The SBS Bank Southland Stags will kick off their 2024 season hosting the jewel in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC crown — Stag Day.
One of five home games for the Stags, the annual Southland vs Otago match (Stag Day) on August 10 at Rugby Park is tipped to be the largest Southland game in many years, with over 5500 attending the fixture in 2022.
The Bunnings Warehouse NPC season schedule was confirmed for the 2024 season today, with Rugby Park Stadium set to host three Saturday games along with one Friday and Sunday fixture.
In week two, the Southland Stags will head to Napier to challenge for the log’o’wood and bring it back to Southland, while in week three they will host defending champions Taranaki in a rare night fixture on August 24 .
The Stags will then head to Whangarei to play Northland for the Heta ’Peter’ Tetai Trophy before heading south to play Wellington in the capital on September 7.\
In week six, Canterbury come to town, with a night game at Rugby Park on September 13. The last time the two sides met on Rugby Park Invercargill, Canterbury snatched the win in golden point time.
Then comes the midweek game, with Southland playing Manawatu away on September 18; they will be looking for a repeat of their emphatic win over the Turbos last season.
The final two regular season games will be played at home in Invercargill with the SBS Bank Southland Stags taking on Waikato on September 29, before their final regular season game against North Harbour on October 5, 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 10 — 2.05pm — Rugby Park Invercargill
Week 2: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Hawkes Bay (Ranfurly Shield) — Saturday, August 17 — 4.35pm — McLean Park Napier
Week 3: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Taranaki — Saturday, August 24 — 7.05pm — Rugby Park Invercargill
Week 4: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Northland (Heta ’Peter’ Tatai Trophy) — Friday, August 30 — 7.05pm — Semenoff Stadium Whangarei
Week 5: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Wellington — Saturday, September 7 — 2.05pm — Venue TBC Wellington
Week 6: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Canterbury — Friday, September 13 — 7.05pm — Rugby Park Invercargill
Week 6 midweek: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Manawatu — Wednesday, September 18 — 7.05pm — Central Energy Trust Arena Palmerston North
Week 7: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Auckland — Sunday, September 22 — 2.05pm — Eden Park Auckland
Week 8: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs Waikato — Sunday, September 29 — 2.05pm — Rugby Park Invercargill
Week 9: SBS Bank Southland Stags vs North Harbour — Saturday, October 5 — 4.35pm — Rugby Park Invercargill
Quarter Finals: Week of Friday, October 11
Semi Finals: Week of Friday, October 18
Final: Saturday, October 26.
