Comedy
What happened to our national game? Does Rugby even matter anymore? Well, at least we can laugh about it.
See tickets below
Presented by: MLM Comedy
From: Ōtautahi | Christchurch
Join Christchurch comedian Matt Lilley for The Death of Rugby, a stand-up show that asks the question every Kiwi has been avoiding: what the hell happened to our national game?
Rugby used to stop the nation. World Cup victories brought the country together. The All Blacks were untouchable. Now? We check the score before deciding whether it's worth watching. We make excuses. We change the subject at barbecues.
Matt Lilley delivers a 60-minute comedy autopsy of New Zealand's most sacred institution. Through personal stories and sharp observation, he traces rugby's journey from cultural cornerstone to cultural embarrassment. From the heights of dominance to the lows of getting thrashed by teams we used to destroy, this show covers it all with honesty and humor.
This isn't angry comedy – it's something closer to a wake. Matt grew up when rugby still mattered, when every kid wanted to be an All Black, when the game genuinely united us. Watching it decline has been like watching a family member slowly fall apart. The show captures that specific kind of disappointment that only comes from loving something that let you down.
Whether you're still showing up to every match hoping things turn around, or you've given up entirely and just wear the old jersey ironically, this show will resonate. It's for anyone who's felt that disconnect between the rugby we remember and the rugby we're stuck with now.
Matt Lilley is a stalwart of the Christchurch comedy scene, a regular pro performing around the country and winner of NZ Comedy Guild Best Newcomer, South Island for 2024.
This is stand-up that's both funny and genuine, mourning what we lost while acknowledging we can't look away completely. Come watch a comedian bury rugby with irreverance and humour.
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