From the Sheds to the Stands, the Country is coming to One New Zealand Stadium for one huge family day out!

Next Saturday, 26 September, One NZ Stadium will become a celebration of everything we love about country life, community and rugby, as Canterbury Rugby hosts its Rural Round Doubleheader.

It’s a tip of the cap to the clubs, players, volunteers, families and communities that are the glue of country rugby across our region. It’s where the best yarns are told, the post-match meals are legendary, and where some of the greatest players to pull on the red and black, and represent New Zealand on the world stage, started their journeys.

And the best part? Two games for the price of one ticket!

The Farah Palmer Cup presented by Hilux will make history at One NZ Stadium, with our Canterbury women taking the field at our new home for the first time. Canterbury FPC will take on Waikato at 2:35pm in a rematch of last year’s final, before our Canterbury NPC side goes head to head with the Southland Stags.

In between the two matches, the next generation of country rugby will take centre stage, with Kaikōura RFC taking on Banks Peninsula RFC in Year 1 Rippa Rugby. It’s a chance for our youngest players to experience the stadium, play in front of a crowd and soak up the atmosphere on a big day for Canterbury rugby.

There will be plenty happening around the stadium throughout the afternoon, including a very special piece of silverware making its way to the North Pad.
The Bledisloe Cup will be on display for fans to get photos with whilst soaking up the Rural Round atmosphere.

More than 200 NZ Young Farmers will also join the muster, while country clubs from Ellesmere, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury will come together to help make it a genuine country rugby fiesta.

And, as always, there’s plenty happening for our youngest fans. JC Construction are back with Take a Kid to Footy, with the first 300 kids to visit their team on the North Pad receiving a special Take a Kid to Footy pack. There’ll also be face painting, sign making, bouncy castles and more family-friendly fun to be part of.

For those elevating their experience in the Ōtautahi Lounge, former All Black John Kirwan will speak between matches alongside some special guests, before the afternoon rolls on with live country music in the Lounge after the match.

With kids tickets just $5, adults from $10 and family passes available for $45, Rural Round is an affordable day out for the whole whānau, and with two matches included, there’s plenty of rugby for your ticket.

So round up the whānau, bring your mates, wear your red and black and get ready to celebrate the people and communities that make country rugby what it is.

The country is coming to town. Two games, one ticket, get yours here!

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