A sporting coup for Wagga Wagga, with the announcement today (Thursday 13 November 2025) that the city has been selected to host the Magic Round as part of the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership in August 2026.
The decision by the NRL will see all 12 women's teams converge on Geohex Park at the Exhibition Centre for two big days of top-class Rugby League action.
Between 2025 and 2027, the NRLW Magic Round is being played in a different regional location in NSW each year as part of a three-year agreement with the State Government.
Manager City Growth and Regional Assets Ben Creighton says Council is thrilled its application to host the special round on the weekend of 1 – 2 August 2026 was successful.
"Council has a good track record for hosting this kind of event and we put in a strong case for why Wagga Wagga is the perfect spot to stage this two-day event," Mr Creighton said.
"We want to thank the NRL and NSW Government for giving us this opportunity to showcase elite level women's sport to the region.
"It highlights the infrastructure and facilities that have been developed over the past decade by Council and sporting groups make us a great destination for events like this one.
"We've had a few top-level sporting events in recent years at our home of Rugby League, Geohex Park, but this will be the biggest event we've hosted at this level, with six games of rugby league over the weekend."
More than 4000 players, officials, and outside broadcast teams, along with thousands of fans from across NSW and beyond, are expected to attend the Exhibition Centre for the event.
For the local tourism and hospitality industries of the Wagga Wagga community and surrounding region, the Magic Round will deliver significant benefits to the local economy through visitor spending.
The positive flow-on effects will also extend to the local rugby league community, who will have the chance to see rugby league at its best.
📷 Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights NRLW pre-season game in Wagga Wagga on 6 July 2024.
"It's events like these that lead to a growth in local participation and has helped establish a large NRLW fan base in the Riverina region.
"The Magic Round will be another opportunity to put the spotlight on women's rugby league and to give young female footy players in our region the chance to see the possibilities that could be open to them in the sport."
All six games of the NRLW Magic round will be played at Geohex Park at the Wagga Wagga Exhibition Centre on Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August 2026.
