Super League Rugby
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition of Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: twelve from England, one from Wales and one from France, which compete from February to October.
Super League began in March 1996 and saw the English season switch from winter to summer for the first time in over 100 years. Most of the teams are based in Great Britain, though initially the league was intended to be European, and indeed French club Paris Saint Germain contested the first ever Super League match. Following their departure after the completion of the 1997 season, the league was solely English until Catalans Dragons were admitted for the 2006 season. In 2009, the Celtic Crusaders, from Wales, entered the competition.
Rugby Park Stadium is a rugby union venue and home ground for Air New Zealand Cup team Southland. Rugby Park Stadium is located on the corner of Elles Road and Tweed Street in Invercargill. It has a capacity of 17,000, although in former incarnations has accommodated up to 30,000 in the 1960s before the facility was further developed with seating over the proceeding decades.
The stadium was built on the site of Invercargill's former rugby venue, Homestead Stadium. In 2000, the city of Invercargill announced plans to replace Homestead Stadium with backing from the ILT and Community Trust of Southland.
The Highlanders play occasionally at Rugby Park drawing large crowds. The football (soccer) team Spirit FC also play at Rugby Park Stadium. Many local events are held at rugby park as well