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Story: Rugby union

Lancaster Park, Christchurch, 1908

The British rugby team plays Canterbury at Lancaster Park on 13 June 1908. Lancaster Park was originally developed in 1880 as a private ground for cricket and athletics. The promoters were able to charge for admission, which they could not do initially at the public ground of Hagley Park. This was also an important factor in encouraging rugby administrators to hold their games at the ground.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: AWNS-19080625-3-2

by Leslie Hinge

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ron Palenski, Rugby union – The game spreads, 1870–1892, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/40001/lancaster-park-christchurch-1908 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ron Palenski, published 30 November 2012, updated 1 September 2016.

Comments

Christine Reynolds (nee Lancaster)
10 May 2024
I grew up in Christchurch.... rumour has it that ancestors (my grandfather was Herbert Edward Lancaster) gifted the land of Lancaster Park to the City. Can you tell me if this is 'fact' or family belief?