New Zealand to Host State of Origin Rugby Match in 2027

Rugby league fans in New Zealand will finally get to experience the electricity of State of Origin on home turf when Auckland hosts a match in 2027.

The landmark decision puts one game of the prestigious series at Eden Park, a 50,000-seat stadium that Kiwi legend Gary Freeman predicts will sell out instantly. It's the first time Origin will be played in New Zealand and the first international match since an exhibition game in California back in 1987.

"New Zealand needs State of Origin and I am all for it," Freeman told reporters. The former halfback, who played 46 Tests for the Kiwis, called the move "sensational" for growing the game.

The timing couldn't be better. Rugby league has exploded in popularity across New Zealand since the Warriors returned from their pandemic exile in Australia. Last season, the Warriors averaged over 25,000 fans per home game and sold out nine of their 11 Auckland matches.

Freeman believes the atmosphere is already there. "I took clients to games last year and the atmosphere was unbelievable," he said, adding that New Zealand could easily fill a 70,000-seat stadium if they had one.

The decision follows years of the NRL rotating one Origin match to neutral venues outside New South Wales and Queensland. Melbourne and Perth have hosted recent games, but New Zealand fans had been waiting their turn.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond the excitement of one spectacular night, Freeman sees this as a game-changer for grassroots rugby league. Kids across New Zealand will get to see the sport's biggest stars live instead of staying up until midnight to watch from halfway around the world.

The move also strengthens New Zealand's case for eventually landing the NRL's potential 20th team. Three separate bids from New Zealand's South Island applied for expansion in 2024, showing the appetite for more professional rugby league in the country.

The Warriors' success during and after COVID proved New Zealand's dedication to the sport, and many believe this Origin match is long overdue recognition. Freeman certainly thinks so: "If you look back to what the Warriors did for the game during COVID, this should have happened earlier."

Come 2027, expect Eden Park to be packed with passionate Kiwi fans ready to show Australia how rugby league is celebrated in New Zealand.