Rugby League World Cup venues
The following is a list of venues that have hosted matches as part of the Rugby League World Cup .[1]
The first Rugby league World Cup was staged in France in 1954 with the last having been staged in England in 2022. The next World Cup is set to be held in 2026
As of 2022, there have been 16 Rugby League World Cups held since the inaugural event in 1954.
Venues by tournament
[edit ]All countries listed in alphabetical order while all venues listed in order of appearance and with their non-corporate name (unless unavoidable). Venue capacity is as it currently stands and in some cases may vary from the capacity of the venue at the time of use. For example, the Sydney Cricket Ground's current spectator capacity is 48,000 but stood at 70,000 when used as a World Cup venue from 1957 to 1977.
- Stadiums in bold text show Rugby League World Cup final hosts for that tournament.
- Stadiums in italic text show ground has been demolished as of 2024.
- Highest Attendance is the highest for that particular tournament.
France 1954
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Paris | Parc des Princes | 48,229 | 30,368 |
Bordeaux | Stade Chaban Delmas | 34,462 | 14,000 |
Lyon | Stade de Gerland | 25,000 | 10,250 |
Marseille | Stade Vélodrome | 67,394 | 20,000 |
Nantes | Stade Marcel Saupin | 1,880 | 13,000 |
Toulouse | Stadium Municipal | 33,150 | 37,471 |
Australia 1957
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Brisbane | Brisbane Cricket Ground | 37,478 | 29,636 |
Sydney | Sydney Cricket Ground | 48,000 | 58,655 |
United Kingdom 1960
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Bradford | Odsal Stadium | 26,019 | 33,023 |
Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 10,773 |
Swinton | Station Road | 15,000 | 22,923 |
Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 20,278 |
Australia and New Zealand 1968
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Australia Sydney | Sydney Cricket Ground | 48,000 | 62,256 |
Australia Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 32,664 |
New Zealand Auckland | Carlaw Park | 17,000 | 18,000 |
United Kingdom 1970
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 18,776 |
Bradford | Odsal Stadium | 26,019 | 6,654 |
Castleford | Wheldon Road | 10,500 | 8,958 |
Hull | The Boulevard | 10,500 | 3,824 |
Swinton | Station Road | 15,000 | 5,609 |
Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 9,805 |
France 1972
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Lyon | Stade de Gerland | 25,000 | 4,231 |
Grenoble | Stade Lesdiguières | 12,000 | 5,321 |
Marseille | Stade Vélodrome | 67,394 | 20,748 |
Paris | Parc des Princes | 48,229 | 8,000 |
Pau | Stade du Hameau | 14,588 | 7,500 |
Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 6,324 |
Toulouse | Stadium Municipal | 33,150 | 10,332 |
Australia, France, New Zealand, and United Kingdom 1975
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
England Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 10,842 |
Australia Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 12,000 |
Australia Sydney | Sydney Cricket Ground | 48,000 | 33,858 |
England Bradford | Odsal Stadium | 26,019 | 5,507 |
England Salford | The Willows | 11,363 | 2,247 |
England Warrington | Wilderspool Stadium | 9,200 | 5,034 |
England Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 9,353 |
France Bordeaux | Stade Chaban Delmas | 34,462 | 1,581 |
France Marseille | Stade Vélodrome | 67,394 | 10,000 |
France Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 10,440 |
France Toulouse | Stadium Municipal | 33,150 | 7,563 |
New Zealand Auckland | Carlaw Park | 17,000 | 18,000 |
New Zealand Christchurch | Addington Showgrounds | 18,000 | 2,500 |
Wales Swansea | St Helens Rugby Ground | 4,500 | 11,112 |
Australia and New Zealand 1977
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Australia Sydney | Sydney Cricket Ground | 48,000 | 24,457 |
Australia Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 27,000 |
New Zealand Auckland | Carlaw Park | 17,000 | 18,000 |
New Zealand Christchurch | Addington Showgrounds | 18,000 | 9,000 |
International 1985–1988
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
New Zealand Auckland | Eden Park | 50,000 | 47,363 |
Australia Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 22,811 |
Australia Sydney | Sydney Football Stadium | 45,500 | 15,944 |
Australia Wagga Wagga | Eric Weissel Oval | 10,000 | 11,685 |
England Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 6,567 |
England Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 20,169 |
France Avignon | Parc des Sports | 17,518 | 4,000 |
France Carcassonne | Stade Albert Domec | 10,000 | 5,000 |
France Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 5,000 |
