A planned clash between Penrith Panthers and the Warriors in Christchurch next year has been cancelled. It would have been the second NRL game played in Christchurch after the first one in May this year.

Cancellation of a planned NRL clash between Penrith Panthers and the Warriors in Christchurch will rob the city's economy of an estimated $10 million injection and set back the uptake of rugby league in the city, organisers say.

"It's a bit of a kick in the teeth for the city," Christchurch sports promoter and "passionate league-ie", Justin Wallace said.

The 2017 game would have been the second of four Panther home games played in Christchurch as part of a contract struck by Wallace.

Iain McGregor A planned clash between Penrith Panthers and the Warriors in Christchurch next year has been cancelled. This year the team spent a week in the city promoting the sport to school children. Pictured: Josh Mansour (left) and Isaah Yeo.

It was cancelled after the draw time, set by broadcaster Foxtel Australia, was deemed too late to attract a crowd in New Zealand.

The broadcaster had control over the 2017 draw and had set the time for the Panthers game at 6.30pm on a Sunday.

"Unfortunately the NRL could not turn the broadcaster around to change it so they basically wanted us to kick off at 8.30pm on a Sunday, which isn't going to work."

This was particularly bad timing for the promotion of the game to families, Wallace said.

The sold out game on May 14 this year kicked off at 5pm and was preceded by a week of activities with players from the Panthers and Warriors including school visits to promote the sport.

Wallace said during the week the sport had been promoted to over 10,000 children in 24 schools.

Panthers and Warriors players held coaching clinics with over 300 students and a gala dinner raised $7000 for junior rugby league in Christchurch.

"The whole week was based around junior rugby league and kids, we put the kids at the forefront of everything we did."

Wallace said control of the draw would go back to the NRL in 2018.

"We've had really good conversations with the NRL. They're gutted because of the success we had this year and they are very clear they want a presence in the South Island, in particular in Christchurch."

The NRL want to support a home game in Christchurch in 2018, Wallace said.

Christchurch City Council events manager Richard Attwood said the cancellation was very disappointing for the city, "however we hope that fans will get behind the Rugby League World Cup here in Christchurch in November 2017".