Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns line up against Pacific rivals Tonga

After over  years without Test match rugby league, New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is proud to announce, the worldwide sport is subsequently returning home.

Saturday 25 June will see Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium play host because the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns line up against Pacific opponents Tonga in a blockbuster double-header worthy of the wait.

The rugby league spectacle coincides with Matariki – the Māori New Year, falling at the inaugural public holiday weekend. The long-awaited international clashes will have fun the return home to Aotearoa and the re-uniting of players with their New Zealand enthusiasts and communities.

Fourteen years have handed for the reason that Kiwi Ferns confronted Tonga women, wherein they earned a forty point victory on the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Both nations will now meet again off the again of 2020 victories; the rookie lead Kiwi Ferns earned a 28-8 win over Fetu Samoa, at the same time as Tonga ladies had a dominant sixty six-eight overall performance over Niue.

As each groups take the sector come June 25, NZRL goals to attain a brand new international document crowd attendance for a girls’s rugby league fit, which currently sits at 18,000.

Pre pandemic, the No.1 ranked Kiwis had been warm off a series win against Great Britain and a 34-14 victory in opposition to their Tongan rivals in 2019. Despite their loss to the Kiwis, Tonga performed a historical 16-12 disappointed over the Kangaroos inside the same yr.

After a  year hiatus, Saturday 25 June New Zealand vs Tonga Rugby 2022 will see the return of arguably the most important rivalry in worldwide rugby league, as both international locations will appearance to say their dominance ahead of the October Rugby League World Cup.

NZRL CEO Greg Peters says this has been a long time coming.

“What a exceptional feeling to in the end have our Ferns and Kiwis lower back on the park, or even better at home. To rejoice Matariki weekend with an worldwide Test double header that unites our fans and groups in birthday celebration is special.”

Peters adds, “We have been working with the NRL for some time now to produce an global weekend on both aspects of the Tasman at some point of the starting place window. June 25 will even see Samoa play Cook Islands and PNG face Fiji in Campbelltown before Ampol State of Origin tomorrow.

“We inspire absolutely everyone to make their way to Mt Smart come June 25 to break the gang attendance record for a girls’s Test and have fun the go back of global rugby league to New Zealand shores after a few challenging years.”

Tonga Head Coach Kristian Woolf says, “We are enthusiastic about the possibility to symbolize the proud country of Tonga for the first time for the reason that a hit marketing campaign against Australia and Great Britain again in 2019.

“This possibility has been a long time coming, so we are able to’t wait to stand the Kiwis again. This could be an crucial in shape for us as we appearance to reunite the crew and additionally give a number of our younger players a threat to represent their u . S . In advance of the World Cup,” Woolf concludes.

Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei, Acting Prime Minister of Tonga, says, “This could be very interesting information for Tonga, and we welcome the possibility with open hearts. It has been a hard trip for all Tongans around the sector, specifically the closing three months, but this fit between New Zealand and Tonga will in reality uplift Tongan spirits as we sit up for another a success World Cup marketing campaign in England.”

Auckland Unlimited Head of Major Events, Chris Simpson, says the pleasure’s building in Tāmaki Makaurau for what will be a first-rate event.

“Aucklanders are avid rugby league supporters, and to have New Zealand and Tonga play at Mt Smart could be exhilarating,” says Simpson.

“We encourage league fanatics from throughout New Zealand to make Mt Smart and Tāmaki Makaurau their locations of desire this Matariki lengthy weekend – it’s going to be huge!”

International Rugby League Chair Troy Grant says, “It is exceptional to see global rugby league returned at the menu inside the Southern Hemisphere, and what a blockbuster to go with. I think the entire global is ready to see clashes including the Kiwis in opposition to Tonga as it’s the appetiser for what's to come back at the World Cup and then on a normal basis from 2023 onwards.” New Zealand Kiwis will play Tonga Rugby

Saturday, 25 June Mt Smart Stadium Auckland

3:10pm NZT Kiwi Ferns v Tonga

5:20pm NZT Kiwis v Tonga