The NRL have already conquered Las Vegas, but if Peter V’landys has his way, that will be just the start of the competition’s desire to grow the game to all corners of the globe.
On the same weekend it was revealed that New Zealand are set to host a State of Origin fixture in 2027, it has also been reported that V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have discussed the feasibility of an NRL ‘Global Round’.
According to Code Sports, there is a desire from the NRL to have several teams play in different cities around the world to kick off the 2027 season.
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Cities such as London, Paris and Dublin would be considered.
While one report stated every game in Round 1 could go overseas – with cities like Dubai and Hong Kong mentioned – it’s more likely up to six games would be played outside of Australia and New Zealand.
It would be an expensive exercise and many hoops would have to be jumped through to pull it off, but V’landys is daring to dream.
The idea was recently discussed at a ARL Commission meeting.
V’landys says the idea is in the “very early days” but revealed that the NRL have been approached by “other countries about playing a game there”.
“The 2027 season (opening round) is a target but it’s got to go through the ARL Commission, through the clubs and the players,” V’landys told Code Sports.
The NRL have opened the past two seasons in Las Vegas.Source: AFP
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“It will depend on which countries show interest. It’s been very well done by the NFL. The NFL has games everywhere around the world now. That can see the globalisation strategy and it’s working for them.
“If you want to grow the game, that’s the way to grow it, to take it to new frontiers. There is a lot of interest in different areas about taking rugby league to different countries because of the success of Las Vegas and the amount of tourism it has brought in.
“Tourist bureaus have basically seen the potential of having a rugby league game. It would also help us with international broadcast rights. You can’t just rest on your laurels.”
V’landys also explained how a ‘Global Round’ would work if the NRL are able to pull it off.
“It would be one round, similar to what we do in Vegas. Rather than just games in Vegas, you could take other games around the world,” he said.
“It definitely won’t be every game. It might be half-half.
“Teams (who played in Global Round) would go back and have a week off to recover. It would be the first round for some teams but not the first round for all teams.
“If it goes to the next step, then we would consult everybody and do-up a plan about what countries we would go to.”
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