Rugby League World Cup venues explained

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

thumb|Parc des Princes in Paris hosted the first Rugby League World Cup Final in 1954

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

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Paris	Parc des Princes	48,229	30,368
		34,462	14,000
		25,000	10,250
		67,394	20,000
		1,880	13,000
		33,150	37,471

Australia 1957

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
		37,478	29,636
		48,000	58,655

United Kingdom 1960

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

Australia and New Zealand 1968

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Sydney	Sydney Cricket Ground	48,000	62,256
		52,500	32,664
	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000

United Kingdom 1970

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	18,776
		26,019	6,654
		10,500	8,958
	The Boulevard	10,500	3,824
	Station Road	15,000	5,609
	Central Park	18,000	9,805

France 1972

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Lyon	Stade de Gerland	25,000	4,231
		12,000	5,321
		67,394	20,748
		48,229	8,000
		14,588	7,500
		13,000	6,324
		33,150	10,332

Australia, France, New Zealand, and United Kingdom 1975

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	10,842
		52,500	12,000
		48,000	33,858
		26,019	5,507
	The Willows	11,363	2,247
	Wilderspool Stadium	9,200	5,034
	Central Park	18,000	9,353
		34,462	1,581
		67,394	10,000
		13,000	10,440
		33,150	7,563
	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000
		18,000	2,500
		4,500	11,112

Australia and New Zealand 1977

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Sydney	Sydney Cricket Ground	48,000	24,457
		52,500	27,000
	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000
		18,000	9,000

International 1985–1988

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Auckland	Eden Park	50,000	47,363
		52,500	22,811
	Sydney Football Stadium	45,500	15,944
	Eric Weissel Oval	10,000	11,685
		19,700	6,567
	Central Park	18,000	20,169
		17,518	4,000
		10,000	5,000
		13,000	5,000
	Carlaw Park	17,000	15,327
		18,000	8,525
		14,800	17,000

International 1989–1992

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
London	Old Wembley Stadium	82,000	73,631
		52,500	32,313
		12,000	12,384
		6,500	12,470
	The Boulevard	10,500	5,250
		37,792	32,500
	Central Park	18,000	20,346
		10,000	4,208
		13,000	3,965
		25,000	15,000
	Queen Elizabeth II Park	25,000	3,133
		18,000	2,000
		13,000	11,485
		14,800	14,500

England 1995

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
London	Old Wembley Stadium	82,000	66,540
		11,800	9,181
		24,121	16,608
	The Boulevard	10,500	5,121
		7,800	4,845
		19,700	14,041
		74,310	30,042
	Knowsley Road	17,500	8,679
	Wilderspool Stadium	9,200	8,083
	Central Park	18,000	26,263
	Ninian Park	21,508	10,250
	Vetch Field	11,475	15,385

England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales 2000

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Manchester	Old Trafford	74,310	44,329
		28,723	16,032
		10,500	5,158
		11,800	9,181
		16,115	2,496
		12,225	2,187
	The Boulevard	10,500	3,044
		24,121	8,144
		19,700	15,405
		82,000	33,758
		24,161	3,982
	Knowsley Road	17,500	5,736
		22,220	5,404
		13,350	5,211
		10,000	4,107
		19,852	1,579
		10,102	2,008
		73,931	17,612
		10,800	1,497
		13,341	5,016
		5,700	1,782
		18,500	3,207
		13,058	7,969
		10,000	10,288
		20,000	7,498
		33,150	4,313

Australia 2008

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	50,599
		25,011	9,827
		27,690	11,278
		20,059	9,720
		56,347	36,297
		30,000	15,145
		8,000	5,930
	Parramatta Stadium	20,741	8,067
		22,500	11,787
	Sydney Football Stadium	45,500	34,157
		26,500	16,239
		23,750	9,213

England and Wales 2013

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Manchester	Old Trafford	74,310	74,468
		11,000	7,247
		10,401	10,266
		24,121	24,375
		12,225	7,481
		25,586	25,114
		19,700	18,180
		12,000	10,554
		90,000	67,545
		10,249	8,872
		12,000	6,041
		18,000	14,137
		25,138	22,276
		15,300	14,965
		10,000	7,630
		73,931	45,052
		6,000	3,270
		13,341	8,019
		17,518	17,518
		13,000	11,576
		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

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Brisbane	Lang Park	52,500	40,033
		16,700	9,216
		25,011	12,293
		12,500	13,473
		30,050	22,724
		20,500	14,744
	Sydney Football Stadium	45,500	21,127
		26,500	7,732
		25,000	30,003
		18,000	12,130
		25,800	24,041
		34,500	12,713
		14,800	14,800

