Rugby League Las Vegas

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 active1
InauguratedMarch 2, 2024 (2024-03-02)
Previous eventMarch 2, 2024 (2024-03-02)
Next eventMarch 1, 2025 (2025-03-01)
Participants
Attendance
  • 40,746 (2024)
  • 45,209 (2025)
Capacity65,000
Organized byAustralia National Rugby League

Rugby League Las Vegas is an annual event held at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas showcasing the sport of rugby league. The inaugural event was established in 2023 by Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) to host two matches of the 2024 NRL season opening round, and was done so with the aim of expanding the audience of the competition and develop rugby league in the United States.

The event, initially contracted until 2028,[1][2] was expanded to include clubs from the United Kingdom's Super League in 2025. The initial joining of Super League clubs was arranged on a club level with the NRL[3] before a formal agreement was arranged for Super League's regular inclusion for future events.[4]

History

[edit]

2024 event

[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,[5][6] with the remainder of round one being confirmed at a later date.[7] The two matches took place on March 2, 2024, and marked the first NRL regular season games held outside Australia and New Zealand.[8] The 2024 event saw Manly Warringah beat South Sydney[9] and Sydney beat Brisbane.[10] The NRL initially declared that over 40,000 fans attended but the Las Vegas Stadium Authority revealed a figure of 31,927. Both games were aired on Fox Sports in the United States.[9] 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 states. 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]

2025 event

[edit]

In July 2024, the NRL announced that the 2025 event would feature the Canberra Raiders, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Auckland Warriors, and Penrith Panthers.[14][15][16] In addition, the 2025 event will also feature an matchweek three game 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] which will be the first of three women's test matches of the 2025 England Lions and Lionesses tour of Australia.[20] 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.[21][22] Both United States men's and women's national teams will face Greece the day before the 2025 event.[23] In November 2024, Matty Ashton and Kruise Leeming ran promotions for the event at the Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos NFL game and during the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, with both occurring on the same weekend.[24]

In the weeks ahead of the 2025 event, the Super League fixture was described as "the biggest game in British rugby league history" due to the potential investments, brand recognition, and fan markets it could make available to the British game across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.[25][26] Over 45,000 were in attendance for the 2025 event, up from the previous year, whom saw Wigan defeat Warrington, Canberra defeat Auckland, Penrith defeat Cronulla-Sutherland, and a record defeat of the England Lionesses by Australia Jillaroos.[27] Analysis following the 2025 event showed that Rugby League Las Vegas is being a short term success with the event being profitable and providing a good showcase of the sport, however it was unclear if the event was having any impact on the long term goal of establishing rugby league in the United States as the vast majority of attendees were travelling Australians, New Zealanders, and Britons.[28] The four-game event proved to be too ambitious, especially with the Allegiant Stadium not allowing re-admittion. Crowed numbers had reduced by game four nor had everyone entered the stadium for game one, with Peter V'landys saying the nine-hour event was too long for most attending.[29] The involvement of Super League was deemed as success and a boost to the event by the NRL.[30]

2026 event

[edit]

On the eve of the 2025 event, it was reported that RL Commercial had secured Super League's place for the 2026 event, marking Super League's formal inclusion in Rugby League Las Vegas after the 2025 game was organised by the participating clubs and not the league itself. It was also reported the 2026 World Club Challenge could feature as one of the games, with the 2025 match being cancelled due to both team's participation in Las Vegas.[31] The 2026 event will likely host three matches.[32]

Results

[edit]

Main event

[edit]

The following is a list of results of teams who have played at the main event, held the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise.

Game Competition Date Time Team 1 Score Team 2 Attendance Report
2024 Game 1 2024 NRL season 2 March 2024 19:30 PST Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 36–24 South Sydney Rabbitohs 40,746[a] [35]
Game 2 2024 NRL season 21:30 PST Sydney Roosters 20–10 Brisbane Broncos [35]
2025 Game 1 2025 Super League season 1 March 2025 13:30 PST Wigan Warriors 48–24 Warrington Wolves 45,209[27] [27]
[36][37]
Game 2 2025 NRL season 16:00 PST Canberra Raiders 30–8 New Zealand Warriors [27]
Game 3 2025 Women's Ashes 18:15 PST Australia Australia Jillaroos 90–4 England England Lionesses [27]
[38][39]
Game 4 2025 NRL season 20:30 PST Penrith Panthers 28–22 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks [27]

Development matches

[edit]

A number of development games are held during the weekend to aid the growth of the United States national rugby league teams.

