New Zealand Set for a Festival of Rugby League at World Cup

1.15pm NZT, Tuesday 19 July 2016

New Zealand Set for a Festival of Rugby League at World Cup

New Zealand Rugby League fans will have the chance to see the Kiwis in action against the best in the Pacific region for the Rugby League World Cup 2017 (RLWC2017), as announced today at the Official Tournament Draw.

The Kiwis will be joined by Samoa, Tonga and Scotland in matches to be played in four host cities across the north and south Islands during the Tournament.

All three Kiwi pool matches will be played at home along with two quarter finals and a semi-final, which will be played at the heartland of rugby league, Mt Smart.

New Zealand’s opening match will also be played at Mt Smart when the home side takes on Samoa onSaturday 28 October 2017.

Cantabrians will see the Kiwis take on Scotland in a second round pool match as well as hosting a Quarter-Final at Christchurch Stadium while the home team will play their Quarter-Final in Wellington should they progress.

Two pool matches will also be played in Hamilton where Tonga will face off with Samoa in Round Two and then tackle the home nation – New Zealand – to complete the pool stages of the Tournament.

RLWC2017 Chief Executive Officer, Michael Brown, said the support of the New Zealand Government and Host Cities has ensured that Rugby League fans from across the state will see the world’s best teams battle it out for the Paul Barrière Trophy.

“New Zealanders have a very proud history of supporting Rugby League and we know these passionate Rugby League communities will embrace co-hosting the sport’s pinnacle event in.”

“In planning this Tournament, we made a deliberate decision to take the Rugby League World Cup to more fans than any World Cup has done before. With the support of the New Zealand Government and Host Cities, we will give fans across both islands the opportunity to attend a World Cup and experience what will be a festival of Rugby League.

“The Rugby League World Cup 2017 will be the greatest sporting event in New Zealand and Australia next year and we look forward to working with the New Zealand Government to deliver an event that will entertain the world, inspire communities and celebrate Rugby League.”

The RLWC2017 will see 14 teams play 28 games over five weeks from 27 October until 2 December 2017 – all hoping to be crowned world champions. In addition to playing matches in New Zealand and Australia, there will be three pool matches played in Papua New Guinea.

With 11 teams already confirmed, the final three teams will come from the European Qualifying Tournament to be played in October and November this year. The teams who are still in the race include Wales, Ireland, Russia, Serbia, Italy and Spain.

Summary of Rugby League World Cup 2017 games scheduled in New Zealand
Kick off times to be announced closer to the tournament

Date Match Type Match-Up Venue
28/10/2017 Pool - Round 1 New Zealand vs Samoa Mt Smart, Auckland
4/11/2017 Pool - Round 2 New Zealand vs Scotland Christchurch Stadium
4/11/2017 Pool - Round 2 Samoa vs Tonga Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
11/11/2017 Pool - Round 3 New Zealand vs Tonga Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
18/11/2017 Quarter Final Christchurch Stadium
18/11/2017 Quarter Final Wellington Regional Stadium
25/11/2017 Semi Final Mt Smart, Auckland

To view the Rugby League World Cup 2017 Tournament Draw, go to RLWC2017.com/draw
RLWC2017 Fan packages, including tickets, are on sale now at RLWC2017.com/travel
Tickets will go on general sale on 27 October 2016. Fans should register their interest atRLWC2017.com

Rights-free media kit from Tournament Draw events in New Zealand and Australia:
Courtesy of Tourism New Zealand, rights-free footage, interviews with current and former players, plus images from the Auckland Tournament Draw will be made available to media outlets from 5:00pm (NZT) this afternoon, 19 July 2016, via this Dropbox link > CLICK HERE

Images will also be available from the Australian Tournament Draw event, including images with the captains and coaches of the Kangaroos, Kiwis and Kumuls, with the Paul Barrière Trophy available to media outlets from 5:00pm (NZT) this afternoon, 19 July 2016, via this Dropbox link > CLICK HERE

For more information please contact:
Rebecca Trbojevich – RLWC2017 GM, Communications and Community Engagement
rtrbojevich@rlwc2017.com / +61 413 855 608

Andrea Nelson – RLWC2017 GM, New Zealand Operations
anelson@rlwc2017.com / + 64 272 106 652

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