Windsor Park
Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland
Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland — opened 1905 (first match: Linfield vs Glentoran; ground development had begun from 1903), 1 rugby league games hosted, home of Not a rugby league venue: Windsor Park is Northern Ireland's national football (soccer) stadium, home to Linfield F.C. since 1905 and to the Northern Ireland national football team since 1910 (and the women's national team since 2023)..
Ground facts
| Opened | 1905 (first match: Linfield vs Glentoran; ground development had begun from 1903) |
| Home club | Not a rugby league venue: Windsor Park is Northern Ireland's national football (soccer) stadium, home to Linfield F.C. since 1905 and to the Northern Ireland national football team since 1910 (and the women's national team since 2023). |
| Games hosted (rugby league, on record) | 1 |
| Top recorded crowd | 3,207 (Rugby League — Group D, 28 Oct 2000, 2000 Rugby League World Cup: Ireland 30-16 Samoa) |
| Capacity | 18,434 today (all-seater, post 2014-2016 redevelopment); historical peak capacity was around 60,000 during its mid-20th-century configuration. The exact capacity at the time of the 2000 rugby league match is not confirmed. |
| Floodlights installed | Yes, used for the 2000 evening/international rugby league fixture; exact installation date not confirmed |
| Surface | Grass, approximately 110 yards by 75 yards (101m x 69m) |
| Years used | 2000 |
| Location | Belfast, Antrim |
Name history
- Windsor Park — 1905-present, base name
- National Stadium at Windsor Park — following a 2014-2016 redevelopment
- Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park — current sponsorship name since 7 May 2025
Rugby league history
Windsor Park hosted the opening match of Group D at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup on 28 October 2000, when Ireland beat Samoa 30-16 in heavy rain in front of 3,207 spectators - the only match Rugby League Project records at the venue. The result was part of an unbeaten Group D run for Ireland, who reached the quarter-finals before losing to England. An earlier rugby league fixture, Warrington vs Halifax, had also been played there in May 1954, though that match is separate from the one recorded here. Staging a World Cup fixture at Northern Ireland's national football stadium was a rare instance of top-level rugby league at a ground built and used almost exclusively for soccer.
Notable games played here
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Group D, 28 Oct 2000 | 2000 Rugby League World Cup | Ireland 30-16 Samoa |
Only matches we have full, sourced records for are listed here — other historic games mentioned above may not have a dedicated match page built yet (World Cup coverage in particular is still expanding tournament by tournament).
Sources
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
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