Rugby league State of Origin headed to New Zealand for first time

Australian rugby league's premier event, the State of Origin series, is set to cross the Tasman Sea and be played in New Zealand for the first time in 2027. The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) confirmed that Game II of the 2027 series will take place at Auckland's Eden Park.

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State of Origin is truly unique. It creates an atmosphere unlike anything else in Australian sport, fierce rivalry, raw passion and an intensity that can only be understood by experiencing it firsthand. It's a bucket-list event.

This historic decision marks only the second time the State of Origin has been played outside Australia, with California hosting a match in 1987. ARLC chairman Peter V’landys announced the Origin match, scheduled for June 16, 2027, will be a centerpiece of a broader rugby league festival in Auckland. He described the event as a "bucket-list item" known for its "fierce rivalry, raw passion and an intensity" that must be experienced firsthand.

The festival aims to create a "complete takeover of Auckland," showcasing the sport to New Zealanders and international fans. Festivities will begin the Sunday prior to the Origin fixture with a Warriors game at Eden Park. This expansion reflects the series' widespread interest since its inception in 1980, extending its reach beyond its traditional interstate rivalry between Queensland and New South Wales.

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It's not just the Origin match fans can look forward to, we are planning a week of rugby league festivities in the lead-up to the event, starting with a Warriors game at Eden Park on the Sunday afternoon prior to the Origin fixture.

Eligibility rules have recently evolved, allowing some players to represent their state in Origin while remaining available for selection for New Zealand and England in Test matches. Players like Kalyn Ponga, Addin Fonua-Blake, and Briton Nikora, who participated in this year's Origin series, will be eligible for Kiwi selection in the upcoming World Cup, highlighting the evolving international landscape of the sport.

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It's going to be a complete takeover of Auckland, showcasing the best of our game to New Zealanders and fans travelling from all over the world.