$4.7 million economic boost for Christchurch as 6000 out-of-towners descend on city for sold out Warriors match

Saturday, 20 June 2026

The Warriors take on the Cowboys in Te Kaha Stadium’s first NRL game, this Sunday.

Nearly 6000 people from outside the region are heading to Christchurch for Sunday’s Warriors vs Cowboys game, an event expected to pour $4.7 million into the city.

Warriors fans have been hopping around bars for 15 years in the Crusaders-dominated city, begging for league on the screens. This Sunday, they’re taking over.

“The city’s been full of rugby for so long,” said Steve Anngow, who runs a Warriors fan club Christchurch. “League will never take over the love of rugby union here, but it’s certainly increased in popularity.”

Warriors superfan Steve Anngow has spent 15 years building Warriors Fans Christchurch, from fighting for league to be shown on TVs in bars to now having a dedicated home at Protocol.

Rugby league is booming locally. According to a 2024 Sport Canterbury report, membership sat at a record 3562, up 21.5% in a year. The primary school league doubled from 24 teams to 42.

The Warriors kick off against North Queensland at 4pm to 25,000 league fans - their One New Zealand Stadium debut. More than 2000 ticket-holders are from Australia. The Warriors have locked in games through 2028, cementing Christchurch’s place on the NRL calendar.

Super fan Anngow has been building toward this for 15 years. He started after meeting Sir Peter Leitch, the Mad Butcher, who supported Christchurch Warriors fans on trips to watch games in Auckland - mixing in corporate lounges and meeting players.

Richard Morgan (standing, black top) started organising Warriors Nation meetups in 2011 and now expects thousands for Sunday’s hikoi march through the city.

Annbow’s 300-strong group has spent that time hopping around local bars, lobbying managers for Warriors games on screen.

“Sometimes there’d be a group of 40 Warriors to five Crusaders fans,” Anngow said. “It could get quite awkward. But I know what I would’ve chosen.“

This year, they’ve found Protocol bar in Cashmere. Owner Dean Calvert gave them their own room. The first match of the season attracted 60 fans. Last week, they hit 120 and spilled into an overflow room.

The Loft sports bar is booked out this Sunday for the game. ‘Win or lose’, they’re open for a drink.

“They’re incredibly loyal and we’re now chocka every weekend with new faces,” Calvert said. “The support’s been amazing - just great vibes all around.”

Calvert has kitted out the space with flags and Warriors gear, gives out free hot dogs at half-time each week, and does raffles for signed jerseys. This Sunday he’s hosting a free barbecue from 1pm to 2pm with sausages and salads before half the crew heads off to watch the game in person.

The broader four-day festival kicked off Thursday. A pop-up merch store opened on Tuam St. NRL Women’s players Payton Takimoana and Tyra Wetere have visited schools and emerging clubs. But the real machinery behind this weekend comes organically from Warriors Nation.

NRLW player Payton Takimoana coaches youngsters from the Linwood Keas Rugby League Club on Thursday as one of the Warriors Community Foundation events ahead of the game.

When Auckland-born Richard Morgan moved to Sydney in 2011, he began building the movement “one fan at a time”. He’s now got just under 18,000 followers and bought 200 seats to keep supporters together.

“I basically went from game to game introducing myself and sharing my vision,” Morgan said. “No-one was doing anything, so I took on organising meetups and bus trips relentlessly.”

Sunday starts at Fat Eddie’s, a pub on the central city strip. From 11am, Warriors Nation hosts a pre-game with live music. The first 250 fans inside go into a draw for signed Warriors jerseys, player-signed gear, and Fat Eddies bar vouchers.

At 3pm sharp, they’ll march from One NZ’s pop up shop on Cashel St to the stadium - the hīkoi, as Morgan calls it.

“I’m expecting thousands to turnout for the hīkoi. Let’s show the NRL how it’s done.”

Rugby league is the fastest growing sport in Canterbury, with the number of primary school teams nearly doubling from 24 to 42 in a single year.

The march will likely attract stragglers spilling out of 240-person capacity The Loft sports bar, which is completely booked out. By the time they reach the stadium, Robbie’s Sports Bar at Lichfield Courtyard - also fully booked pre and post-match with 140 patrons - will feed the final crowds through.

Robbie’s manager Brandon Gray has been juggling competing demands since the venue opened alongside the stadium in April.

“I often used to get torn,” he said. “Last weekend, there was the super rugby semi-final and Warriors same time, and the bar split 50/50 by fans. There’s definitely been awkward conversations about what to show but we have multiple screens, which helps please all.”

Warriors fans have predominantly secured their seats in Gray’s bar, but a few Cowboys fans have locked in a spot too.

“We got a good mix, but up the Wahs!”