Rugby League: Las Vegas preview
Super League makes history with Las Vegas celebration
Rugby league is set to break new ground this Saturday as the sport looks to make an impact in the United States.
Wigan Warriors’ Super League clash with Warrington Wolves – a high-stakes meeting between two giants of the game – will kick off a packed evening of rugby league at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It marks the first time a regular-season Super League fixture has been staged in the US, forming part of an expanded event aimed at growing the sport’s global footprint.
The night will also feature a landmark clash between England’s women’s team and their Australian counterparts, the Jillaroos, in a bid to elevate the women’s game on an international stage. Alongside these fixtures, the NRL will host two domestic encounters, making for a significant showcase of top-tier rugby league talent.
Why is the sport targeting a new audience in the United States?
The Las Vegas festival is a continuation of an initiative launched by Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) in 2024. It was that event that prompted Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski to reach out to NRL organisers with a speculative request to be involved in 2025. The result is an expanded programme that has replaced the traditional World Club Challenge – the annual showdown between the Super League champions and NRL Premiers.
Wigan and Warrington will set the tone for the evening in a rematch of last season’s Challenge Cup final, which Wigan won. Beyond that, the fixtures include three domestic NRL encounters and a major test for England’s women’s team, who will be determined to put up a stronger fight than in their last meeting with Australia, a 38-0 defeat at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Yet, the decision to target the US remains an intriguing one. Rugby league has struggled to expand beyond its traditional heartlands in northern England, so whether it can gain a foothold in a crowded American sports market is another question entirely.
Full schedule of the matches in Las Vegas
Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves – 21:15 GMT
Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors – 00:00 GMT
Australian Jillaroos v England Lionesses – 02:15 GMT
Penrith Panthers v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks – 04:30 GMT
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