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.
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Sydney | Sydney Cricket Ground | 48,000 | 62,256 |
Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 32,664 |
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 10,842 |
Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 12,000 |
Sydney | Sydney Cricket Ground | 48,000 | 33,858 |
Bradford | Odsal Stadium | 26,019 | 5,507 |
Salford | The Willows | 11,363 | 2,247 |
Warrington | Wilderspool Stadium | 9,200 | 5,034 |
Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 9,353 |
Bordeaux | Stade Chaban Delmas | 34,462 | 1,581 |
Marseille | Stade Vélodrome | 67,394 | 10,000 |
Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 10,440 |
Toulouse | Stadium Municipal | 33,150 | 7,563 |
Auckland | Carlaw Park | 17,000 | 18,000 |
Christchurch | Addington Showgrounds | 18,000 | 2,500 |
Swansea | St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground | 4,500 | 11,112 |
Australia and New Zealand 1977
[edit]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Sydney | Sydney Cricket Ground | 48,000 | 24,457 |
Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 27,000 |
Auckland | Carlaw Park | 17,000 | 18,000 |
Christchurch | Addington Showgrounds | 18,000 | 9,000 |
International 1985–1988
[edit]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Auckland | Eden Park | 50,000 | 47,363 |
Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 22,811 |
Sydney | Sydney Football Stadium | 45,500 | 15,944 |
Wagga Wagga | Eric Weissel Oval | 10,000 | 11,685 |
Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 6,567 |
Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 20,169 |
Avignon | Parc des Sports | 17,518 | 4,000 |
Carcassonne | Stade Albert Domec | 10,000 | 5,000 |
Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 5,000 |
Auckland | Carlaw Park | 17,000 | 15,327 |
Christchurch | Addington Showgrounds | 18,000 | 8,525 |
Port Moresby | National Football Stadium | 14,800 | 17,000 |
International 1989–1992
[edit]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
London | Old Wembley Stadium | 82,000 | 73,631 |
Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 32,313 |
Parkes | Pioneer Oval | 12,000 | 12,384 |
Townsville | Townsville Sports Reserve | 6,500 | 12,470 |
Hull | The Boulevard | 10,500 | 5,250 |
Leeds | Elland Road | 37,792 | 32,500 |
Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 20,346 |
Carcassonne | Stade Albert Domec | 10,000 | 4,208 |
Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 3,965 |
Auckland | Mount Smart Stadium | 25,000 | 15,000 |
Christchurch | Queen Elizabeth II Park | 25,000 | 3,133 |
Christchurch | Addington Showgrounds | 18,000 | 2,000 |
Goroka | Danny Leahy Oval | 13,000 | 11,485 |
Port Moresby | National Football Stadium | 14,800 | 14,500 |
England 1995
[edit]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
London | Old Wembley Stadium | 82,000 | 66,540 |
Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | 11,800 | 9,181 |
Huddersfield | McAlpine Stadium | 24,121 | 16,608 |
Hull | The Boulevard | 10,500 | 5,121 |
Keighley | Cougar Park | 7,800 | 4,845 |
Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 14,041 |
Manchester | Old Trafford | 74,310 | 30,042 |
St. Helens | Knowsley Road | 17,500 | 8,679 |
Warrington | Wilderspool Stadium | 9,200 | 8,083 |
Wigan | Central Park | 18,000 | 26,263 |
Cardiff | Ninian Park | 21,508 | 10,250 |
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]City | Stadium | Capacity | Highest Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Manchester | Old Trafford | 74,310 | 74,468 |
Bristol | Memorial Stadium | 11,000 | 7,247 |
Halifax | The Shay | 10,401 | 10,266 |
Huddersfield | John Smith's Stadium | 24,121 | 24,375 |
Hull | Craven Park | 12,225 | 7,481 |
Hull | KC Stadium | 25,586 | 25,114 |
Leeds | Headingley | 19,700 | 18,180 |
Leigh | Leigh Sports Village | 12,000 | 10,554 |
London | Wembley Stadium | 90,000 | 67,545 |
Rochdale | Spotland Stadium | 10,249 | 8,872 |
Salford | City of Salford Stadium | 12,000 | 6,041 |
St. Helens | Langtree Park | 18,000 | 14,137 |
Wigan | DW Stadium | 25,138 | 22,276 |
Warrington | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 15,300 | 14,965 |
Workington | Derwent Park | 10,000 | 7,630 |
Cardiff | Millennium Stadium | 73,931 | 45,052 |
Neath | The Gnoll | 6,000 | 3,270 |
Wrexham | Racecourse Ground | 13,341 | 8,019 |
Avignon | Parc des Sports | 17,518 | 17,518 |
Perpignan | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 13,000 | 11,576 |
Limerick | Thomond Park | 25,600 | 5,021 |
- 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 |
---|---|---|---|
Brisbane | Lang Park | 52,500 | 40,033 |
Cairns | Barlow Park | 16,700 | 9,216 |
Canberra | Canberra Stadium | 25,011 | 12,293 |
Darwin | Marrara Oval | 12,500 | 13,473 |
Melbourne | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | 30,050 | 22,724 |
Perth | Perth Oval | 20,500 | 14,744 |
Sydney | Sydney Football Stadium | 45,500 | 21,127 |
Townsville | Willows Sports Complex | 26,500 | 7,732 |
Auckland | Mount Smart Stadium | 25,000 | 30,003 |
Christchurch | Rugby League Park | 18,000 | 12,130 |
Hamilton | Waikato Stadium | 25,800 | 24,041 |
Wellington | Wellington Regional Stadium | 34,500 | 12,713 |
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 | Emirates Stadium | 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 Building Society Arena | 32,753 | 10,276 |
Sheffield | Bramall Lane | 32,050 | 18,760 |
Bolton | University of Bolton Stadium | 28,723 | 23,648 |
Hull | MKM Stadium | 25,586 | 7,080 |
Wigan | DW Stadium | 25,138 | 23,179 |
Huddersfield | Kirklees Stadium | 24,121 | 24,375 |
Leeds | Headingley Stadium | 19,700 | 13,366 |
St Helens | Totally Wicked Stadium | 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 |
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 |
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. Helen's Rugby and Cricket 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.