‘Bigger and better’: NRL has bold plans for Las Vegas 2.0 with clubs to be locked in next month

The NRL is expected to announce next month which four clubs will travel to Las Vegas to open the 2025 season, with chief executive Andrew Abdo excited about the prospect of playing a women’s game there in the near future.

The Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Roosters and Broncos were the four guinea pigs for one of rugby league’s biggest international experiments, with the double-header a raging success at Allegiant Stadium.

The concept will only grow in the years to come, with the NRL making a strong commitment to playing games in America.

Fans will have plenty of time to plan ahead, with Abdo confirming a call will be made “very soon”.

The Panthers and Storm are reportedly leading the race, while it’s expected that a Queensland club would likely be involved as well.

“We’re thinking about Las Vegas 2.0 and we’re very excited about it,” Abdo said at the launch of Magic Round in Brisbane.

“Like Magic Round, we want the second edition to be even bigger and better, so we’re thinking of different ways in which we can create an even bigger atmosphere for rugby league in Vegas.

“I think you can expect an announcement sometime in June when we’d like to have the decision finalised.”

While two NRL games have been locked in, there are plans to have women’s matches played there as well; however, there are a few logistical issues given the NRLW season doesn’t start until July this year.

“Having a women’s rugby league game in Las Vegas would be an extraordinary opportunity to show Americans and the rest of the world just how great a product we have,” Abdo said.

“Putting our female athletes on the global stage is incredibly exciting.

“We’re hard at work trying to think what the best format is given the time of the year and what that might look.”

Abdo also addressed NRL expansion, with the Papua New Guinea bid leading the race but not guaranteed to come in as the 18th club.

“No major update at the moment. We’re hard at work looking at the business case and thinking about expansion very strategically and carefully,” he said.

“Once our analysis is complete, the commission will make a decision and provide clarity.

“We’re in a position where we’re thinking about growth in both the men’s and women’s game, and that’s a really healthy position to be in.

“We’re in significant talks about what that would look like and what an expansion team in Papua New Guinea (would mean), but we’re also looking at expansion much more broadly than just 18 teams.

“We need to consider the overall benefit for the game of rugby league, so it’s multifaceted.

“It’s not just about a licence for an 18th team – it’s also about the investment in participation and pathways and thinking about growing the game internationally.”