KANSAS CITY, MO (April 29, 2026) – This month, Kansas City welcomed four of the world’s best women’s rugby teams for a doubleheader at CPKC Stadium. The double-header was part of World Rugby’s Pacific Four Series, which features matches in San Francisco, Kansas City and Chicago. This is the second consecutive year the U.S. Women’s Rugby Team has played a match at CPKC Stadium, after facing Team Canada last May in a match that Canada won 26-14.
This year, Team Canada returned to CPKC Stadium to take on New Zealand in a clash that featured the world’s second and third-ranked teams, respectively. Canada took control of the match early, entering halftime with a 14-5 lead. New Zealand dominated the second half, however, scoring 31 unanswered points to secure a 36-14 victory.
In the second match of the double-header, US Women’s Rugby found redemption in Kansas City in dominant fashion. Team USA defeated Australia by a score of 33-12, giving Jack Hanratty his first win as head coach of USA Rugby.
“Once again Kansas City proved to be the perfect host for international rugby. All four teams in the Women’s PAC4 tournament enjoyed a warm KC welcome, great training facilities, excellent accommodation and the world class venue that is CPKC Stadium. And once again, the fans in KC and the Mid-West region turned out in big numbers as we recorded our second successive year for five-figures ticket sales. Kansas City is becoming a real hot bed for the sport of rugby!”
- Mick Hogan, World Rugby
Next up, Team USA will travel to Chicago for the last installment of the Pacific Four Series. There, they will take on rival Canada.
Strong ATTENDANCE. Again.
Kansas City once again proved to be a premier destination for women’s sports. Last year, the match between Team USA and Canada drew a record crowd of 10,518 attendees. At that time, the number more than quadrupled the previous record for a women’s rugby match on U.S. soil.
This year, over 10,000 tickets were sold again.
The weather on match day was not friendly to the athletes and spectators, but that did not stop fans from showing up and supporting their teams. The first match was scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff but did not begin until 8:10pm due to thunderstorms in the area. The second match did not kickoff until 10:40 p.m. and ended just after 12:30 a.m. the next morning.
Although the match times were pushed back, athletes took notice of the attendance. In an interview with The Kansas City Star’s PJ Green, New Zealand captain Ruahei Demant said, “I was actually shocked at the amount of fans who are here today. It was such an electric atmosphere out there, and it was always going to be a good game to watch, and the crowd fed into that.”
A Full week of impact
Throughout the week leading up to match day, the teams made an impact throughout the Kansas City community by visiting schools, hospitals, and local organizations.
Team USA welcomed local high school rugby teams for a meet-and-greet and the end of one of their training sessions. Team USA also spent time at Prospect KC Community Kitchen helping to serve meals.
Additionally, members of Team New Zealand hosted a rugby clinic at Garfield Elementary School. There, the players were able to show the fundamentals of rugby, as well as share their culture and community with the students. More can be seen on New Zealand’s Instagram.
Before Team Australia took the pitch on Friday, members from the team visited Children’s Mercy Hospital to spend time with patients. There, players connected with children over crafts and conversation. Head to Team Australia’s Instagram to see more from their visit.
About The Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation
The mission of the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation is to drive Kansas City’s overall sports strategy, to enrich the quality of life, create economic impact and raise visibility for our region. As a privately-funded nonprofit, we are entirely dependent on your support. For the latest on Kansas City Sports Commission news, follow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About WIN for KC
The Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City (WIN for KC), was established in 1994 under the umbrella of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, with the mission to ignite girls and women through advocating and promoting the lifetime value of sports and fitness, while providing opportunities for participation and leadership development. WIN is a volunteer, membership-driven organization that operates as a program of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. For more information, visit WINforKC.org. For the latest on WIN for KC news, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram.