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Rugby League World Cup venues

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Headingley Rugby Stadium has hosted games in nine Rugby League World Cups – the most of any venue
Old Trafford has hosted the most Rugby League World Cup finals – with three

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 England in 2022. The next World Cup is set to be held in 2026

As of 2022, there have been 16 Rugby League World Cups held since the inaugural event in 1954.

Venues by tournament

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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 to 1977.

Stadiums in bold text show Rugby League World Cup final hosts.
Stadiums in italic text show ground has been demolished as of 2024.
Highest Attendance is the highest for that particular tournament.

France 1954

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Paris Parc des Princes 48,229 30,368
Bordeaux Stade Chaban Delmas 34,462 14,000
Lyon Stade de Gerland 25,000 10,250
Marseille Stade Vélodrome 67,394 20,000
Nantes Stade Marcel Saupin 1,880 13,000
Toulouse Stadium Municipal 33,150 37,471

Australia 1957

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City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Brisbane Brisbane Cricket Ground 37,478 29,636
Sydney Sydney Cricket Ground 48,000 58,655

United Kingdom 1960

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City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Bradford Odsal Stadium 26,019 33,023
Leeds Headingley 19,700 10,773
Swinton Station Road 15,000 22,923
Wigan Central Park 18,000 20,278

Australia and New Zealand 1968

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Australia Sydney Sydney Cricket Ground 48,000 62,256
Australia Brisbane Lang Park 52,500 32,664
New Zealand Auckland Carlaw Park 17,000 18,000

United Kingdom 1970

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Leeds Headingley 19,700 18,776
Bradford Odsal Stadium 26,019 6,654
Castleford Wheldon Road 10,500 8,958
Hull The Boulevard 10,500 3,824
Swinton Station Road 15,000 5,609
Wigan Central Park 18,000 9,805

France 1972

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City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Lyon Stade de Gerland 25,000 4,231
Grenoble Stade Lesdiguières 12,000 5,321
Marseille Stade Vélodrome 67,394 20,748
Paris Parc des Princes 48,229 8,000
Pau Stade du Hameau 14,588 7,500
Perpignan Stade Gilbert Brutus 13,000 6,324
Toulouse Stadium Municipal 33,150 10,332

Australia, France, New Zealand, and United Kingdom 1975

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City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
England Leeds Headingley 19,700 10,842
Australia Brisbane Lang Park 52,500 12,000
Australia Sydney Sydney Cricket Ground 48,000 33,858
England Bradford Odsal Stadium 26,019 5,507
England Salford The Willows 11,363 2,247
England Warrington Wilderspool Stadium 9,200 5,034
England Wigan Central Park 18,000 9,353
France Bordeaux Stade Chaban Delmas 34,462 1,581
France Marseille Stade Vélodrome 67,394 10,000
France Perpignan Stade Gilbert Brutus 13,000 10,440
France Toulouse Stadium Municipal 33,150 7,563
New Zealand Auckland Carlaw Park 17,000 18,000
New Zealand Christchurch Addington Showgrounds 18,000 2,500
Wales Swansea St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground 4,500 11,112

Australia and New Zealand 1977

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Australia Sydney Sydney Cricket Ground 48,000 24,457
Australia Brisbane Lang Park 52,500 27,000
New Zealand Auckland Carlaw Park 17,000 18,000
New Zealand Christchurch Addington Showgrounds 18,000 9,000

International 1985–1988

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
New Zealand Auckland Eden Park 50,000 47,363
Australia Brisbane Lang Park 52,500 22,811
Australia Sydney Sydney Football Stadium 45,500 15,944
Australia Wagga Wagga Eric Weissel Oval 10,000 11,685
England Leeds Headingley 19,700 6,567
England Wigan Central Park 18,000 20,169
France Avignon Parc des Sports 17,518 4,000
France Carcassonne Stade Albert Domec 10,000 5,000
France Perpignan Stade Gilbert Brutus 13,000 5,000
New Zealand Auckland Carlaw Park 17,000 15,327
New Zealand Christchurch Addington Showgrounds 18,000 8,525
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby National Football Stadium 14,800 17,000

International 1989–1992

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
England London Old Wembley Stadium 82,000 73,631
Australia Brisbane Lang Park 52,500 32,313
Australia Parkes Pioneer Oval 12,000 12,384
Australia Townsville Townsville Sports Reserve 6,500 12,470
England Hull The Boulevard 10,500 5,250
England Leeds Elland Road 37,792 32,500
England Wigan Central Park 18,000 20,346
France Carcassonne Stade Albert Domec 10,000 4,208
France Perpignan Stade Gilbert Brutus 13,000 3,965
New Zealand Auckland Mount Smart Stadium 25,000 15,000
New Zealand Christchurch Queen Elizabeth II Park 25,000 3,133
New Zealand Christchurch Addington Showgrounds 18,000 2,000
Papua New Guinea Goroka Danny Leahy Oval 13,000 11,485
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby National Football Stadium 14,800 14,500

