Rugby League: Kiwis to play at London's Olympic Stadium

Manu Vatuvei celebrates after scoring a try for the Kiwis. Photo / Mark Mitchell

London's Olympic Stadium will host international rugby league for the first time, when the Kiwis face England in the second of three tests in November.

The 54,000-capacity stadium is one of three venues named for a series that will mark England's first appearance on home soil since their narrow defeat by New Zealand in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium.

The series opens with the first match at KC Stadium in Hull on Sunday, November 1 in an international that will form part of the 150-year celebrations of host club Hull FC, which was founded in 1865.

The historic Olympic Stadium fixture takes place on Saturday, November 7, before the series concludes with the third encounter at Wigan's DW Stadium on Saturday, November 14.

"The Olympic Stadium provided the backdrop to some truly memorable action at London 2012 and it is simply fantastic that we have reached an agreement for England to play New Zealand there in November," said Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood.

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney inspected the Olympic Stadium last week, during the Brisbane Broncos' World Club Challenge visit.

"I'm really excited that my players have the chance to play in the inaugural Rugby League game at such an outstanding venue," Kearney said. "If we can fill it full of English fans and get it full of noise, it will be a wonderful occasion.

"In our last two performances against England, there has been nothing between the two sides and I imagine this series will be no different."