The Pacific Championships men’s and women’s international test competition returns to action at the end of the year.
New Zealand Rugby League, in partnership with the NRL, has confirmed test matches for October and November.
Two match days will take place in New Zealand, with Ōtautahi’s Apollo Project stadium set to host a double header between the Kiwis, Kiwi Ferns and Australian rivals the Kangaroos men’s and Jillaroos women’s teams on October 27.
This will mark the Kiwis’ return to Christchurch for the first time in five years and the Kiwi Ferns’ first South Island test since 1998.
The Kiwis will then travel north as Tamaki Makaurau is set to turn red again, with the team to play Tonga at Go Media Stadium on November 2.
In 2017 Tonga became the first tier-two rugby league nation in history to defeat a tier-one nation beating New Zealand at the Rugby League World Cup in Hamilton.
“We’re excited to work with Tonga to bring their rugby league heroes back to play in front of their proud community in Auckland, with the support of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited making this possible,” says NZRL CEO Greg Peters.
“International rugby league in Aotearoa creates celebrations of culture and passion that captures the hearts and minds of all sports fans, the tests here will be unmissable.”
Tickets go on sale via Ticketek Wednesday on August 28, with presales for NZRL and MyTicketek members the day before.
The 2024 Pacific Championships is a two-tiered competition, with men’s and women’s teams from across the Pacific competing for the Pacific Cup and the Pacific Bowl.
The Grand Finals will be played in Sydney, Australia on November 10.
