National rugby league tournament kicks off in Hawke's Bay

Hawke’s Bay is hosting its biggest weekend of senior rugby league, with up to 475 players from 19 teams competing at Mitre 10 Sports Park today and tomorrow.

Ten women’s and nine men’s teams are contesting Premiership and Championship matches across five fields, in the first NZRL event of this scale hosted by Rugby League Hawke’s Bay.

NZRL National Football Operations Manager David McMeeken said it was one of the largest senior tournaments the national body had delivered.

“It brings some of the country’s best players and teams to the area, while giving local players, coaches and volunteers the chance to be part of a national event,” McMeeken said.

“More importantly, we hope it generates some interest in the game locally.”

Rugby League Hawke’s Bay chair Anthony Taueki said the tournament came amid strong growth for the sport in the region.

“League is a growing sport here. From 2024 to 2025, we grew by 20 per cent, and we’ve done that again this year,” Taueki said.

He said Rugby League Hawke’s Bay now recorded about 2500 seasonal memberships.

Taueki attributed the growth to greater visibility, more opportunities to play regionally and nationally, stronger pathways and leadership.

“It’s giving our code the respect and the space that we need,” he said.

Both the Hawke’s Bay men’s and women’s Unicorns are competing in the Championship divisions.

The men finished third at last year’s tournament in Whangārei, while Hawke’s Bay did not send a women’s team.

Taueki said having both sides competing on home soil this year was significant.

“That’s quite cool in itself. Our girls that are coming through get to see the complete pathway.”

The Hawke’s Bay women played as a curtain-raiser ahead of the Warriors’ match against Manly in February, an opportunity Taueki used to show the community that pathways for female players were available in the region.

Both Hawke’s Bay teams begin their campaigns against defending champions.

The men face Te Tai Tokerau at 11am today before meeting Whangārei City Districts at 2pm. Their final round-robin match is against Coastline at 10.25am on Sunday.

The women open against 2025 champions Rugby League Northland at 12.35pm today, followed by Bay of Plenty at 3.40pm. They meet Manawatū at midday on Sunday.

“We’re aiming to win, definitely,” Taueki said.

The men’s and women’s Championship titles will be decided in Hastings on Sunday afternoon.

In the Premiership, the top two men’s teams from the North Island pool in Hastings will join the top two from the South Island tournament in national semifinals in Auckland on September 26.

The Women’s Premiership is being contested entirely in Hastings, with its top two teams advancing directly to the national final in Auckland on September 27.

McMeeken said the weekend would feature former NRL players and internationals in the men’s grades, as well as former Kiwi Ferns across the women’s competitions.

Four of the teams attending also have female head coaches.

Planning began late last year after Taueki expressed interest in bringing the tournament to Hawke’s Bay.

Taueki expects between 2000 and 3000 spectators across the weekend.

“The venue provides the setting, but it’s the people who made Hawke’s Bay the right place to host this tournament,” McMeeken said.

“We hope the tournament provides some growth for rugby league across Hawke’s Bay and the wider East Coast region.”

Games on Field 1, including both Championship grand finals, will be broadcast live on Sky Sport. Replays will later be uploaded to NZRL’s YouTube channel.

The full draws and results are available through the NZRL Match Centre.