Plan for Australia-New Zealand rugby league Test in USA floated
A bold call to take the NRL’s US infiltration to the next level has won support from a powerful voice. See the plans to build on the Las Vegas spectacular here.
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Rugby league should roar back into America with a Test match between Australia and New Zealand after next season, according to an NRL club co-owner and chairman.
And International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant has supported the plan by revealing venues for Tests to be played next year were yet to be finalised.
Grant even nominated California as a possible location for the match.
Manly’s Scott Penn – who splits his life between Sydney and Brooklyn – has flagged the proposal to continue rugby league’s undoubted momentum after the March 2 Las Vegas double-header next year.
Grant said a Pacific Championships tournament was scheduled again for late next year but match locations haven’t been nailed down – meaning Australia versus New Zealand could be taken to America.
The ARL Commission, along with television broadcasters 9 and Fox Sports, would need to give consent for the Test.
“Ultimately it’s about keeping the momentum going,” Penn said. “We could bookend the double-headers.
“Australia versus New Zealand in America would be huge. Australians like to travel to major events.
“A Test match in America would have more potential than a State of Origin game given it’s country against country and that can bring ex-pats in. It’s a nation versus nation opportunity.
“Rugby league is such a gladiatorial sport that Americans will love it and the nature of rugby league is a little bit more aligned to NFL.
“The fact we play without pads and helmets, Americans will find that hard to believe. Just the impact.”
Grant said the IRL board would be open to Penn’s proposal and he even nominated California as a possible location.
“America is always screaming out for international content and I know the USA (rugby league) governing body would warmly welcome a fixture of that quality,” Grant said.
“The Pacific Championships (will be played in 2024) but venues aren’t locked in. California is probably the strongest rugby league area at the moment.
“The US rugby league community is passionate about the code and I am sure such a game would be a great success.
“We can sanction the match but where they play it would be a matter for the ARL Commission.”
The Sea Eagles, Roosters, Broncos and Rabbitohs will contest matches in Nevada in March
“It has the potential to be massive,” Penn said. “If we can package it right for our fans to come across, it will not only be an amazing experience but something they put on their calendar every year.
“It has long-term potential. This is the first of many. It’s really important too that the match is being played for competition points and it’s not just an exhibition game.”
England will contest the Ashes in Australia during 2025 with the World Cup to be played in 2026.
V’LANDYS’ PLAN TO BEAM LEAGUE INTO AMERICAN HOMES
Brent Read
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has opened talks with Foxtel in America as he looks to have at least one NRL game beamed direct into American homes each week, part of a long-term strategy to generate millions for the code and the Australian economy.
V’landys flew into America earlier this week with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, the pair spending time in Washington before heading to Las Vegas to step up plans to host a double header in Sin City to launch next season.
V’landys insists the game can generate “hundreds of millions of dollars” if they can tap into the American market through subscription and gambling revenue – a key pillar of that plan is to have games more accessible to Americans via broadcasters.
“The whole Vegas promotion is to show how good our game is,” V’landys told Sky News.
“We need to be shown every week so we are negotiating with Fox to see if we can be shown every week on Fox 1.
“If they want more games they can subscribe to Watch NRL. As I said, if we can get three million subscribers, that is hundreds of millions of dollars.
“That comes back into the Australian economy. It opens the door to all Australian sport. Sport is the real secret that we have in Australia.
“I think there is a great potential to get Australian sport into the American market. There is 340 million people in America. We could get hundred of millions of dollars coming into Australia from people watching our sports in America.
“We need to show them how good they are. As I said, we only need to get one per cent of the population of America and we will be earning more revenue for sport in Australia, and rugby league, than we do now.”
V’landys has been given the perfect opportunity to sell the dream when he attends a formal dinner at the White House in honour of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, giving him access to some of America’s movers and shakers.
Asked about attending the White House, V’landys said: “I had lunch one day with the Prime Minister and we were talking about Australian sport and how it can be a revenue and economy booster for the Australian economy.
“He asked me if I wanted to come and I accepted his kind invitation. It is a great honour to be here. I don’t really know the details as to what happens during the night.
“I think they are a well-kept secret but I am really looking forward to it and hopefully be able to sell Australian sport.”
If he can pull it off, it could potentially give rugby league access to fresh rivers of gold. Plans to open the season with a double header at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will be the next step, part of a five-year venture to snatch a share of the American sporting landscape.
V’landys also hinted that the trip would help the game illustrate how rugby league can help gain a foothold in the Pacific and keep China at bay. There has been speculation the NRL could add a team in Papua New Guinea when the ARL Commission decides to expand, with any bid propped up by government financial support.
“One of the areas we are looking at is the Pacific and soft diplomacy is the best way to do things,” V’landys said.
“They love rugby league in the Pacific. So Americans would be very interested in how we can introduce this soft diplomacy, capture the heart and soul of the people in the Pacific, and not win them over with money, but win them over with sport.
“Sport brings everyone together. In (Papua) New Guinea in particular, rugby league a is a religion. So it is a no-brainer to use soft diplomacy.”
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