Successful weekend for Rugby league in Las Vegas
USARL Continues to Drive Rugby League Growth in the U.S. as Las Vegas Reaches New Levels
February 27th, 2026
Las Vegas again provided the most prominent annual stage for rugby league in the United States, and in 2026 the event reached a new level of scale, structure, and significance. With NRL matches at Allegiant Stadium, an expanded Rugby League 9s tournament, and a full slate of USA international fixtures against Scotland, the week brought multiple layers of the sport together in one setting and underscored the continued growth of the game in the American market.
For USA Rugby League, that significance extends beyond the event itself. As the national governing body for the sport in the United States, USARL is responsible for developing the domestic game, overseeing national team pathways, and helping translate major moments of international visibility into long-term progress on the ground. The 2026 Las Vegas week again showed how those efforts are beginning to align more clearly.
NRL Presence at Allegiant Stadium Continues to Expand the Game’s Reach
The NRL’s return to Las Vegas remained the centerpiece of the week, with Allegiant Stadium hosting elite rugby league in front of an American audience and a growing international crowd.
That visibility remains an important driver for the sport in the United States. The professional game provides a clear demonstration of rugby league at its highest level, while the continued commitment to Las Vegas reinforces the importance of the U.S. market within the game’s broader international ambitions. For American supporters, players, and administrators, that presence creates a valuable platform around which other parts of the sport can grow.
The significance of the NRL’s involvement is not limited to the stadium fixtures. The broader event footprint in Las Vegas continues to create opportunities for player development, domestic exposure, and international engagement, all of which are important to the long-term advancement of rugby league in the United States.
Rugby League 9s Provides a Valuable Competitive Platform
Alongside the NRL matches, the Rugby League 9s tournament again played a major role in the week’s success. Its continued expansion has made it an increasingly important feature of the Las Vegas program and an important competitive outlet for clubs and representative teams from across North America and beyond.
For the American game, the 9s competition offers more than tournament participation. It provides U.S.-based players and clubs with access to a high-level event environment that connects directly to rugby league’s broader international profile. That kind of exposure is meaningful in a developing market, where opportunities to compete in visible, high-standard settings remain essential to raising the level of the domestic game.
LA Roosters Women Claim Premier Division Title
A major highlight for the U.S. domestic game came in the women’s competition, where the LA Roosters won the Premier Division title.
The Roosters secured a 12-10 victory over the Aus Vegas Angels in the final, completing a strong tournament run and giving the American game one of its most important results of the week. The performance reflected composure in a tight contest and underscored the continued development of women’s rugby league in the United States.
The result also carried broader significance. A U.S.-based club lifting a title in an event of this profile is another indication that domestic standards are continuing to rise. It provides a tangible example of progress at club level and a positive marker for the growth of the women’s game nationally.
USA Hawks Feature Across All Levels in Historic Triple-Header
For USARL, the focal point of the week came through the international program, as the USA hosted Scotland in a historic triple-header featuring the U19 men, senior women, and senior men.
That structure was significant in its own right. Bringing all three levels of the national program together in one event reflected a more unified approach to development and international competition. For a national governing body focused on long-term growth, the ability to connect youth development, women’s rugby league, and the senior men’s program within a single framework is an important step.
U19 Men Continue to Build the National Pathway
The U19s opened the day, falling 30-10 to Scotland in a match that nevertheless provided important international experience for the American side.
For developing players, matches of this kind are essential. They offer exposure to the pace, discipline, and demands of international rugby league, while also helping strengthen the pathway into the senior national program. Although the result favored Scotland, the fixture represented another meaningful investment in the long-term future of the USA player pool.
As USARL continues to build out its development structure, the importance of regular opportunities at this age-group level cannot be overstated.
Women’s Program Shows Continued Progress Under New Leadership
The USA women followed with a 26-14 defeat to Scotland, but the performance reflected a program continuing to build competitiveness and identity at the international level.
After facing an early deficit, the Hawks responded with a strong second-half effort and forced their way back into the contest. That response demonstrated resilience and highlighted a group continuing to develop cohesion and confidence against experienced opposition.
The match also formed part of the early phase of the women’s program under new head coach Troy Clarkson. His appointment marked an important step for the national side, with the program entering a new phase focused on stronger standards, clearer pathways, and sustained development. For USARL, continued growth in the women’s game remains central to the broader objective of building the sport nationally and ensuring progress is being made across all parts of the rugby league landscape.
Men Secure Important Victory in First Outing Under Adam Woolnough
The USA men closed the day with a 28-20 victory over Scotland, producing one of the national side’s strongest performances in recent seasons.
After a competitive first half, the Hawks gained control in the second period through stronger execution, greater composure, and an ability to convert pressure into points. The result provided a strong finish to the event and offered a significant platform for the men’s program moving forward.
The win also marked an important early result under new head coach Adam Woolnough, whose appointment brought additional high-performance experience and a renewed focus on structure and consistency. For the men’s national team, the outcome was notable not only because of the scoreline, but because of what it suggested about the direction and potential of the program under new leadership.
USARL’s Role as Governing Body Remains Central to the Sport’s Growth
The broader significance of Las Vegas 2026 lies in the way these different elements increasingly reinforce one another.
The NRL provides visibility, elite competition, and international attention. The Rugby League 9s tournament offers meaningful opportunities for domestic clubs and players. USARL, as the governing body, remains responsible for ensuring those opportunities contribute to the sustained growth of the game in the United States through player pathways, national teams, and organizational development.
That work remains ongoing, but the signs of progress are becoming more visible. A domestic women’s side won a major tournament title. The national program was represented across three levels in one event. The senior men recorded an important international victory. New coaching appointments began shaping the next phase of the men’s and women’s programs.
Taken together, those developments point to a sport that continues to strengthen its foundation in the United States.
Las Vegas has become more than a showcase weekend. It now stands as an important annual indicator of rugby league’s progress in America. In 2026, that progress was again evident, and USARL remained at the center of the effort to build the sport toward a larger and more significant future.
