Wigan and Warrington will break new ground next year as they take a Betfred Super League game to Las Vegas.
England’s women’s side will also play a Test match against Australia on the same day in ‘Sin City’, with an ambitious programme completed by two fixtures from the NRL.
The games will take place at the Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders and the 2024 Super Bowl venue, on March 1.
The event is an extended repeat of the Australian NRL competition’s successful staging of a fixture double-header in the Nevada city earlier this year.
Let’s go, Vegas 25!! 😤
Who’s ready for the Rugby League event of the year? 🙌#SuperLeague
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 9, 2024
Wigan have given up a home game for what will be a regular-season meeting, while Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers will play New Zealand Warriors and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks respectively.
“This is a massive announcement for Super League and huge news for Wigan and Warrington,” said Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski, one of the driving forces behind the Super League involvement.
“To play a game in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, feels like a big moment for the sport.
“We don’t just want to go there. We want to make an impact, we want to make this a success.
“I know the players won’t disappoint and I really hope the fans get behind it. A success for me would be two more Super League teams going there the following year.”
Super League is heading to Las Vegas and Sam Burgess is very excited! pic.twitter.com/g7ZUsG2McL
— Andy Hampson (@andyhampson) July 9, 2024
The initiative has been driven by the clubs themselves in conjunction with the NRL but is fully supported by the Rugby Football League and its marketing arm, RL Commercial.
Managing director Rhodri Jones said: “To have the Betfred Super League featuring when rugby league returns to Las Vegas in 2025, as well as an historic fixture for England Women, is a mouth-watering prospect and a huge opportunity for the sport.”
Super League has made numerous attempts to expand beyond the sport’s traditional geographical footprint since its inception in 1996 with varying degrees of success.
Warrington chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick is in no doubt this latest idea, announced at a press conference in Manchester featuring an Elvis Presley impersonator, is the boldest yet.
He said: “It’s absolutely incredible. We are breaking ground, doing things that have never been done before. This is going to be the most seminal moment in Super League history.
“I have been involved involved in professional rugby league since 1997. We have been to the home of rugby union, Twickenham, we have been to the Nou Camp, but this weekend is going to far exceed those.
“We want to break out of this rugby league bubble and go mainstream. It’s brave, it’s bold, but this is the kind of thing we need to do. We need to aim big.”
Warrington coach Sam Burgess, whose high profile in Australia and friendship with Hollywood star Russell Crowe was undoubtedly considered an asset to help promote the event, is firmly behind the idea.
“We are putting Super League on the world stage,” he said. “We are really excited. The guys are looking forward to what is going to be a great week in one of the most famous cities on Earth.”