Game Competition Date Time Team 1 Score Team 2 Venue Attendance Report
2024 Game 1 Men's International Friendly 1 March 2024 19:00 PT  United States 16–16  Canada Ed W. Clark High School, Las Vegas Unknown [13]
2025 Game 1 Men's International Friendly 26 February 2025 18:00 PT  United States C–C[b]  Greece New Silver Bowl Stadium, Las Vegas N/A N/A
Game 2 Women's International Friendly 28 February 2025 13:30[c] PT  United States 46–0  Greece TBA [41]
Game 3 Men's International Friendly 15:30[d] PT  United States 10–46  Greece TBA

Broadcasting

[edit]

For 2024[42] and 2025[43]

Region Network
 Australia Kayo Sports
Nine Network
 New Zealand Sky Sport (NRL games only)
 United States Fox Sports 1
 Canada Sportsnet
 United Kingdom Sky Sports Main Event
 France Bis Télévision
Pacific Islands Sky Pacific (2024 only)
Asia Premier Sports Asia (2024 only)

Statistics

[edit]

Attendances

[edit]
Year Attendance
2024 40,746
2025 Increase 45,209

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

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The NRL announced an attendance of 40,746 for the event, a figure later contradicted by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority whose report confirmed a reduced attendance of 31,927.[33][34]
  2. ^ Game cancelled due to thieves stealing the copper from the floodlights[40]
  3. ^ Brought forward from 17:30 due to floodlights not being available
  4. ^ Brought forward from 19:30 due to floodlights not being available

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. ^ Davidson, John (June 1, 2024). "'We'd love to do it': Wigan Warriors reveal plans for US Super League game". The i Paper.
  4. ^ "Super League to return to Las Vegas in 2026, rugby league chief confirms after Wigan vs Warrington success". Sky Sports.
  5. ^ Snape, Jack (11 August 2023). "NRL announces four clubs to open 2024 season in Las Vegas". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "NRL heading to Las Vegas with double-header confirmed to open 2024 season". 11 August 2023.
  7. ^ "2024 NRL schedule confirmed, including Las Vegas double-header, State of Origin & Magic Round". 13 November 2023.
  8. ^ "NRL confirm details for Rugby League Las Vegas 2024". 24 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b "NRL Las Vegas games to air on Fox in the US". 27 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Manu's magic show headlines Roosters win in Vegas". 3 March 2024.
  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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Super League in Las Vegas: Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves set for showdown at Allegiant Stadium in 2025". Sky Sports.
  18. ^ "Wigan Warriors to play Warrington Wolves in Las Vegas in 2025".
  19. ^ "England Women to face Jillaroos in Las Vegas".
  20. ^ "Great Britain legend endorses Lions' return as more details of tour emerge". Love Rugby League. August 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "The inside story on how Wigan Warriors secured historic Las Vegas deal".
  22. ^ Bower, Aaron. "Super League in Las Vegas hailed as 'biggest moment' in its 28-year history". The Guardian.
  23. ^ "Hawks to face Grecce men and women as part of Las Vegas schedule". europeanrugbyleague.com. ERLF. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves stars hit Las Vegas with less than 100 days to go until historic clash". Wigan Today. November 25, 2024.
  25. ^ Bower, Aaron (February 28, 2025). "Viva Las Vegas: will 'biggest game in British rugby league' widen reach?" – via The Guardian.
  26. ^ "Why Super League in Las Vegas can change British rugby league forever". Love Rugby League. March 1, 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "As it happened: Las Vegas 2025 - Panthers and Raiders make early statement". National Rugby League. March 2, 2025.
  28. ^ "'Long live the NRL': US journo's take on Vegas 2.0 ... and whether it can answer glaring question". Fox Sports. March 2, 2025.
  29. ^ "NRL considering shortening Las Vegas slate in 2026 due to poor crowd numbers - ABC News". amp.abc.net.au.
  30. ^ "'Long day': 90-point demolition causes problems as NRL flags cull of Jillaroos' Vegas showcase". Fox Sports. March 3, 2025.
  31. ^ "Rugby league World Club Challenge heading to Las Vegas in 2026". Love Rugby League. February 28, 2025.
  32. ^ "NRL Las Vegas schedule to reduce in 2026 with at-risk game revealed". Love Rugby League. March 3, 2025.
  33. ^ "Stadium Activity Reporting, Data, and Information - Q1 2024" (PDF). Las Vegas Stadium Authority. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  34. ^ Di Stefano, Mark (4 June 2024). "Funny numbers mean success for the NRL". Australian Financial Review. Sydney, New South Wales: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  35. ^ a b "Eagles rock Vegas as DCE and Brooks make sweet music". National Rugby League. March 3, 2024.
  36. ^ "Super League: Wigan Warriors 48-24 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. March 1, 2025.
  37. ^ "Super League in Las Vegas: Wigan Warriors dominate Warrington Wolves in 48-24 win at the Allegiant Stadium". Sky Sports.
  38. ^ "Australia 90-4 England: Lionesses suffer record defeat in Las Vegas". BBC Sport. March 2, 2025.
  39. ^ "Rugby League in Las Vegas: England Women trounced as Australia score 90 points in Vegas showcase". Sky Sports.
  40. ^ "Las Vegas warm-up games called off for BIZARRE reason". Love Rugby League. February 27, 2025.
  41. ^ "Greece-USA share the honours in men's and women's Tests". National Rugby League. March 2, 2025.
  42. ^ "NRL 2024: When, where to watch Round 1 games in Las Vegas". National Rugby League. February 28, 2024.
  43. ^ "Rugby League Las Vegas 2025: Everything You Need to Know". National Rugby League. March 1, 2025.
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