Christchurch NRL hopefuls unveil jerseys, with just a hint of red and black

Tuesday, 21 July 2026

The home strip, left, and the away strip, right.

Christchurch-based rugby league consortium the Southern Orcas have unveiled their proposed playing strips as the group prepares to reveal plans for a training base in Rolleston.

The consortium wants to become the National Rugby League (NRL) competition’s 20th team, potentially from 2029.

Its proposed home and away jerseys use black and white, with Canterbury-red piping and ocean-blue detailing. The organisation has produced seven versions of the jersey, while its logo depicts two orcas.

Southern Orcas chairman Sir Graham Lowe said the proposed identity was intended to represent Christchurch, the South Island and New Zealand.

“The Southern Orcas’ logo and jersey are about far more than a football uniform. They’re the visual identity of an entire region that has been waiting for its place in the NRL,” he told The Australian.

Lowe said the orca represented intelligence, discipline, power and loyalty.

The Orcas have avoided a predominantly red-and-black strip, the traditional colours of Canterbury, as those have been adopted by the Perth Bears, who are due to enter the NRL in 2027.

Sir Graham Lowe is the chairman of the Southern Orcas group bidding for a Christchurch NRL franchise.

An NRL franchise could bring regular league matches and travelling supporters to Christchurch while providing another major tenant for the city’s new covered stadium.

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger said One New Zealand Stadium strengthened the city’s case for a team.

“I think it would be fantastic for Christchurch,” Mauger told The Press. “We’ve got the stadium now. We need to utilise it.”

The Southern Orcas’ proposed home strip features black and white, with red piping and subtle ocean-blue detailing.

The 30,000-seat stadium officially opened this year.

Mauger said a team could attract visitors and increase the number of major events held at the venue.

He said the council would support efforts to secure a franchise, but stopped short of suggesting ratepayers would provide financial backing.

“We’d grease the wheels of progress,” he said.

Mauger said negotiations with the NRL would be led by the bid organisation rather than the council.

The Southern Orcas’ proposed away strip reverses the colour scheme, with the same red and ocean-blue detailing.

The organisation is also preparing to announce plans for a Centre of Excellence in Rolleston.

Southern Orcas managing director Andrew Chalmers said it expected to make an announcement soon about securing land for the facility.

A Rolleston training base could spread some of the project’s economic benefits beyond central-city match days. However, the organisation has not disclosed the expected cost, source of funding, construction timetable or number of jobs the facility could create.