Business of Sport: the dream of a second NRL club in NZ is alive

The consortium behind the bid is looking to gain admission for a Christchurch team to the National Rugby League when the competition is expanded to 20 clubs. (Image: Getty)

Trevor McKewen

Fri, 22 Sep 2023

A consortium has been formed with the goal of creating a second National Rugby League franchise in New Zealand.The group, which favours Christchurch as the club’s home base, is aiming for admission into the glamour Australian professional competition by or in 2030.The NRL currently runs a 17-club men’s competition but wants to expand to 18 teams by 2027 before adding two more teams three years after that, with the likelihood of two 10-team conferences.“We want to be considered for the 18th franchise,” the group’s s...

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