Saturday 'Stag Day' confirmed in NPC draw
Rugby Southland are thrilled to announce the return of Friday and Saturday Stags games on Rugby Park.
The Bunnings Warehouse NPC season schedule is confirmed for the 2024 season, with Rugby Park Stadium set to host three Saturday games along with one Friday and Sunday fixture.
The SBS Bank Southland Stags' season will kick off at home on Saturday August 10th with the jewel in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC crown, the annual Southland vs Otago (Stag Day) at Rugby Park kicking off at 2.05pm. This is set to be the largest Southland game in many years, with over 5,500 attending in 2022.
The Southland Stags will then jet off to Napier to once again, have first shot at the Ranfurly Shield on Saturday August 17th 4.35pm. Being the second game of the season, the side will be prepared to field a full strength side to challenge for the log'o'wood and bring it back to Southland.
Week three will then see Southland host defending champs Taranaki on Saturday August 24th 7.05pm, a rare night fixture which promises to be not only a spectical, but a community celebration. More details will be revealed in time.
The SBS Bank Southland Stags then play Northland for the Heta 'Peter' Tetai Trophy in Whangarei on Friday August 30th 7.05pm before heading south to play Wellington in the capital on Saturday September 7th 2.05pm.
Week six Canterbury come to town, with a night game on Rugby Park Friday September 13th at 7.05pm. The last time the two sides met on Rugby Park Invercargill, Canterbury snatched the win in golden point time, with this game being a key redemption match for the Stags.
Then comes the midweek game, a fixture every team will strike during the regular season, with Southland playing Manawatu away on Wednesday September 18th at 7.05pm. Southland will be looking for a repeat of their emphatic win over the Turbos last season.
Southland will then head north to Eden Park as they take on Auckland on Sunday September September 22nd at 2.05pm.
The final two regular season games will be played at home in Invercargill with the SBS Bank Southland Stags taking on Waikato on Sunday September 29th at 2.05pm, before their final regular season game against North Harbour on Saturday October 5th at 4.35pm, two great times for families to catch the action from the embankment.
SBS Bank Southland Stags 2024 Bunnings NPC Schedule
Week 1: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Otago - Saturday August 10th - 2.05pm - Rugby Park Invercargill
Week 2: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Hawkes Bay (Ranfurly Shield) - Saturday August 17th - 4.35pm - McLean Park Napier
Week 3: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Taranaki - Saturday August 24th - 7.05pm - Rugby Park Invercargill
Week 4: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Northland (Heta 'Peter' Tatai Trophy) - Friday August 30th - 7.05pm - Semenoff Stadium Whangarei
Week 5: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Wellington - Saturday September 7th - 2.05pm - Venue TBC Wellington
Week 6: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Canterbury - Friday September 13th - 7.05pm - Rugby Park Invercargill
Week 6 midweek: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Manawatu - Wednesday September 18th - 7.05pm - Central Energy Trust Arena Palmerston North
Week 7: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Auckland - Sunday September 22nd - 2.05pm - Eden Park Auckland
Week 8: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Waikato - Sunday September 29th - 2.05pm - Rugby Park Invercargill
Week 9: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs North Harbour - Saturday October 5th - 4.35pm - Rugby Park Invercargill
Quarter Finals: Week of Friday October 11th
Semi Finals: Week of Friday October 18th
Final: Saturday October 26th