England 1995

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City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
England London Old Wembley Stadium 82,000 66,540
England Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 11,800 9,181
England Huddersfield McAlpine Stadium 24,121 16,608
England Hull The Boulevard 10,500 5,121
England Keighley Cougar Park 7,800 4,845
England Leeds Headingley 19,700 14,041
England Manchester Old Trafford 74,310 30,042
England St. Helens Knowsley Road 17,500 8,679
England Warrington Wilderspool Stadium 9,200 8,083
England Wigan Central Park 18,000 26,263
Wales Cardiff Ninian Park 21,508 10,250
Wales Swansea Vetch Field 11,475 15,385

England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales 2000

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City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
England Manchester Old Trafford 74,310 44,329
England Bolton Reebok Stadium 28,723 16,032
England Castleford Wheldon Road 10,500 5,158
England Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 11,800 9,181
England Gloucester Kingsholm Stadium 16,115 2,496
England Hull Craven Park 12,225 2,187
England Hull The Boulevard 10,500 3,044
England Huddersfield McAlpine Stadium 24,121 8,144
England Leeds Headingley 19,700 15,405
England London Twickenham Stadium 82,000 33,758
England Reading Madejski Stadium 24,161 3,982
England St. Helens Knowsley Road 17,500 5,736
England Watford Vicarage Road 22,220 5,404
England Widnes Halton Stadium 13,350 5,211
England Workington Derwent Park 10,000 4,107
Scotland Edinburgh Tynecastle Stadium 19,852 1,579
Scotland Glasgow Firhill Stadium 10,102 2,008
Wales Cardiff Millennium Stadium 73,931 17,612
Wales Llanelli Stradey Park 10,800 1,497
Wales Wrexham Racecourse Ground 13,341 5,016
Ireland Dublin Tolka Park 5,700 1,782
Northern Ireland Belfast Windsor Park 18,500 3,207
France Albi Stadium Municipal d'Albi 13,058 7,969
France Carcassonne Stade Albert Domec 10,000 10,288
France Paris Stade Sébastien Charléty 20,000 7,498
France Toulouse Stadium Municipal 33,150 4,313

Australia 2008

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City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Brisbane Lang Park 52,500 50,599
Canberra Canberra Stadium 25,011 9,827
Gold Coast Robina Stadium 27,690 11,278
Gosford Central Coast Stadium 20,059 9,720
Melbourne Docklands Stadium 56,347 36,297
Newcastle Newcastle International Sports Centre 30,000 15,145
Rockhampton Browne Park 8,000 5,930
Sydney Parramatta Stadium 20,741 8,067
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 23,750 9,213

England and Wales 2013

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
England Manchester Old Trafford 74,310 74,468
England Bristol Memorial Stadium 11,000 7,247
England Halifax The Shay 10,401 10,266
England Huddersfield John Smith's Stadium 24,121 24,375
England Hull Craven Park 12,225 7,481
England Hull KC Stadium 25,586 25,114
England Leeds Headingley 19,700 18,180
England Leigh Leigh Sports Village 12,000 10,554
England London Wembley Stadium 90,000 67,545
England Rochdale Spotland Stadium 10,249 8,872
England Salford City of Salford Stadium 12,000 6,041
England St. Helens Langtree Park 18,000 14,137
England Wigan DW Stadium 25,138 22,276
England Warrington Halliwell Jones Stadium 15,300 14,965
England Workington Derwent Park 10,000 7,630
Wales Cardiff Millennium Stadium 73,931 45,052
Wales Neath The Gnoll 6,000 3,270
Wales Wrexham Racecourse Ground 13,341 8,019
France Avignon Parc des Sports 17,518 17,518
France Perpignan Stade Gilbert Brutus 13,000 11,576
Ireland Limerick Thomond Park 25,600 5,021
  • Although the competition was officially co hosted by England and Wales, France and Ireland also hosted games.

Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea 2017

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Australia Brisbane Lang Park 52,500 40,033
Australia Cairns Barlow Park 16,700 9,216
Australia Canberra Canberra Stadium 25,011 12,293
Australia Darwin Marrara Oval 12,500 13,473
Australia Melbourne Melbourne Rectangular Stadium 30,050 22,724
Australia Perth Perth Oval 20,500 14,744
Australia Sydney Sydney Football Stadium 45,500 21,127
Australia Townsville Willows Sports Complex 26,500 7,732
New Zealand Auckland Mount Smart Stadium 25,000 30,003
New Zealand Christchurch Rugby League Park 18,000 12,130
New Zealand Hamilton Waikato Stadium 25,800 24,041
New Zealand Wellington Wellington Regional Stadium 34,500 12,713
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby National Football Stadium 14,800 14,800

