 2024**. This match will open the **Super Round**, featuring ten of the eleven teams over three days.

The confirmed fixtures for the opening matches at the **One New Zealand Stadium** in **2026** include:

– **April 24**: Crusaders vs. Waratahs at **19:35**
– **April 25**: Hurricanes vs. Brumbies at **17:05**; Blues vs. Reds at **19:35**
– **April 26**: Highlanders vs. Moana Pasifika at **14:00**; Chiefs vs. Fijian Drua at **16:30**
– **May 8**: Crusaders vs. Blues at **19:05**
– **May 22**: Crusaders vs. Chiefs at **19:05**
– **May 29**: Crusaders vs. Hurricanes at **19:05**
– **June 21**: Warriors vs. North Queensland Cowboys at **16:00**
– **October 25**: Kiwi Ferns vs. France at **15:50**; Kiwis vs. Cook Islands at **18:05**

This exciting schedule highlights the growing influence of rugby league in Christchurch and sets the stage for thrilling matches in 2024.