Essential info for the 2025 National Youth Tournament

18 September 2025

The wait is nearly over for the NZRL 2025 National Youth Tournament, kicking off on Monday 22 September. The tournament will be held in the South Island for the first time ever, heading to Christchurch and hosted in collaboration with Canterbury Rugby League.

This year, 36 boys and girls rangatahi teams will gather at the world-class Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub, in what will be the first NZRL tournament in Ōtautahi since the schoolboys’ nationals at Burnham Military Camp in 1993.

The Boys’ Tournament kicks off first, running from Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 September. The Girls’ Tournament will begin on Wednesday 24 September, coinciding with the boys’ finals day, and continuing through to Friday 26 September.

To open what will be an exciting tournament, a mihi whakatau will be held on Monday morning with local mana whenua welcoming all manuhiri visiting for the tournament as participants, supporters, and staff.

Draw and Live-Streams

Tournament draw and results: https://www.sporty.co.nz/nzrl/national-competitions-1/national-youth-competition

Watch the action live, games on Field 1 and 2 will be live-streamed for free across all five days: https://pages.nzrl.co.nz/watch-national-youth-tournament-2025

Parking

If you’re driving, access the main Ngā Puna Wai carpark by following the signs from Augustine Drive, off Halswell Road in Halswell.

Food

Ngā Puna Wai has an on-site café, Catering in a Box, located in the Te Kōhanga o Ngā Puna Wai building behind the Field 1 grandstand, next to the hockey turf.

A variety of food trucks will also be present for all whānau and supporters to enjoy, including Loaded, Mussel Madness, Kung Fu Dumplings, and Halswell Real Fruit Ice Cream.

We look forward to an exciting week of rugby league that will showcase the talent and passion of our rangatahi in a new location, utilising outstanding facilities. Can’t make it to Christchurch? Be sure to tune in to the live-streams to catch all the action!

Keep up with all the tournament action on NZRL’s grassroots social media platforms: https://linktr.ee/nzrlgrassroots