Rugby League World Cup venues

The following is a list of venues that have hosted matches as part of the Rugby League World Cup.[1]

The first Rugby league World Cup was staged in France in 1954 with the last having been staged in three countries (Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea) in 2017. The next World Cup is set to be held in England in 2021.

As of 2017, there have been 15 Rugby League World Cups held since the inaugural event in 1954.

Venues by tournament

All countries listed in alphabetical order while all venues listed in order of appearance and with their non-corporate name (unless unavoidable). Venue capacity is as it currently stands and in some cases may vary from the capacity of the venue at the time of use. For example, the Sydney Cricket Ground's current spectator capacity is 48,000 but stood at 70,000 when used as a World Cup venue from 1957–1977.

Stadiums in Bold text show Rugby League World Cup Final hosts.
Stadiums in Italic text show ground has been demolished as of 2017.

France 1954

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Paris	Parc des Princes	47,929	30,368
Bordeaux	Stade Chaban Delmas	34,694	14,000
Lyon	Stade de Gerland	35,000	10,250
Marseille	Stade Vélodrome	67,394	20,748
Nantes	Stade Marcel Saupin	1,880	13,000
Toulouse	Stadium Municipal	33,150	37,471

Australia 1957

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Brisbane	Brisbane Cricket Ground	42,000	29,636
Sydney	Sydney Cricket Ground	48,601	62,256

England 1960

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Bradford	Odsal Stadium	22,739	33,023
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	22,209
Swinton	Station Road	35,000	22,923
Wigan	Central Park	18,000	26,263

Australia/New Zealand 1968

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Sydney	Sydney Cricket Ground	48,601	62,256
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599
Auckland	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000

England 1970

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	22,209
Bradford	Odsal Stadium	22,739	33,023
Castleford	Wheldon Road	11,775	8,958
Hull	The Boulevard	10,500	5,250
Swinton	Station Road	35,000	22,923
Wigan	Central Park	18,000	26,263

France 1972

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Lyon	Stade de Gerland	35,000	10,250
Grenoble	Stade Lesdiguières	12,000	5,321
Marseille	Stade Vélodrome	67,394	20,748
Paris	Parc des Princes	47,929	30,368
Pau	Stade du Hameau	18,324	7,500
Perpignan	Stade Gilbert Brutus	13,000	11,576
Toulouse	Stadium Municipal	33,150	37,471

International 1975

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	22,209
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599
Sydney	Sydney Cricket Ground	48,601	62,256
Bradford	Odsal Stadium	22,739	33,023
Salford	The Willows	11,363	2,247
Warrington	Wilderspool Stadium	9,200	8,083
Wigan	Central Park	18,000	26,263
Bordeaux	Stade Chaban Delmas	34,694	14,000
Marseille	Stade Vélodrome	67,394	20,748
Perpignan	Stade Gilbert Brutus	13,000	11,576
Toulouse	Stadium Municipal	33,150	37,471
Auckland	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000
Christchurch	Addington Showgrounds	18,000	12,130
Swansea	St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground	4,500	11,112

Australia/New Zealand 1977

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Sydney	Sydney Cricket Ground	48,601	62,256
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599
Auckland	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000
Christchurch	Addington Showgrounds	18,000	12,130

International 1985-1988

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Auckland	Eden Park	50,000	47,363
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599
Sydney	Sydney Football Stadium	45,500	34,157
Wagga Wagga	Eric Weissel Oval	10,000	11,685
Leeds	Headingley	21,062	22,209
Wigan	Central Park	18,000	26,263
Avignon	Parc des Sports	17,518	17,518
Carcassonne	Stade Albert Domec	10,000	10,288
Perpignan	Stade Gilbert Brutus	13,000	11,576
Auckland	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000
Christchurch	Addington Showgrounds	18,000	12,130
Port Moresby	National Football Stadium	14,800	17,000

