Rugby League Las Vegas

Last updated
Rugby League Las Vegas
2021 Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium (20210906153358).jpg
The Allegiant Stadium hosts the event
StatusActive
Genre Rugby league
FrequencyAnnually
Venue Allegiant Stadium
Location(s) Paradise, Nevada
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
Years active0
InauguratedMarch 2, 2024 (2024-03-02)
Next eventMarch 1, 2025 (2025-03-01)
Participants Flag of Australia (converted).svg National Rugby League and
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Super League
Attendance40,746 (2024)
Capacity65,000

Rugby League Las Vegas is an annual event held at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas showcasing the sport of rugby league. The event was started in 2024 by Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) before being joined by the United Kingdom's Super League in 2025.

Contents

Both NRL and Super League are regarded as the pinnacle club competitions of the sport. The event was created by the NRL to expand the audience of the competition and develop rugby league in the United States. The event is contracted until 2028. [1] [2]

History

In August 2023, the National Rugby League (NRL) announced that two games in the opening round of the 2024 NRL season would be held in Las Vegas. The Brisbane Broncos, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs, and Sydney Roosters were selected to play in the event, [3] [4] with the remainder of round one being confirmed at a later date. [5] The two matches took place on March 2, 2024, and marked the first NRL regular season games held outside Australia and New Zealand. [6] The 2024 event saw Manly Warringah beat South Sydney [7] and Sydney beat Brisbane [8] in front of an audience of over 40,000, the largest attendance of any rugby league event at the time held in the United States. [9] Both games were arird on Fox Sports in the United States. [10] While stadium attendance was deemed a success, TV viewing fixtures were low in the United States at only 61,000, though it was 16,000 higher than the last NRL programme to be aired in the state. Viewing figures in Australia surpassed 1.6 million across both games. [11] The day prior to the event, a Colonial Cup match between the national men's teams of the United States and Canada was held. [12] The game ended 16–16. [13]

In July 2024, the NRL announced that the 2025 event would feature the Canberra Raiders, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, New Zealand Warriors, and Penrith Panthers. [14] [15] [16] In addition, the 2025 event will also feature an opening round match of the United Kingdom's Super League with Wigan Warriors facing local rivals Warrington Wolves. Like the NRL in 2024, this game marks the first regular season Super League game to be held in the United States. [17] [18] Further, the event would also showcase an ashes test match between the Australia and England women's national sides. [19] Super League's involvement in the event came after a speculative email was sent to the organizers by Wigan's CEO Kris Radlinski after he watched the 2024 event on TV. [20] [21]

Results

2024

Game 1

2025

Game 1

Statistics

Attendances

YearAttendance
202440,746

Games by Competition

CompetitionGamesYears
Flag of Australia (converted).svg National Rugby League 42024 (2), 2025 (2)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Super League 12025
Flag of the United Nations.svg Women's Ashes 12025

Team Appearances

TeamApps.Years
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 12024
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2024
South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 2024
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters 2024
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Jillaroos 2025
Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 2025
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2025
Flag of England.svg England Lionesses 2025
Auckland colours.svg New Zealand Warriors 2025
Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers 2025
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 2025
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 2025

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Morley</span> Former GB & England international rugby league footballer

Adrian Paul Morley is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop or second-row forward. With a reputation as a tough, uncompromising competitor, Morley was the first British player to become a Grand Final winner in both the National Rugby League and Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Monaghan</span> Australia international rugby league footballer

Joel Monaghan is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative centre or winger, he previously played in the NRL for the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Minichiello</span> Former Italy international rugby league footballer

Markus Antonio "Mark" Minichiello is a former Italy international rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Green</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Blake Green is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a five-eighth and halfback in the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Isa</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Willie Isa is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a Second-row, Centre, Loose forward or winger for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Charnley</span> England dual code international rugby footballer

Joshua Charnley is an English international professional rugby league footballer who plays on the wing for the Leigh Leopards in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Bateman (rugby league)</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer

John Bateman is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays second-row or lock forward for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League, and England and Great Britain at international level. Shane Richardson, the new CEO of West Tigers was seen at Wembley Stadium on Saturday June 8th as he is trying to offload a number of the current Wests players, including Bateman. He was seen in deep conversation with the 1895 Champions for 2024 Wakefield Trinity owner Matt Ellis who are now odds on favourites to sign the Bradford born powerhouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sio Siua Taukeiaho</span> NZ & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Sio Siua Taukeiaho is a professional rugby league footballer who last played as a prop or loose forward for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. He plays for Tonga and played for New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matty Russell</span> Scotland international rugby league footballer

