Rugby League: Was the Las Vegas adventure a success?

This is the big question for those in charge of Rugby League

Bringing a sport that has long struggled for attention in an already packed market to a city, and indeed a country, with no real history or tradition in the game might seem like a bold and costly gamble.

Author - Sophie T

But if you’re going to take a risk, there are few places more fitting than Las Vegas to roll the dice.
This is, after all, a city well accustomed to staging major global sporting events, from boxing and the Super Bowl to Formula One. Now, rugby league has secured its place on that prestigious list.

Any doubts about the ambition and commitment behind this rugby league festival were firmly put to rest on Thursday evening in downtown Vegas.

About more than the result

In the Bluesky post below, you can see how Manchester Super News reported on the event.

Wigan Warriors sent a clear message to the rest of Super League with a commanding victory over Warrington Wolves in Las Vegas, reaffirming their credentials as serious contenders for back-to-back titles. manchestersupernews.blogspot.com/2025/03/rugb...

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— Super News Affiliate (@sup3rnew5affiliate.bsky.social) 3 March 2025 at 21:01

At the iconic Allegiant Stadium, one of the world's most impressive sporting arenas and home to the NFL team, the Las Vegas Raiders, Radlinski's Wigan put on a show by decisively defeating the Warrington Wolves in the event's opening match.

The England Women's team suffered a record defeat in their historic international match against Australia. There were also victories for the Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers in their NRL matches.

However, for the most loyal traveling fans and the broader rugby community, this event was about much more than just the results.

The highly impressive stadium in Las Vegas

What next for Rugby League in the United States?

Several English clubs have already shown interest in participating in next year's event, which has been confirmed to feature Super League teams once again. 

It's easy to understand the appeal; future possibilities include integrating the World Club Challenge into the schedule and increasing the number of matches. 

However, while this development is undoubtedly exciting for fans already involved in the sport, the long-term effects on rugby league's future as a truly global sport remain uncertain. You'd have to say though that rugby league has entered a bold new era.