After more than a decade, the Gallagher Chiefs are excited to return to Tauranga to play a regular season game at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
This will be the first time that a Super Rugby Pacific fixture is played at this sports ground, which has been largely used for cricket.
The Gallagher Chiefs will face the Western Force in round 11 of the 2025 DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition on Friday 25th April kicking off at 7:05 pm.
“I’m excited that our community will experience Super Rugby in Tauranga for the first time in over ten years, inaugurally at the iconic Bay Oval,” said Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale
“We look forward to welcoming the Gallagher Chiefs and the Western Force to our city for what I’m sure will be a fantastic evening of rugby.”
The Chiefs Rugby Club have collaborated with the Bay Oval Trust, Tauranga City Council, and ticketing provider, Flicket to bring this unique match to the local area.
The Bay Oval is one of the most enjoyable grounds to watch cricket in New Zealand and will now provide a relaxed beachside vibe for fans to enjoy a Gallagher Chiefs game.
“It's great to bring Super Rugby back to my home region and know that our fans will appreciate the opportunity to see the team play in their backyard at this premiere sports ground,” said Gallagher Chiefs Head Coach Clayton McMillian.
“We're excited to host our first Super Rugby match and the Gallagher Chiefs at the Bay Oval,” said Bay Oval Trust General Manager Kelvin Jones.
“The game will highlight the versatility of the venue as a truly community asset.
“After two recent international T20 cricket sellouts, we look forward to seeing the embankments full for this match.”
Bay Oval. Photo/Supplied.
“We are always conscious of trying to take games to our regional communities, so we are thrilled to be back in Tauranga,” said Chiefs Rugby Club CEO, Simon Graafhuis.
“It is an important part of the Chiefs region from a fan standpoint, and many of our commercial partners have a strong presence in the area, so are very supportive of this event to be held there.”
Being on Anzac Day adds to what will be a special occasion and will feature an Anzac service supported by the RSA in Mount Maunganui and Tauranga.
New Zealand artist, Cassie Henderson will be adding to the occasion signing the national anthem and performing at half-time.
Tickets for the Gallagher Chiefs games in the 2025 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season are on sale from 23rd January at https://chiefs.flicket.co.nz/
This regional game is not included in the Chiefs Rugby Club season long ticketed memberships for FMG Stadium home games.
3 comments
Hmmm
Posted on 16-01-2025 11:02 | By Let's get real
A Trojan horse...
We are still hearing the pitiful cries from the sidelines, demanding that we construct yet another vanity project to the glory of elite sport.
We DON'T NEED another sports stadium.
The stadia that we already have are used more regularly by people cutting and manicuring grass or leveling clay than people from the local community enjoying what they are paying maintenance costs for.
How much is it going to cost local residents to establish and disestablish this venue for a single game..? We absolutely will never be told. But the hospitality shown to our civic leaders, will make it all worthwhile. SLEAZE.
IT'S A CITY, NOT A THEME PARK.
Hmmmm
Posted on 16-01-2025 12:28 | By andr3wr89
Let's get real, how open minded of you. Its almost as if you choose to believe every single citizen of Tauranga shares your opinion. I for one think a stadium at the domain should have been a thing years ago, geez even cities like Invercargill have a stadium built specifically for sports that require rectangular fields and they have only got 50,000 people (less than a third of Tauranga. Try showing some positivity or get with the times mate..
The Master
Posted on 16-01-2025 13:46 | By Ian Stevenson
@ Let's get real
Exactly, the TCC dream of selling Baypark Stadium operational side and so then demanding a new stadium to replace it is about as evil and sly as it gets.
A second rate Super rugby game once in 10-years does not justify anything... the Steamers hardly get a few thousand to a game so there is no logical, obvious or financial benefit to spending $200+m at the domain (all new and additional debt) and perhaps $20-25m/pa on annual losses is there...
But then the TCC staff created "business plan" will smudge and self justify the unjustified!!! Watch this space...
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