NRL 2024: South Sydney Rabbitohs caught up in bizarre ownership hoax after shock David Letterman claims

South Sydney have been gifted millions of dollars worth of free advertising, following wild claims by comedians David Letterman and Billy Crystal that they have purchased the famous club.

South Sydney have been handed millions of dollars worth of free advertising ahead of their historic season launch in Las Vegas with wild claims by comedians David Letterman and Billy Crystal that they have purchased the famous club.

In what came as a shock to both the NRL and Rabbitohs executive team, Letterman declared in an interview overnight in the US that he and Crystal were the new owners of the Rabbitohs.

Actual South Sydney owner Russell Crowe is a good friend of Crystal’s, but even The Gladiator wasn’t aware of the claims.

Letterman, the former late night-night television talk show host, was sporting a hoodie with South Sydney emblazoned across the front as he told the story of his ownership plans.

David Letterman (right) has made the bizarre claim that he and Billy Crystal have bought the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Credit: YouTube.

“Tell us about this jersey?”, Letterman was asked.

“This is South Sydney, and it’s a rugby team in Sydney, Australia in the southern part of Sydney. It’s the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Any idea what that means? Rabbitohs? I’ll tell you about where I got the jersey in a minute.

“That’s right. It’s a man or woman who goes door to door selling rabbits for eating. Those are the Rabbitohs … Here’s the best part. I am now a proud owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.’’

Letterman said he and Crystal were planning to replicate the ownership model of US actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who took over a Welsh football team, and which was documented in the hugely popular Netflix series, ‘Welcome to Wrexham.’’

“Well, you know Ryan Reynolds, and his pal (Rob McElhenney), got together and bought a soccer team in Wales. That’s where we got the idea,’’ Letterman said.

“Billy Crystal and I now own the South Sydney Rabbitohs. It’s a rugby team.

Asked if he were “a rugby fan?”

Letterman smiled: “I love it. That’s how my mum hurt her hip.’’

Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe wasn’t aware of the claims made by Letterman. Picture: Getty Images

He was then asked if he was worried about getting sued?

“No I’m not, we’re not ripping them *Reynolds and McElhenney) off,’’ Letterman said.

“They’re playing soccer. We’re playing a real sport, rugby.

Feel free to bookmark this under most bizarre NRL tweet of ‘24. Neither the @NRL or @SSFCRABBITOHS executives have any knowledge of recent claims by comedian @Letterman that he and Billy Crystal have bought Souths. More, or less, as it comes to hand. @telegraph_sport

— David Riccio (@DaveRic1) January 26, 2024

“But it’s the Rabbitohs, people who would come door to door, I wonder if they would still do that in South Sydney.

“I guess we’ll find out. That’ll be part one (of the show). It’s a docuseries. On Worldwide Pants Plus.’’

The Daily Telegraph confirmed with the NRL and South Sydney that they had no knowledge of the claims.

If nothing else, Letterman has provided the Rabbitohs with a major springboard towards the promotion and awareness of both the club and rugby league ahead of the NRL’s season launch in Las Vegas.

Letterman boasts almost 800,000 followers on Twitter and Instagram.