International 1989-1992

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
London	Old Wembley Stadium	82,000	73,631
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599
Parkes	Pioneer Oval	12,000	12,384
Townsville	Townsville Sports Reserve	6,400	12,470
Hull	The Boulevard	10,500	5,250
Leeds	Elland Road	37,890	32,500
Wigan	Central Park	18,000	26,263
Carcassonne	Stade Albert Domec	10,000	10,288
Perpignan	Stade Gilbert Brutus	13,000	11,576
Auckland	Mount Smart Stadium	30,000	30,003
Christchurch	Addington Showgrounds	18,000	12,130
Goroka	Danny Leahy Oval	13,000	11,485
Port Moresby	National Football Stadium	14,800	17,000

England 1995

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
London	Old Wembley Stadium	82,000	73,631
Gateshead	Gateshead International Stadium	11,800	9,181
Huddersfield	Kirklees Stadium	24,121	24,375
Hull	The Boulevard	10,500	5,250
Keighley	Cougar Park	7,800	4,845
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	22,209
Manchester	Old Trafford	74,879	74,468
St. Helens	Knowsley Road	17,500	8,679
Warrington	Wilderspool Stadium	9,200	8,083
Wigan	Central Park	18,000	26,263
Cardiff	Ninian Park	21,508	10,250
Swansea	Vetch Field	11,475	15,385

United Kingdom, Ireland and France 2000

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Manchester	Old Trafford	74,879	74,468
Bolton	Reebok Stadium	28,723	16,032
Castleford	Wheldon Road	11,775	8,958
Gateshead	Gateshead International Stadium	11,800	9,181
Gloucester	Kingsholm Stadium	16,115	2,496
Hull	Craven Park	12,225	7,481
Hull	The Boulevard	10,500	5,250
Huddersfield	Kirklees Stadium	24,121	24,375
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	22,209
London	Twickenham Stadium	82,000	33,758
Reading	Madejski Stadium	24,161	3,982
St. Helens	Knowsley Road	17,500	8,679
Warrington	Wilderspool Stadium	9,200	8,083
Watford	Vicarage Road	22,220	5,404
Widnes	Halton Stadium	13,350	5,211
Workington	Derwent Park	10,000	7,630
Edinburgh	Tynecastle Stadium	17,480	1,579
Glasgow	Firhill Stadium	10,102	2,008
Cardiff	Millennium Stadium	73,931	45,052
Llanelli	Stradey Park	10,800	1,497
Wrexham	Racecourse Ground	10,771	8,019
Dublin	Tolka Park	3,600	1,782
Belfast	Windsor Park	18,614	3,207
Albi	Stadium Municipal d'Albi	13,058	7,969
Carcassonne	Stade Albert Domec	10,000	10,288
Paris	Stade Sébastien Charléty	20,000	7,498
Toulouse	Stadium Municipal	33,150	37,471

Australia 2008

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599
Canberra	Canberra Stadium	25,011	12,293
Gold Coast	Robina Stadium	27,400	11,278
Gosford	Central Coast Stadium	20,059	9,720
Melbourne	Docklands Stadium	56,347	36,297
Newcastle	Newcastle International Sports Centre	33,000	15,145
Rockhampton	Browne Park	8,000	5,942
Sydney	Parramatta Stadium	24,000	8,602
Sydney	Penrith Stadium	22,500	11,787
Sydney	Sydney Football Stadium	45,500	34,157
Townsville	Willows Sports Complex	26,500	16,239
Wollongong	Wollongong Showground	23,000	9,213

England, Wales, France and Ireland 2013

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Manchester	Old Trafford	74,879	74,468
Bristol	Memorial Stadium	12,300	7,247
Halifax	The Shay	10,401	10,266
Huddersfield	Kirklees Stadium	24,121	24,375
Hull	Craven Park	12,225	7,481
Hull	KCOM Stadium	25,400	25,114
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	22,209
Leigh	Leigh Sports Village	12,000	10,554
London	Wembley Stadium	90,000	67,545
Rochdale	Spotland Stadium	10,249	8,872
Salford	City of Salford Stadium	12,000	6,041
St. Helens	Langtree Park	18,000	14,137
Wigan	DW Stadium	25,138	22,276
Warrington	Halliwell Jones Stadium	15,200	14,965
Workington	Derwent Park	10,000	7,630
Cardiff	Millennium Stadium	73,931	45,052
Neath	The Gnoll	6,000	3,270
Wrexham	Racecourse Ground	10,771	8,019
Avignon	Parc des Sports	17,518	17,518
Perpignan	Stade Gilbert Brutus	13,000	11,576
Limerick	Thomond Park	25,600	5,021

• Although the competition was officially co hosted by England and Wales, France and Ireland played games in their respected home nations.

Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea 2017

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599
Cairns	Barlow Park	18,000	9,216
Canberra	Canberra Stadium	25,011	12,293
Darwin	Marrara Oval	12,500	13,473
Melbourne	Melbourne Rectangular Stadium	30,050	22,724
Perth	Perth Oval	20,500	14,744
Sydney	Sydney Football Stadium	45,500	34,157
Townsville	Willows Sports Complex	26,500	16,239
Auckland	Mount Smart Stadium	30,000	30,003
Christchurch	Addington Showground	18,000	12,130
Hamilton	Waikato Stadium	25,800	24,041
Wellington	Wellington Regional Stadium	34,500	12,713
Port Moresby	National Football Stadium	14,800	17,000

Venues by nation

Australia

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Brisbane	Brisbane Cricket Ground	42,000	29,636	1957
Sydney	Sydney Cricket Ground	48,601	62,256	1957, 1968, 1975, 1977
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599	1968, 1975, 1977, 1985-88, 1989-92, 2008, 2017
Sydney	Sydney Football Stadium	45,500	34,157	1985-88, 2008, 2017
Wagga Wagga	Eric Weissel Oval	10,000	11,685	1985-88
Parkes	Pioneer Oval	12,000	12,384	1989-92
Townsville	Townsville Sports Reserve	6,400	12,470	1989-92
Canberra	Canberra Stadium	25,011	12,293	2008, 2017
Gold Coast	Robina Stadium	27,400	11,278	2008
Gosford	Central Coast Stadium	20,059	9,720	2008
Melbourne	Docklands Stadium	56,347	36,297	2008
Newcastle	Newcastle International Sports Centre	33,000	15,145	2008
Rockhampton	Browne Park	8,000	5,942	2008
Sydney	Parramatta Stadium	24,000	8,602	2008
Sydney	Penrith Stadium	22,500	11,787	2008
Townsville	Willows Sports Complex	26,500	16,239	2008, 2017
Wollongong	Wollongong Showground	23,000	9,213	2008
Cairns	Barlow Park	18,000	9,216	2017
Darwin	Marrara Oval	12,500	13,473	2017
Melbourne	Melbourne Rectangular Stadium	30,050	22,724	2017
Perth	Perth Oval	20,500	14,744	2017

England

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Bradford	Odsal Stadium	22,739	33,023	1960, 1970, 1975
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	22,209	1960, 1970, 1975*, 1985-88, 1989-92, 1995, 2000, 2013
Swinton	Station Road	35,000	22,923	1960, 1970
Wigan	Central Park	18,000	26,263	1960, 1970, 1975, 1985-88, 1989-92, 1995
Castleford	Wheldon Road	11,775	8,958	1970, 2000
Hull	The Boulevard	10,500	5,250	1970, 1989-92, 1995, 2000
Salford	The Willows	11,363	2,247	1975
Warrington	Wilderspool Stadium	9,200	8,083	1975, 1995
London	Wembley Stadium (1923)	82,000	73,631	1989-92, 1995
Leeds	Elland Road	37,890	32,500	1989-92
Gateshead	Gateshead International Stadium	11,800	9,181	1995, 2000
Huddersfield	Kirklees Stadium	24,121	24,375	1995, 2000, 2013
Keighley	Cougar Park	7,800	4,845	1995
Manchester	Old Trafford	74,879	74,468	1995, 2000, 2013
St. Helens	Knowsley Road	17,500	8,679	1995, 2000
Bolton	Reebok Stadium	28,723	16,032	2000
Gloucester	Kingsholm Stadium	16,115	2,496	2000
Hull	Craven Park	12,225	7,481	2000, 2013
London	Twickenham Stadium	82,000	33,758	2000
Reading	Madejski Stadium	24,161	3,982	2000
Watford	Vicarage Road	22,220	5,404	2000
Widnes	Halton Stadium	13,350	5,211	2000
Workington	Derwent Park	10,000	7,630	2000, 2013
Bristol	Memorial Stadium	12,300	7,247	2013
Halifax	The Shay	10,401	10,266	2013
Hull	KCOM Stadium	25,400	25,114	2013
Leigh	Leigh Sports Village	12,000	10,554	2013
London	Wembley Stadium	90,000	67,545	2013
Salford	City of Salford Stadium	12,000	6,041	2013
St. Helens	Langtree Park	18,000	14,137	2013
Warrington	Halliwell Jones Stadium	15,200	14,965	2013
Wigan	DW Stadium	25,138	22,276	2013

