Warriors Agree To Play In Christchurch For Three Years
Nov. 10, 2023, Auckland, New Zealand — The One New Zealand Warriors will play one NRL home game in Christchurch for the next three seasons as part of a three-year arrangement that was revealed today.
The One New Zealand Warriors, riding high on their historic 2023 campaign, have teamed up with Venues Ōtautahi and Christchurch NZ to play NRL home games in the nation’s second-biggest city for the first time.
The arrangement calls for Apollo Projects Stadium to host the 2024 and 2025 matches before Te Kaha, a brand-new international arena being built in Christchurch, to host the 2026 match.
For us as a club, this is such an exciting move ahead, said to CEO Cameron George of One New Zealand Warriors.
“We’ve been excited to host NRL games in the area for a while, and Te Kaha’s construction has made that a reality.
“Having them in Christchurch twice in 2024 is going to be a huge attraction not just for the city but also for the whole of the South Island.”
It was confirmed today that the One New Zealand Warriors’ trial match next year will be against the Benji Marshall-coached Wests Tigers at Apollo Projects Stadium on Sunday, February 18 (2.00pm kick-off).
The One New Zealand Warriors have played eight NRL matches in Christchurch before, all away fixtures brought to the city by the Sydney Tigers in 1996, the Wests Tigers in 2004, 2005 and 2006, the Sydney Roosters in 2010, Penrith in 2016 and Manly Warringah in 2018 and 2019.
They also played a Super League World Club Championship match against Warrington at Lancaster Park in 1997.