Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos Rescheduled Due to Rare Snowfall in Sydney
In an unprecedented twist to the 2025 NRL season, the highly anticipated clash between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos has been officially rescheduled after heavy snowfall blanketed parts of Sydney, including Accor Stadium—the original venue for the match.
This marks the first time in NRL history that a regular-season game has been postponed due to snow, with the league citing “player safety and stadium inaccessibility” as key reasons behind the decision.
NRL Issues Statement
The NRL released an official statement just hours before kick-off on what was set to be a blockbuster Saturday night showdown.
“Following an extraordinary weather event impacting the greater Sydney region, and after consultation with both clubs, venue authorities, and emergency services, the decision has been made to postpone the Round 18 fixture between Canterbury Bulldogs and Brisbane Broncos,” said NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
“The safety of our players, match officials, and fans is our top priority. With significant snow and ice making travel hazardous and affecting field conditions, it was deemed unsafe to proceed with the match as scheduled.”
The game will now be played on Wednesday, July 9, pending weather improvements and stadium readiness. Kick-off time and ticketing details will be confirmed within 48 hours.
Snow in Sydney?
The rare snowstorm, which meteorologists are calling a “polar blast from the Southern Ocean,” has shocked Sydneysiders. Snow was reported as far west as Penrith and even fell lightly in suburbs like Parramatta, Bankstown, and parts of the CBD—areas that have never recorded snow in living memory.
Accor Stadium, located in Sydney Olympic Park, saw over 10 cm of snow accumulation on the field overnight, and continued flurries into Saturday morning left turf staff unable to prepare the ground for play. Additionally, nearby roads became slick and dangerous, leading to several minor accidents and public transport disruptions.
Player & Club Reactions
Players from both teams took to social media in disbelief as snow began falling during their Friday night training sessions.
Brisbane Broncos captain Adam Reynolds posted a video to Instagram showing teammates throwing snowballs and sliding across the frosted turf.
“Snowball fight in Sydney? Didn’t have that on the bingo card for 2025 😂❄️ #NRL #FrozenFooty”
Canterbury halfback Matt Burton also reacted with humor, sharing a photo of himself in a beanie and gloves captioned:
“Ready for a winter Test match at Twickenham, not footy at Accor 😅.”
Despite the light-hearted tone from players, Bulldogs head coach Cameron Ciraldo said the club supported the decision.
“Of course we wanted to play, especially in front of our home crowd, but the conditions just weren’t safe,” Ciraldo said. “We’ll reset and prepare for the new date.”
Broncos coach Kevin Walters echoed those sentiments.
“You train for rain, wind, and heat—but not snow. It’s disappointing, but it’s the right call. We’ll adjust our schedule and be ready when the time comes.”
Impact on Fans and Scheduling
Thousands of fans, many traveling from Queensland, had already arrived in Sydney for what was billed as one of the marquee matchups of the round. Supporters were notified via the NRL app, SMS, and local radio, and ticket holders will be able to retain their tickets or request refunds for the rescheduled date.
Airlines and accommodation providers have already begun offering flexible rebooking options for affected fans.
The NRL also confirmed that the rescheduled midweek match will not affect the timing of the following round’s fixtures. However, teams will now face tighter recovery windows, especially the Broncos, who are set to play again just four days later.
A Once-in-a-Generation Event
Weather experts from the Bureau of Meteorology have confirmed that the event is extremely rare.
“While we see snow in the Blue Mountains and parts of southern NSW each winter, snowfall in Sydney at sea level is virtually unheard of. This is the result of a unique alignment of cold air, moisture, and low pressure over the city,” explained meteorologist Hannah Smith.
The last comparable weather event occurred in 1836, when colonial reports documented “flakes falling briefly” in Sydney Town. But never before has modern professional sport been halted by such an occurrence.
Looking Ahead
The NRL says it will now consider adding contingency plans for extreme weather events, including potential dome venues or flexible match scheduling windows in July and August.
For now, fans can look forward to a historic rescheduled match—perhaps the first time a rugby league game in Sydney will be played after a snowstorm.
One thing’s for sure: NRL fans won’t forget the day footy froze over.
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