New Zealand Auckland | Carlaw Park | 17,000 | 15,327 |
New Zealand Christchurch | Addington Showgrounds | 18,000 | 8,525 |
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby | Lloyd Robson Oval | 14,800 | 17,000 |
International 1989–1992
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
England London | Old Wembley Stadium | 82,000 | 73,631 |
Australia Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 32,313 |
Australia Parkes | Pioneer Oval | 12,000 | 12,384 |
Australia Townsville | Townsville Sports Reserve | 6,500 | 12,470 |
England Hull | The Boulevard | 10,500 | 5,250 |
England Leeds | Elland Road | 37,792 | 32,500 |
England Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 20,346 |
France Carcassonne | Stade Albert Domec | 10,000 | 4,208 |
France Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 3,965 |
New Zealand Auckland | Mount Smart Stadium | 25,000 | 15,000 |
New Zealand Christchurch | Queen Elizabeth II Park | 25,000 | 3,133 |
New Zealand Christchurch | Addington Showgrounds | 18,000 | 2,000 |
Papua New Guinea Goroka | Danny Leahy Oval | 13,000 | 11,485 |
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby | Lloyd Robson Oval | 14,800 | 14,500 |
England 1995
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
England London | Old Wembley Stadium | 82,000 | 66,540 |
England Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | 11,800 | 9,181 |
England Huddersfield | Kirklees Stadium | 24,121 | 16,608 |
England Hull | The Boulevard | 10,500 | 5,121 |
England Keighley | Cougar Park | 7,800 | 4,845 |
England Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 14,041 |
England Manchester | Old Trafford | 55,000 | 30,042 |
England St. Helens | Knowsley Road | 17,500 | 8,679 |
England Warrington | Wilderspool Stadium | 9,200 | 8,083 |
England Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 26,263 |
Wales Cardiff | Ninian Park | 21,508 | 10,250 |
Wales Swansea | Vetch Field | 11,475 | 15,385 |
England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales 2000
[edit ]Australia 2008
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 50,599 |
Canberra | Canberra Stadium | 25,011 | 9,827 |
Gold Coast | Robina Stadium | 27,690 | 11,278 |
Gosford | Central Coast Stadium | 20,059 | 9,720 |
Melbourne | Docklands Stadium | 56,347 | 36,297 |
Newcastle | Newcastle International Sports Centre | 30,000 | 15,145 |
Rockhampton | Browne Park | 8,000 | 5,930 |
Sydney | Parramatta Stadium | 20,741 | 8,067 |
Sydney | Penrith Stadium | 22,500 | 11,787 |
Sydney | Sydney Football Stadium | 45,500 | 34,157 |
Townsville | Willows Sports Complex | 26,500 | 16,239 |
Wollongong | Wollongong Showground | 23,750 | 9,213 |
England and Wales 2013
[edit ]- Although the competition was officially co hosted by England and Wales, France and Ireland also hosted games.
Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea 2017
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Australia Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 40,033 |
Australia Cairns | Barlow Park | 16,700 | 9,216 |
Australia Canberra | Canberra Stadium | 25,011 | 12,293 |
Australia Darwin | Marrara Oval | 12,500 | 13,473 |
Australia Melbourne | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | 30,050 | 22,724 |
Australia Perth | Perth Oval | 20,500 | 14,744 |
Australia Sydney | Sydney Football Stadium | 45,500 | 21,127 |
Australia Townsville | Willows Sports Complex | 26,500 | 7,732 |
New Zealand Auckland | Mount Smart Stadium | 25,000 | 30,003 |
New Zealand Christchurch | Rugby League Park | 18,000 | 12,130 |
New Zealand Hamilton | Waikato Stadium | 25,800 | 24,041 |
New Zealand Wellington | Wellington Regional Stadium | 34,500 | 12,713 |
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby | National Football Stadium | 14,800 | 14,800 |
England 2021
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Manchester | Old Trafford | 74,310 | 67,502 |
London | Ashburton Grove | 60,704 | 40,489 |
Newcastle | St James’ Park | 52,350 | 43,199 |
Leeds | Elland Road | 37,792 | 28,113 |
Middlesbrough | Riverside Stadium | 34,742 | 8,342 |
Coventry | Coventry Arena | 32,753 | 10,276 |
Sheffield | Bramall Lane | 32,050 | 18,760 |
Bolton | Bolton Stadium | 28,723 | 23,648 |
Hull | Hull City Stadium | 25,586 | 7,080 |
Wigan | Wigan Athletic Stadium | 25,138 | 23,179 |
Huddersfield | Kirklees Stadium | 24,121 | 24,375 |
Leeds | Headingley Stadium | 19,700 | 13,366 |
St Helens | Langtree Park | 18,000 | 14,137 |
Doncaster | Keepmoat Stadium | 15,231 | 6,968 |
Warrington | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 15,200 | 14,965 |
Leigh | Leigh Sports Village | 12,000 | 6,057 |
Newcastle | Kingston Park | 10,200 | 6,736 |
Venues by nation
[edit ]Australia
[edit ]England
[edit ]* 1975 had no official World Cup Final. Instead a special challenge match was played.
