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Rugby League Las Vegas

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Rugby League Las Vegas
The Allegiant Stadium hosts the event
StatusActive
GenreRugby league
FrequencyAnnually
VenueAllegiant Stadium
Location(s)Paradise, Nevada
CountryUnited States United States
Years active0
InauguratedMarch 2, 2024 (2024-03-02)
Next eventMarch 1, 2025 (2025-03-01)
ParticipantsAustralia National Rugby League and
United Kingdom 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.

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

[edit]

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 aired 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

[edit]

2024

[edit]
See also: 2024 NRL season
Game 1
Game 2
2 March 2024
21:30 PST
Sydney Roosters 20–10 Brisbane Broncos
Report

2025

[edit]
See also: 2025 NRL season and 2025 Super League season
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4

Statistics

[edit]

Attendances

[edit]
Year Attendance
2024 40,746

Games by Competition

[edit]
Competition Games Years
Australia National Rugby League 4 2024 (2), 2025 (2)
United Kingdom Super League 1 2025
 Women's Ashes 1 2025

Team Appearances

[edit]
Team Apps. Years
Brisbane Broncos 1 2024
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2024
South Sydney Rabbitohs 2024
Sydney Roosters 2024
Australia Australia Jillaroos 2025
Canberra Raiders 2025
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2025
England England Lionesses 2025
New Zealand Warriors 2025
Penrith Panthers 2025
Warrington Wolves 2025
Wigan Warriors 2025

References

[edit]
  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.
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