England 2021

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City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance
Manchester Old Trafford 74,310 67,502
London Emirates Stadium 60,704 40,489
Newcastle St James’ Park 52,350 43,199
Leeds Elland Road 37,792 28,113
Middlesbrough Riverside Stadium 34,742 8,342
Coventry Coventry Building Society Arena 32,753 10,276
Sheffield Bramall Lane 32,050 18,760
Bolton University of Bolton Stadium 28,723 23,648
Hull MKM Stadium 25,586 7,080
Wigan DW Stadium 25,138 23,179
Huddersfield Kirklees Stadium 24,121 24,375
Leeds Headingley Stadium 19,700 13,366
St Helens Totally Wicked Stadium 18,000 14,137
Doncaster Keepmoat Stadium 15,231 6,968
Warrington Halliwell Jones Stadium 15,200 14,965
Leigh Leigh Sports Village 12,000 6,057
Newcastle Kingston Park 10,200 6,736

Venues by nation

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Australia

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance 		Years
Brisbane Brisbane Cricket Ground 37,478 29,636 1957
Sydney Sydney Cricket Ground 48,000 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 6,500 12,470 1989–92
Canberra Canberra Stadium 25,011 12,293 2008, 2017
Gold Coast Robina Stadium 27,690 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 30,000 15,145 2008
Rockhampton Browne Park 8,000 5,942 2008
Sydney Parramatta Stadium 20,741 8,602 2008
Sydney Penrith Stadium 22,500 11,787 2008
Townsville Willows Sports Complex 26,500 16,239 2008, 2017
Wollongong Wollongong Showground 23,750 9,213 2008
Cairns Barlow Park 16,700 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

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance 		Years
Bradford Odsal Stadium 26,019 33,023 1960, 1970, 1975
Leeds Headingley 19,700 22,209 1960, 1970, 1975*, 1985–88, 1989–92, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2021
Swinton Station Road 15,000 22,923 1960, 1970
Wigan Central Park 18,000 26,263 1960, 1970, 1975, 1985–88, 1989–92, 1995
Castleford Wheldon Road 10,500 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 37,792 32,500 1989–92, 2021
Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 11,800 9,181 1995, 2000
Huddersfield Kirklees Stadium 24,121 24,375 1995, 2000, 2013, 2021
Keighley Cougar Park 7,800 4,845 1995
Manchester Old Trafford 74,310 74,468 1995, 2000, 2013, 2021
St. Helens Knowsley Road 17,500 8,679 1995, 2000
Bolton University of Bolton Stadium 28,723 23,648 2000, 2021
Gloucester Kingsholm Stadium 16,115 2,496 2000
Hull Craven Park 12,225 7,481 2000
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 11,000 7,247 2013
Halifax The Shay 10,401 10,266 2013
Hull KCOM Stadium 25,586 25,114 2013, 2021
Leigh Leigh Sports Village 12,000 10,554 2013, 2021
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, 2021
Warrington Halliwell Jones Stadium 15,300 14,965 2013, 2021
Wigan DW Stadium 25,138 23,179 2013, 2021
London Emirates Stadium 60,704 40,489 2021
Newcastle St James' Park 52,350 43,199 2021
Middlesbrough Riverside Stadium 34,742 8,342 2021
Coventry Coventry Building Society Arena 32,753 10,276 2021
Sheffield Bramall Lane 32,050 18,760 2021
Doncaster Keepmoat Stadium 15,231 6,968 2021
Newcastle Kingston Park 10,200 6,736 2021

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

France

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance 		Years
Paris Parc des Princes 48,229 30,368 1954, 1972
Lyon Stade de Gerland 25,000 10,250 1954, 1972
Bordeaux Stade Chaban Delmas 34,462 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 14,588 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

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance 		Years
Dublin Tolka Park 5,700 1,782 2000
Limerick Thomond Park 25,600 5,021 2013

New Zealand

[edit]
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
Christchurch Queen Elizabeth II Park 25,000 3,133 1989–92
Auckland Mount Smart Stadium 25,000 30,003 1989–92, 2017
Hamilton Waikato Stadium 25,800 24,041 2017
Wellington Wellington Regional Stadium 34,500 12,713 2017

Northern Ireland

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance 		Years
Belfast Windsor Park 18,500 3,207 2000

Papua New Guinea

[edit]
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

[edit]
City Stadium Capacity Highest
Attendance 		Years
Edinburgh Tynecastle Stadium 19,852 1,579 2000
Glasgow Firhill Stadium 10,102 2,008 2000

Wales

[edit]
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 13,341 8,019 2000, 2013
Neath The Gnoll 6,000 3,270 2013

See also

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References

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  1. ^ World Cup Venues at Rugby League Project

Further reading

[edit]
  • Andrews, Malcolm & Butcher, Tim (2009). The Rugby League World Cup. League Publications. ISBN 978-1-901347-20-3.
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