CANTERBURY TO HOST 2025 NZRL NATIONAL YOUTH COMPETITION

Canterbury Rugby League with New Zealand Rugby League

Canterbury Rugby League is thrilled to announce the region will host New Zealand Rugby League’s (NZRL) annual National Youth Competition for the first time in 2025.

The first-rate facilities at Ngā Puna Wai, the home of Canterbury Rugby League since 2019, will welcome boys and girls teams from all over the country for the marquee festival of youth footy.

Traditionally held in Rotorua, the rangatahi tournament has been running since 2010 in its current form, with the seven Zones and Auckland in attendance. In recent years, the tournament has seen the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coastline districts represented.

The last occasion a national tournament was staged in Canterbury was 1993, when Burnham Military Camp hosted the schoolboy 15-year-olds nationals.

The 2024 National Youth Competition – set down for September 29-October 4 in Rotorua – is likely to attract 50 teams from the Districts and Zones across all grades (16s and 18s) for both the boys and girls divisions.

Spurred by rugby league experiencing strong growth in the region in recent years especially, CRL and NZRL are excited to host the tournament in the South Island.

“This is a very exciting time for Canterbury Rugby League,” Canterbury Rugby League CEO Malcolm Humm says.

“It is a real honour for us to host the 2025 National Youth Competition and we thank NZRL for this opportunity.

“We believe with the exceptional facilities we have at Ngā Puna Wai and the progress the city has made with the rebuild, this will contribute to an enjoyable experience for those visiting from other parts of the country.”

The momentous hosting announcement comes just months after confirmation of Canterbury Rugby League’s return to standalone district status via the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Southern Zone Rugby League.

Canterbury youth players have represented Southern Zone-administered South Island Scorpions teams at national tournaments since 2009, but Canterbury boys teams will feature in the red and black jersey again at the upcoming 2024 National Youth Competition and Canterbury girls teams will follow suit in 2025. Otago, Southland, Aoraki and West Coast Districts will continue to combine to form South Island Scorpions teams.

“During Canterbury Rugby League’s strategic plan consultation process with stakeholders in late-2022, a common theme that was communicated was the need for Canterbury to regain its identity at national level by having Canterbury teams in NZRL National Youth Competitions,” Canterbury Rugby League CEO Malcolm Humm explains.

“We believe providing a clear line of sight for Canterbury players to represent their region from youth tournaments through to senior provincial competitions will be hugely beneficial.

“For our Canterbury boys and girls teams to be able to play in front of their friends and whānau in the red and black at Ngā Puna Wai at the 2025 National Youth Competition is very special”.

South Island teams have performed strongly at the National Youth Competition in recent years, with the Scorpions taking out the 16s boys division in 2023 and the 18s boys team securing a final spot for the third year running.

A pathway to higher honours, the tournament has seen the likes of 2023 Kiwis Test debutant Griffin Neame (North Queensland Cowboys), a West Coaster who also played in Halswell Hornets’ junior ranks, and Hornby Panthers product Jordan Riki (Brisbane Broncos), a 2022 Kiwis wider squad member, both take part.

Young women’s players from Canterbury are also making their mark on big stages: Sydenham Swans’ Isabella Waterman made her NRLW debut for Newcastle Knights last month, while Papanui Tigers junior Jaydika Tafua is on a development deal with Cronulla Sharks’ NRLW squad.

Meanwhile, Canterbury Rugby League’s pathways and development agreement with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, which began in 2023, further illustrates the increased opportunities available for promising players from our region.

NZRL CEO Greg Peters outlined how crucial the regions around New Zealand are to game’s overall growth, holding up Canterbury as an illustration of rugby league’s nationwide upward trajectory.

“The continual development of our game throughout Aotearoa is paramount. It’s important to us that regions throughout the country continue to grow, not just in player numbers but across the wider game too,” Peters says.

“Canterbury Rugby League are the perfect example of this, their passion for the game evident. Hosting the National Youth Competition in the area next year is something we’re all looking forward to.”