Leeds Rhinos: Leeds to take on New Zealand at Headingley

Leeds Rhinos will take on reigning Four Nations champions New Zealand in an historic clash at Headingley Carnegie on Friday, October 23.
Daryl Clark in action for England against New Zealand last year.Daryl Clark in action for England against New Zealand last year.
Daryl Clark in action for England against New Zealand last year.

The clash will be the first time a Super League club has played a touring side since 2002 and Leeds fans have not seen their side face tourists since the 1994 clash with Australia.

The game will mark the 125th anniversary of Headingley Stadium, celebrating the ground’s first rugby game back on September 20, 1890.

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The link with New Zealand goes back to the early days of the stadium and the famous All Golds touring side that arrived in England in 1907.

The match will be 108 years, almost to the day, since Leeds and the All Golds met at Headingley for the first time on October 26, 1907.

Rugby League’s first Test, three months later, was also hosted by Headingley with the Northern Union winning 14-6 on January 25, 1908.

The Kiwis will be defending New Zealand honour against Leeds with only the 1972 tourists having lost to Leeds in 11 previous clashes between the sides dating back to 1907.

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The Kiwis last played Leeds on October 24, 1993, but attracted huge crowds for their World Cup wins over Papua New Guinea and Scotland in 2013 at Headingley Carnegie.

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington said: “To have been granted a game against the current Four Nations champions is a huge honour and a privilege for Leeds Rhinos.

“Ourselves and the Kiwis have a long shared history and this will be the chance to write a new chapter.”

Tickets will start from £20 for adult members and £10 for junior members.

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Hetherington added: “We have made the advance discount exclusive to our members for this game. It is on special occasions like this that we really want to reward the loyalty of our members by giving them benefits nobody else can get.

“Our links with New Zealand include the many great players who have played for us down the years like Bert Cook, Dean Bell and Ali Lauitiiti.

“This will be fitting way to bring down the curtain on the 2015 season and a special occasion to be at Headingley, just like our recent World Club Challenge clashes with Melbourne and Manly.

“The current group of players have achieved so much together however this would be a first even for them and it will be a special night.”

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Tickets go on general sale at 9am on Tuesday, April 7, either over the phone on 0871 423 1315 (calls are charged at 10p per min –calls from mobiles may vary), online at www.therhinos.co.uk or from the Leeds Rugby Store at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

There will be a Rhinos 2015 Member’s Discount available until midnight on Thursday October 22.

For Rhinos 2015 Season Ticket Members and Rhinos 2015 Supporter Members to gain access to the discounted prices online they must input their valid customer number which appears on their membership card.

Rhinos 2015 Season Ticket Members who have seats will have until 5pm on Monday, June 1 to obtain their own seats.

All members must have their relevant customer numbers at the time of purchase in order to obtain their seats and gain access to the discounted price.