Matthew Russell is a Scottish professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback or winger for Leeds Rhinos, on short-term loan from Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Super League and Scotland at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 World Club Challenge</span>

The 2014 World Club Challenge was the 15th consecutive annual World Club Challenge and was contested by Super League XVIII champions, Wigan Warriors and 2013 NRL Premiers, the Sydney Roosters. The 2014 World Club Challenge marked a return to Australia, 20 years after the last Australian based game. It was played on 22 February 2014 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The Roosters won the match 36–14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Burgess</span> England international rugby league footballer

Joe Burgess is an English rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for Hull KR in the Betfred Super League, and England at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Thompson (rugby league)</span> GB & England international rugby league footballer

Luke Thompson is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as prop and loose forward for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League, and for England and Great Britain at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Sutton</span> English rugby league footballer

Ryan Sutton is an English rugby league footballer who plays as a prop and lock for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL).

The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league competition between the winners of the Australian National Rugby League and the British Super League, for the de facto club world championship of the sport.

The 2015 World Club Series was the inaugural World Club Series and was contested by six clubs, including Super League XIX champions, St Helens R.F.C. and 2014 NRL Premiers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The 2015 series marked a departure from the previous format, whereby only the premiers from the two respective competitions would take part.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Gildart</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer

Oliver Patrick Gildart is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Hull KR in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Keighran</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Adam Keighran is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, stand-off or hooker for the Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Super League.

The 2019 season saw Wigan Warriors compete in the Super League, Grand Final Playoffs, Challenge Cup, and the World Club Challenge.

The 2024 NRL season is the 117th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 27th season run by the National Rugby League.

The 2025 season will be the Wigan Warriors's 45th consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. They will compete in the 2025 Super League season and the 2025 Challenge Cup.

References

  1. ↑ "The NRL is going to Vegas ... To play on one of the smallest rugby league fields ever". 28 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sea Eagles, Roosters get wins in Australia's National Rugby League season opener in Las Vegas". Associated Press News . 3 March 2024.
  3. ↑ Snape, Jack (11 August 2023). "NRL announces four clubs to open 2024 season in Las Vegas". The Guardian.
  4. ↑ "NRL heading to Las Vegas with double-header confirmed to open 2024 season". 11 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "2024 NRL schedule confirmed, including Las Vegas double-header, State of Origin & Magic Round". 13 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "NRL confirm details for Rugby League Las Vegas 2024". 24 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "NRL Las Vegas games to air on Fox in the US". 27 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Manu's magic show headlines Roosters win in Vegas". 3 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Tedeschi, Nick (3 March 2024). "'Fast, brutal, brilliant': NRL's Las Vegas gamble comes up trumps". The Guardian.
  10. ↑ "NRL Las Vegas games to air on Fox in the US". 27 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Snape, Jack (5 March 2024). "TV ratings for Vegas venture show slow initial take-up for NRL in the US". The Guardian.
  12. ↑ "NRL's Las Vegas double-header season opener to be preceded by international clash". 6 January 2024.
  13. ↑ "United States 16 v 16 Canada".
  14. ↑ "NRL Vegas 2025: Which clubs will play in America next year? | Sporting News Australia".
  15. ↑ "Four-game Vegas extravaganza revealed as teams for 2025 NRL opener locked in".
  16. ↑ "NRL turns Las Vegas venture into nine-hour extravaganza with four matches in one day". The Guardian.
  17. ↑ https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/13175144/super-league-in-las-vegas-wigan-warriors-and-warrington-wolves-set-for-showdown-at-allegiant-stadium-in-2025
  18. ↑ "Wigan Warriors to play Warrington Wolves in Las Vegas in 2025".
  19. ↑ "England Women to face Jillaroos in Las Vegas".
  20. ↑ "The inside story on how Wigan Warriors secured historic Las Vegas deal".
  21. ↑ Bower, Aaron. "Super League in Las Vegas hailed as 'biggest moment' in its 28-year history". The Guardian.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.