* 1975 had no official World Cup Final. Instead a special challenge match was played.

France

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Paris	Parc des Princes	47,929	30,368	1954, 1972
Lyon	Stade de Gerland	35,000	10,250	1954, 1972
Bordeaux	Stade Chaban Delmas	34,694	14,000	1954, 1975
Marseille	Stade Vélodrome	67,394	20,748	1954, 1972, 1975
Nantes	Stade Marcel Saupin	1,880	13,000	1954
Toulouse	Stadium Municipal	33,150	37,471	1954, 1972, 1975, 2000
Grenoble	Stade Lesdiguières	12,000	5,321	1972
Pau	Stade du Hameau	18,324	7,500	1972
Perpignan	Stade Gilbert Brutus	13,000	11,576	1972, 1975, 1985-88, 1989-92, 2013
Avignon	Parc des Sports	17,518	17,518	1985-88, 2013
Carcassonne	Stade Albert Domec	10,000	10,288	1985-88, 1989-92, 2000
Albi	Stadium Municipal d'Albi	13,058	7,969	2000
Paris	Stade Sébastien Charléty	20,000	7,498	2000

Ireland

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Dublin	Tolka Park	3,600	1,782	2000
Limerick	Thomond Park	25,600	5,021	2013

New Zealand

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Auckland	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000	1968, 1975, 1977, 1985-88
Christchurch	Addington Showground	18,000	12,130	1975, 1977, 1985-88, 1989-92, 2017
Auckland	Eden Park	50,000	47,363	1985-88
Auckland	Mount Smart Stadium	30,000	30,003	1989-92, 2017
Hamilton	Waikato Stadium	25,800	24,041	2017
Wellington	Wellington Regional Stadium	34,500	12,713	2017

Northern Ireland

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Belfast	Windsor Park	18,614	3,207	2000

Papua New Guinea

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Port Moresby	National Football Stadium	14,800	17,000	1985-88, 1989-92, 2017
Goroka	Danny Leahy Oval	13,000	11,485	1989-92

Scotland

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Edinburgh	Tynecastle Stadium	19,582	1,579	2000
Glasgow	Firhill Stadium	10,102	2,008	2000

Wales

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
Swansea	St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground	4,500	11,112	1975
Cardiff	Ninian Park	21,508	10,250	1995
Swansea	Vetch Field	11,475	15,385	1995
Cardiff	Millennium Stadium	73,931	45,052	2000, 2013
Llanelli	Stradey Park	10,800	1,497	2000
Wrexham	Racecourse Ground	10,771	8,019	2000, 2013
Neath	The Gnoll	6,000	3,270	2013

See also

• Rugby League World Cup finals
• List of rugby league competitions
• List of rugby league stadiums by capacity

References

1. World Cup Venues at Rugby League Project

External links

• Official Rugby League World Cup Website
• Rugby League International Federation

Further reading

• Andrews, Malcolm & Butcher, Tim (2009). The Rugby League World Cup. League Publications.