France
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Paris | Parc des Princes | 48,229 | 30,368 | 1954 , 1972 |
Lyon | Stade de Gerland | 25,000 | 10,250 | 1954, 1972 |
Bordeaux | Stade Chaban Delmas | 34,462 | 14,000 | 1954, 1975 |
Marseille | Stade Vélodrome | 67,394 | 20,748 | 1954, 1972, 1975 |
Nantes | Stade Marcel Saupin | 1,880 | 13,000 | 1954 |
Toulouse | Stadium Municipal | 33,150 | 37,471 | 1954, 1972, 1975, 2000 |
Grenoble | Stade Lesdiguières | 12,000 | 5,321 | 1972 |
Pau | Stade du Hameau | 14,588 | 7,500 | 1972 |
Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 11,576 | 1972, 1975, 1985–88, 1989–92, 2013 |
Avignon | Parc des Sports | 17,518 | 17,518 | 1985–88, 2013 |
Carcassonne | Stade Albert Domec | 10,000 | 10,288 | 1985–88, 1989–92, 2000 |
Albi | Stadium Municipal d'Albi | 13,058 | 7,969 | 2000 |
Paris | Stade Sébastien Charléty | 20,000 | 7,498 | 2000 |
Ireland
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dublin | Tolka Park | 5,700 | 1,782 | 2000 |
Limerick | Thomond Park | 25,600 | 5,021 | 2013 |
New Zealand
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Auckland | Carlaw Park | 17,000 | 18,000 | 1968, 1975, 1977, 1985–88 |
Christchurch | Addington Showground* | 18,000 | 12,130 | 1975, 1977, 1985–88, 1989–92, 2017 |
Auckland | Eden Park | 50,000 | 47,363 | 1985–88 |
Christchurch | Queen Elizabeth II Park | 25,000 | 3,133 | 1989–92 |
Auckland | Mount Smart Stadium | 25,000 | 30,003 | 1989–92, 2017 |
Hamilton | Waikato Stadium | 25,800 | 24,041 | 2017 |
Wellington | Wellington Regional Stadium | 34,500 | 12,713 | 2017 |
- Addington Showgrounds became Rugby League Park in 1997
Northern Ireland
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Belfast | Windsor Park | 18,500 | 3,207 | 2000 |
Papua New Guinea
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Port Moresby | National Football Stadium* | 14,800 | 17,000 | 1985–88, 1989–92, 2017 |
Goroka | Danny Leahy Oval | 13,000 | 11,485 | 1989–92 |
- Lloyd Robson Oval was redeveloped into PNG's National Football Stadium in 2015.
Scotland
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Edinburgh | Tynecastle Stadium | 19,852 | 1,579 | 2000 |
Glasgow | Firhill Stadium | 10,102 | 2,008 | 2000 |
Wales
[edit ]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Swansea | St Helens Rugby Ground | 4,500 | 11,112 | 1975 |
Cardiff | Ninian Park | 21,508 | 10,250 | 1995 |
Swansea | Vetch Field | 11,475 | 15,385 | 1995 |
Cardiff | Millennium Stadium | 73,931 | 45,052 | 2000, 2013 |
Llanelli | Stradey Park | 10,800 | 1,497 | 2000 |
Wrexham | Racecourse Ground | 13,341 | 8,019 | 2000, 2013 |
Neath | The Gnoll | 6,000 | 3,270 | 2013 |
See also
[edit ]- Rugby League World Cup finals
- List of rugby league competitions
- List of rugby league stadiums by capacity
References
[edit ]Further reading
[edit ]- Andrews, Malcolm & Butcher, Tim (2009). The Rugby League World Cup. League Publications. ISBN 978-1-901347-20-3.