1997 in Sports - Rugby League

Rugby League

• 1 March - Townsville, Australia: The Adelaide Rams play their inaugural game, a loss to the North Queensland Cowboys 24-16 at Dairy Farmers Stadium before a crowd of 17,738.
• 2 March - Newcastle, Australia: The Hunter Mariners club plays its inaugural game, a 20-16 loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Topper Stadium before a crowd of 6,579.
• 18 May - Auckland, New Zealand: In the 1997 Oceania Cup's final New Zealand XIII defeat New Zealand Māori 20 – 15 at Carlaw Park.
• 19 May - Brisbane, Australia: In the final of the only Super League Tri-series to be played, New South Wales defeat Queensland 23–22 at ANZ Stadium before a crowd of 35,570. It sets a new record as the longest game of rugby league ever played before being decided by a field goal during extra time.
• 11 June - Melbourne, Australia: The 1997 State of Origin series is wrapped up in Game II by New South Wales who defeat Queensland 15-14 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before a crowd of 25,105.
• The 1997–98 French Championship season finishes with the Villeneuve Leopards on top of the league table.
• 20 September - Brisbane, Australia: The 1997 Super League (Australia) season's Grand Final is won by the Brisbane Broncos who defeated the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26–8 at ANZ Stadium before a crowd of 58,912.
• 28 September - Sydney, Australia: The 1997 ARL season's grand final is won by the Newcastle Knights who defeated the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-16 at the Sydney Football Stadium before a crowd of 42,482.
• 12 October - Christchurch, New Zealand: The 1997 New Zealand season culminates in the Waikato Cougars 34-18 victory over the Canterbury Reds at Rugby League Park, Waikato defeated Canterbury 34-18 to win both the Challenge Cup and the Rugby League Cup.
• 18 October - Auckland, New Zealand: In the 1997 World Club Championship's final, the Brisbane Broncos defeat the Hunter Mariners 36-12 at Ericsson Stadium before a crowd of 12,000.
• In Europe's Super League II, on Sunday 28 September, with the final of the Premiership was won by Wigan Warriors who defeated St. Helens 33-20. At the end of the season Bradford Bulls were crowned League champions by virtue of finishing the season at the top of the table.
• 16 November - Leeds, England: In the third and deciding test match of the Super League Test series, Australia defeat Great Britain 37-20 at Elland Road before a crowd of 39,337.