NRL investigates multi-country ‘global round’ to begin 2027 season, inspired by NFL
The NRL’s audacious plan to launch the 2027 season in multiple countries at once has the support of the game’s best halfback, with Nathan Cleary revealing where he would take the Global Round concept.
Leading Kangaroos have backed an ambitious plan for a Global Round to open the 2027 season with star halfback Nathan Cleary declaring: “I honestly believe rugby league is the greatest product on the planet.”
The NRL is investigating a proposal to play several games from the 2027 opening round overseas, including London’s Wembley Stadium, the venue for Australia’s first Test win over England.
While the plan is still in its infancy, ARL Commissioner chairman Peter V’landys confirmed that multiple countries had approached the NRL about hosting games.
V’landys said the move would be an extension of the NRL’s Las Vegas extravaganza.
“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,” he said.
Australian players, speaking after their 26-6 win over England at Wembley, supported the idea with Cleary saying: “I didn’t know much about it but the boys were talking about it today and, instantly, I think it’s a great idea.
“The more we can promote the game and get it to eyes that haven’t seen it … the product of rugby league is the best sport in the world. Rugby league could be massive.
“I’ve been to a lot of sporting events and, as much as I love other sports, I still honestly believe rugby league is the greatest product on the planet. People just haven’t watched enough of it.
“Selfishly as a player you want to take it overseas and have those experiences – to go away and play in different environments like today (at Wembley), which was incredible. These are things that you remember for the rest of our life.
“It’s probably one thing rugby union has had over rugby league is the fact they get to travel and go to different places. If rugby league is able to do that, I can only see it growing more.
“The fact we were able to come to the Ashes is such a great thing. I was so pumped for this and these tours are things you remember when you’re 80-years-old.”
Asked to hypothetically nominate an overseas city where he would like Penrith to play, Cleary said: “I should probably say Manchester because I could see Mary (Fowler, his partner who plays football for Manchester City).
“But maybe Miami would be pretty cool.”
Australian winger Mark Nawaqanitawase also spoke highly of the plan.
“It’s a great idea and this is another step to taking the game worldwide,” he said.
“Peter V’landys and (NRL CEO) Andrew Abdo are running a great ship.
“I’d love to see it and I’m sure a lot of people around the world would love to see it (because) it’s a great game.”
PVL’S GLOBAL VISION
No times or locations have been formalised and the mooted project hasn’t yet been discussed with the clubs, broadcasters or players.
The mooted Global Round concept was briefly discussed at a recent ARL Commission meeting, with Abdo tasked with exploring its feasibility when the Perth Bears join an expanded 18-team competition.
V’landys has watched and admired the NFL’s strategy to take multiple games each season overseas. London hosted three American football matches this season.
“It was no secret that we were always exploring going to Wembley,” V’landys said. “This was a throwaway line (at a commission meeting) but we have had approaches from other countries about playing a game there so we are investigating it.
“The 2027 season (opening round) is a target but it’s got to go through the ARL Commission, through the clubs and the players. It’s very early days. Importantly, the commission has to approve it.
“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. It’s part of their mandate. That can see the globalisation strategy and it’s working for them. It’s not as though the NRL are the pioneers of this, the NFL are.
“But 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.”
However, the proposal raises significant logistical and financial challenges.
V’landys has been unafraid to shirk convention when it comes to challenging the sporting landscape.
From the NRL’s ambitious May 28 Covid restart to the season-opening extravaganza in Las Vegas, or the $20 million Everest that has broken Victoria’s stranglehold on spring racing in this country – the evidence is undeniable that he can make things happen that other sporting administrators dare not even dream, let alone attempt.
However, an NRL Global Round – where games are played one after the other around the world – faces multiple obstacles.
Abdo and V’landys arrived in London on Friday ahead of the first Ashes Test at Wembley, and while there will hold meetings to determine whether the idea is feasible.
This would be rugby league’s version of Live Aid, if only it were that simple.
“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 said.
“If you want to grow the game then you have to go to different markets and it’s got to be a long-term strategy. There’s no reason why the game can’t grow globally.
“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. It definitely won’t be every game (in that opening round). It might be half-half.
“Teams (that travelled) 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.
“This is an investigation. If it goes to the next step, then we would consult everybody and do-up a plan about what countries we would go to.”
NRL officials are acutely aware of the monstrous undertaking the Las Vegas venture is, let alone contemplating repeating it six times over, across the globe.
The NRL lost an estimated $1 million in Las Vegas’ first instalment of its five-year deal, and broke even or recorded a small profit in 2025 – depending on who you speak to. Then there is the cost of stadium hire but V’landys had no doubt the NRL could afford such an ambitious plan.
“More than cover the costs,” he said. “Any country we go to will only ever be on the basis that it’s a strong business case.”
Television executives caught out by news of the proposal on Saturday responded with scepticism.
Las Vegas is an expensive exercise for both Fox League and Channel 9. The operational costs of setting up broadcasts around the world would be mind-blowing.
The timeline to turn around this ambitious venture is also prohibitive, with the 2027 season kick-off just 16 months away.
The NRL is already consumed with expansion. Perth are set to join in that time, while getting the new Papua New Guinea franchise off the ground in time for the 2028 season is no small task.
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