CEO’S MESSAGE: BUILDING ON CRL’S SUCCESS IN 2026
Welcome to another exciting Canterbury Rugby League season packed with events, initiatives and progress for our game.
CRL is exceptionally proud of what was achieved in 2025 by its participants, volunteers and the wider rugby league community.
Headlining the highlights reel for 2025 was the hosting of the NZRL National Youth Tournament at Ngā Puna – the first time it has been held in Ōtautahi Christchurch for 32 years. Meanwhile, our 18s and 16s Boys and Girls teams played under the Canterbury Bulls banner, with the girls sides wearing the red and black jersey for the first time since 2009.
The Canterbury Bulls 18s’ Boys historic capture of the national title was the icing on a momentous week, while all four teams represented our region superbly.
The growth of rugby league in Canterbury at junior and youth level was illustrated by Sport Canterbury’s annual Sport Report revealing our game as the biggest growth sport in Canterbury for 2024. The 2025 season also witnessed a surge in secondary schools engaging with rugby league.
Our elite men’s and women’s representative teams enjoyed outstanding campaigns in September and October.
The Trillo Metals Men’s Canterbury Bulls won the South Island section of the NZRL National Men’s Premiership to earn a place in the national final – a huge credit to the work coach Walter Wilson and his squad have put in over the past couple of years. Likewise, the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls made immense progress in their second year under Joseph Purcell-Mika’s coaching to finish third overall in the NZRL National Women’s Premiership and remain competitive against all comers.
Meanwhile, our senior club competitions were ultra-competitive and unpredictable, culminating in Riccarton Knights qualifying for their first men’s grand final in 21 years, where Linwood Keas ultimately proved too strong in regaining the Pat Smith Trophy. Sydenham Swans edged the Keas in what was another classic women’s decider on an unforgettable CRL Grand Final Day at Ngā Puna Wai.
CANTERBURY RUGBY LEAGUE 2025: A YEAR OF GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT
The 2026 season promises to be even bigger – and Canterbury Rugby League will continue to implement and achieve the goals set out in the 2023 – 2026 Strategic Plan as we enter its final year.
The return of the proud Papanui Tigers to the 2026 CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership is a momentous development. CRL aspires to get back to a fully-fledged eight-team premier grade and Papanui’s addition this season is a progressive step towards this, as well as adding another element of excitement to the 2026 competition.
On the back of last year’s performances and this season’s club competitions, we can’t wait to see how our Trillo Metals Men’s and Women’s Canterbury Bulls continue to progress and improve in their respective NZRL National Premierships.
CRL is excited about our growing relationship with the Warriors and how this translates into more opportunities for Christchurch-based players and coaches, activations with clubs and schools, and commercial opportunities. The inclusion of 15 young Canterbury players in the Warriors’ 2026 SG Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup junior representative squads is indicative of these opportunities – as well as the growth of the game in our region and the talent our clubs and schools are producing.
Additionally, we have a historic game between the Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys at One New Zealand Te Kaha Stadium on June 21, which incredibly sold out general seating in five days – an unbelievable result and reflective of the appetite for rugby league in Canterbury. We are grateful for the Warriors bringing games to Ōtautahi Christchurch and look forward to witnessing the game of rugby league entertaining both traditional and non-traditional supporters of the game.
In 2024, NZRL brought two significant Test matches to Christchurch – a Pacific Championships double-header featuring the Kiwis versus the Kangaroos (the first time the archrivals had played in the city since 1989) and the Kiwi Ferns versus the Jillaroos (the Kiwi Ferns’ first Test here since 1998 and the Jillaroos’ maiden visit to Christchurch).
Given the resounding success of that occasion, the city has secured two matches as part of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, another double-header with the Kiwis facing the Cook Islands and the Kiwi Ferns playing France on October 25 – the first Test matches to be staged at Te Kaha Stadium. CRL is thankful for this increase in exposure to international rugby league over the past three years and view it as a sign of good things to come.
The NRL is yet to decide on the 20th team to be included in the premiership. Following the employment of the organisation’s first fulltime employee in New Zealand – Tim Lythe, whose role is dedicated to pathways, rugby league-specific commercial opportunities and the viability of the 20th team being based in New Zealand – we are confident Canterbury is a standout candidate given its location, supporter base, facilities, local government support and participation numbers. We are hopeful 2026 will be the year the NRL finalises its decision on the 20th franchise and Christchurch is the preferred choice of location.
Above all, our immediate focus is on delivering rugby league in the best way possible for our players, coaches, volunteers and supporters, working alongside them to improve and make our great game bigger and better.
See you on the sidelines.
Malcolm Humm
Canterbury Rugby League CEO