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Schedule confirmed for State of Origin's historic Eden Park visit
Sport Nation • August 18th, 2026 1:39 pm
Origin rivals Sam Walker and Nathan Cleary will do battle in an NRL blockbuster | Photo: Darren England/AAP
State of Origin is heading across the Tasman for the first time in 40 years, and the dates have now officially been confirmed for the series' visit to Auckland's Eden Park next year.
The match will be played on June 16 with the Warriors also set to play at Eden Park the previous Sunday as part of a week-long rugby league festival in Auckland.
It will be only the second time an Origin match has been staged outside Australia, following the Blues' 30-18 victory over Queensland at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, California back in 1987.
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys says Auckland will be transformed into a rugby league hub in the lead-up to the match.
“It's not just the Origin match fans can look forward to - we are planning a week of rugby league festivities in the lead-up to the event,” V'landys said.
NZ State of Origin: North vs South | Running It Straight
Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner believes the match will provide an opportunity to showcase Auckland to an international audience.
“State of Origin is one of the biggest events in Australasian sport and belongs on the biggest stage. On 16 June 2027, Eden Park will be that stage,” Sautner said.
The stadium is planning events across the venue throughout the week, including activations on the Outer Oval, as organisers look to encourage fans to arrive early and stay in Auckland beyond match night.
“With the Warriors on Sunday and State of Origin on Wednesday, we want the stadium and precinct alive with fans, activity and entertainment, building to what will be an extraordinary night for rugby league,” Sautner said.
He expects thousands of supporters to travel from Australia, the Pacific and around New Zealand, with the event also aimed at boosting Auckland's hospitality and tourism sectors.
“This is an opportunity to do much more than host a rugby league match – it is an opportunity for Eden Park to help deliver a week that showcases Auckland and New Zealand.
General public tickets for Game II will go on sale in November.
When you're a punishing NSW fan | Sport Nation
