Ngā Puna Wai was at the centre of a significant sporting milestone last month, with the return of Canterbury Rugby League to a #1 home turf, complete with lights, grandstand crowd and a nail-biting second half.

The matatahi who took to Ngā Puna Wai’s new #1 field have made history and marked a poignant post-quake milestone.

“We share the excitement of Canterbury Rugby League and admire their perseverance,” says Sport Canterbury Chief Executive Julyan Falloon. “Alongside tennis, athletics and hockey, being part of this hub will help grow participation and give hope to families who are loyal to the sport, and now have a sporting home.”

It was significant that the youth grade teams were the first to christen the field – being the next generation of senior players, who will be served well by the facility into the future.

The age-group fixtures at Ngā Puna Wai are a precursor to the marquee senior matches – including finals and Bulls home games – to be played on Rugby League 1 later this year.  Spectators on the sideline shared excitement over the much-anticipated occasion and seeing the Rugby League 1 sand carpet in action. 

“I think it’s been a long time coming for League to have a home like this, like they had at Addington, and the facilities here,” said Ramsey Sula of the Hornby Panthers. “I’m just really happy for the boys to get onto the field – it’s awesome.”

The sport that on Monday 24 June played under lights on the #1 field, has shown such patience and perseverance in an environment transformed and so often testing its resolve.

Match official Jason Wilson considered it an honour to be the named the first referee at the new home of Rugby League in Canterbury, on the #1 field.

He says the playing surface is “as good” as AMI Stadium, and the lights “better than we’ve ever had before. If I were to compare Rugby League Park to Ngā Puna Wai, I would say that this is a vast improvement on what we had before. The grounds are absolutely perfect to run on. The facilities and changing rooms are world-class.”

Wilson also praised both the Hornby Panthers and Linwood Keas for the example they set in this first match.

“The way they conducted themselves on the field was exemplary.”

In mid-July, Rugby League #2 was played on for the first time, which added a second sand carpet turf for Rugby League to utilise for training opportunities.

Canterbury Rugby League Chief Executive Duane Fyfe commented on facilities in relation to the rest of the country.

“Regardless of the journey to date, no other 15/16s or 17/18s grades in New Zealand will have better fields or facilities to play their footy on. They will be the envy of many young players around the country.”

This winter at Ngā Puna Wai, we share in the sense of pride and progress this sporting code can at last celebrate.

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