Iconic New Zealand rugby grounds (from Tourism NZ)
Rising from cities, small towns and country paddocks filled with farmers’ stock, no part of New Zealand’s landscape is quite complete without a set of rugby goal posts.
Rugby is New Zealand’s most-played sport, and every Saturday more than 145,000 players lace up their boots and run onto rugby fields to chase the oval ball.
Some fields are no more than farm land while others are hallowed turf identified by instantly recognisable names and often-told stories of rugby’s great moments.
A rugby-lovers tour of New Zealand would not be complete without walking the turf on some of New Zealand’s iconic rugby pitches.
Eden Park - RWC final host
Eden Park is New Zealand’s largest stadium and has been a sports ground since 1900. Eden Park hosted the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup (RWC), and the 2011 RWC will be the second world cup to be held at the ground.
Some of New Zealand's proudest sporting moments have taken place on Eden Park, including the 1950 Empire Games, and the 1992 Cricket World Cup. In 1981, during the now infamous Springbok Tour, a match was interrupted by a low flying Cessna aircraft that flour-bombed the park.
In the heart of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, Eden Park is undergoing major redevelopment to increase capacity from 48,000 to 60,000 for the 2011 RWC. Eden Park features a Hall of Legends that opened in 2002 and contains 2000 items of significant New Zealand sporting memorabilia.
Rugby Park, Hamilton - Mooloo heaven
With more than 10,500 registered rugby players in the Waikato - a dairy farming region - it’s hardly surprising that cows and rugby have become inseparable.
Mooloo has become a common nickname for everything pertaining to the Waikato Rugby team and its supporters. A pantomime cow regularly grazes on Rugby Park during rugby matches while passionate supporters swing cow bells in the crowd.
Mooloo history is littered with the scalps of international teams who have ventured to Rugby Park and experienced the ferocity of the mighty Waikato team. In 1956 Waikato beat the South African team - the first time a provincial team had beaten a touring Springbok side.
Rotorua International Stadium - hot rugby location
Founded in 1911, the Rotorua International Stadium must be the only rugby stadium in the world set in a thermal wonderland amongst bubbling mud, hot pools and rumbling geysers.
Rugby-weary bodies can soak in the healing waters of the natural hot springs and spas - famed for their therapeutic qualities, and a major New Zealand tourist attraction since the late 1800s.
One of New Zealand's largest capacity sports venues, the stadium is the home of Bay of Plenty rugby. Despite an official capacity of 37,000, the largest crowd ever recorded at the stadium was in 1977 when the British Lions played Bay of Plenty in front of 39,000 fans.
Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth - world class
Yarrow Stadium was named third best rugby ground in the world, the only ground in New Zealand to make the 2009 NZ Rugby World Magazine list. It scored points for its distinctly Kiwi atmosphere and the fact that it is a regional stadium in the spiritual home of rugby with picturesque Mt Taranaki visible in the background.
The rugby ground was also described as "tight," because the two stands are close to the pitch and spectators feel they are almost on top of the action. The players also feel the proximity of the spectators so it is a "shared, intense experience".
Mangatainoka, Wairarapa - grassroots best
Mangatainoka’s rugby ground is no more than a paddock but typifies the home of grassroots rugby in New Zealand. As an added bonus, this pitch is next door to one of the country’s best known breweries - Tui beer has been "distracting the boys from the task at hand since 1889".
The ground’s grandstand only holds 122 people, but a combined local effort of farmers, contractors and earth movers is levelling the field, removing sheep ruts and building temporary grandstands to host the 2010 Super 14 pre-season opening match. Locals say it will rival ‘big union’ projects underway for Rugby World Cup 2011, and that tickets will sell out faster than the 2011 RWC final.
Wellington Regional Stadium - ‘Rings’ battle cry
Fondly nicknamed "the cake tin", the Wellington Stadium opened on New Year’s Eve 1999, nine years after Wellington Rugby first decided to replace aging Athletic Park.
The stadium has become a successful large capacity venue that hosted the 2000 Edinburgh Military Tattoo - the first time the event was held outside Edinburgh, Scotland. It also hosts the IRB Sevens tournament each February, providing a party atmosphere that routinely spills over into the nearby city centre.
Another claim to fame was when, during a cricket match, film director Peter Jackson recorded 30,000 fans chanting a battle scene cry for his film
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Botanical Gardens, Nelson - where it all began
New Zealand's first rugby game - under official rugby rules - was played in Nelson on 14 May 1870 between Nelson College and the Nelson Football Club. The game at Botanical Gardens was organised by Charles Monro, a Kiwi who had spent time studying (and playing rugby) in Britain.
A sign shaped like a rugby ball and goal posts marks the site of the original game which featured 18-player sides and attracted about 200 spectators.
Trafalgar Park, Nelson - this grass has glass
Trafalgar Park, named after the battle of Trafalgar, is not only one of New Zealand’s oldest sports grounds but also boasts the most unusual pitch - eco-friendly recycled glass that resembles sand.
Just a five-minute walk from Nelson’s city centre, with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, Trafalgar Park is considered one of New Zealand’s most attractive rugby grounds.
Stadium Christchurch - rich heritage
Founded in 1880, Stadium Christchurch - formerly Lancaster Park - has long been a versatile venue. During WWI the ground was dug up to grow potatoes to support the war effort, it has hosted many events, including trotting, swimming, tennis, hot air ballooning, papal and royal visits.
The stadium has been through multiple name changes, and has been known as Jade Stadium, Fortress Jade and AMI Stadium. It is home to the Crusaders Super14 team.
Before the 2011 Rugby World Cup the Eastern Stands will be demolished and replaced with the new Deans Stand raising capacity to 45,000 and making it the second largest stadium in New Zealand after Eden Park.
Victoria Square, Westport - fits the whole town
Buller’s home ground seats just 5000 - not the biggest stadium by any means, but enough to seat the entire population of Westport and, according to locals, every spot is usually taken for the big games.
Hardy Westport natives say the best time to attend a game is in a good old fashioned West Coast downpour, ideally when their team Buller is playing neighbours and staunch rivals West Coast.
Carisbrook Stadium, Dunedin - "house of pain"
Known to locals as "The Brook", Carisbrook earned its nickname "house of pain" for being a difficult venue for visiting teams.
The main highway runs close to the northern boundary, and the roadside that offered punters a free view of the action became known as the "Scotsman’s Grandstand". At one time trains would slow to a crawl or stop on the track above the stadium allowing passengers to watch an entire event but a new stand and corporate boxes developed in 1998 blocked the view.
Carisbrook will be replaced by the 30,000-place Forsyth Barr Stadium, currently under construction for the 2011 RWC.
More information:
Four million Kiwis prepare to roar
2011 Rugby World Cup - host towns
2011 Rugby World Cup - match venues