England 2021

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance
Manchester	Old Trafford	74,310	67,502
		60,704	40,489
		52,350	43,199
		37,792	28,113
		34,742	8,342
		32,753	10,276
		32,050	18,760
		28,723	23,648
		25,586	7,080
		25,138	23,179
		24,121	24,375
		19,700	13,366
		18,000	14,137
		15,231	6,968
		15,200	14,965
		12,000	6,057
		10,200	6,736

Venues by nation

Australia

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
		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 Football Stadium	45,500	34,157	1985–88, 2008, 2017
	Eric Weissel Oval	10,000	11,685	1985–88
		12,000	12,384	1989–92
		6,500	12,470	1989–92
		25,011	12,293	2008, 2017
		27,690	11,278	2008
		20,059	9,720	2008
		56,347	36,297	2008
		30,000	15,145	2008
		8,000	5,942	2008
	Parramatta Stadium	20,741	8,602	2008
		22,500	11,787	2008
		26,500	16,239	2008, 2017
		23,750	9,213	2008
		16,700	9,216	2017
		12,500	13,473	2017
		30,050	22,724	2017
		20,500	14,744	2017

England

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
		26,019	33,023	1960, 1970, 1975
Leeds	Headingley	19,700	22,209	1960, 1970, 1975*, 1985–88, 1989–92, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2021
	Station Road	15,000	22,923	1960, 1970
	Central Park	18,000	26,263	1960, 1970, 1975, 1985–88, 1989–92, 1995
		10,500	8,958	1970, 2000
	The Boulevard	10,500	5,250	1970, 1989–92, 1995, 2000
	The Willows	11,363	2,247	1975
	Wilderspool Stadium	9,200	8,083	1975, 1995
London	Wembley Stadium (1923)	82,000	73,631	1989–92, 1995
		37,792	32,500	1989–92, 2021
		11,800	9,181	1995, 2000
		24,121	24,375	1995, 2000, 2013, 2021
		7,800	4,845	1995
Manchester	Old Trafford	74,310	74,468	1995, 2000, 2013, 2021
	Knowsley Road	17,500	8,679	1995, 2000
		28,723	23,648	2000, 2021
		16,115	2,496	2000
		12,225	7,481	2000
		82,000	33,758	2000
		24,161	3,982	2000
		22,220	5,404	2000
		13,350	5,211	2000
		10,000	7,630	2000, 2013
		11,000	7,247	2013
		10,401	10,266	2013
		25,586	25,114	2013, 2021
		12,000	10,554	2013, 2021
		90,000	67,545	2013
		12,000	6,041	2013
		18,000	14,137	2013, 2021
		15,300	14,965	2013, 2021
		25,138	23,179	2013, 2021
		60,704	40,489	2021
		52,350	43,199	2021
		34,742	8,342	2021
		32,753	10,276	2021
		32,050	18,760	2021
		15,231	6,968	2021
		10,200	6,736	2021

* 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	48,229	30,368	1954, 1972
Lyon	Stade de Gerland	25,000	10,250	1954, 1972
		34,462	14,000	1954, 1975
		67,394	20,748	1954, 1972, 1975
		1,880	13,000	1954
		33,150	37,471	1954, 1972, 1975, 2000
		12,000	5,321	1972
		14,588	7,500	1972
		13,000	11,576	1972, 1975, 1985–88, 1989–92, 2013
		17,518	17,518	1985–88, 2013
		10,000	10,288	1985–88, 1989–92, 2000
		13,058	7,969	2000
		20,000	7,498	2000

Ireland

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
		5,700	1,782	2000
		25,600	5,021	2013

New Zealand

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
	Carlaw Park	17,000	18,000	1968, 1975, 1977, 1985–88
	Addington Showground	18,000	12,130	1975, 1977, 1985–88, 1989–92, 2017
Auckland	Eden Park	50,000	47,363	1985–88
	Queen Elizabeth II Park	25,000	3,133	1989–92
		25,000	30,003	1989–92, 2017
		25,800	24,041	2017
		34,500	12,713	2017

• Addington Showgrounds became Rugby League Park in 1997

Papua New Guinea

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
	National Football Stadium	14,800	17,000	1985–88, 1989–92, 2017
		13,000	11,485	1989–92

• Lloyd Robson Oval was redeveloped into PNG's National Football Stadium in 2015.

Scotland

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
		19,852	1,579	2000
		10,102	2,008	2000

Wales

City	Stadium	Capacity	Highest Attendance	Years
		4,500	11,112	1975
	Ninian Park	21,508	10,250	1995
	Vetch Field	11,475	15,385	1995
		73,931	45,052	2000, 2013
		10,800	1,497	2000
		13,341	8,019	2000, 2013
		6,000	3,270	2013

See also

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

Further reading

• Book: Andrews, Malcolm . Butcher, Tim . amp . The Rugby League World Cup. 2009. League Publications. 978-1-901347-20-3 .

External links

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

Notes and References

1. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/world-cup/venues.html World Cup Venues at Rugby League Project