成人论坛

Wigan to play Warrington in Las Vegas

Wigan's Bevan French and Warrington's Danny Walker contest a tackleImage source, Swpix.com
Image caption,

Wigan beat Warrington in last month's Challenge Cup final

  • Published

Wigan are to play their home Super League game against Warrington in Las Vegas in 2025.

England women will also play their Australian counterparts at NFL side the Las Vegas Raiders' Allegiant Stadium home.

There will also be two NRL games, with New Zealand Warriors taking on Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks playing Penrith Panthers.

All four games will be played on Saturday, 1 March.

This will be the second year when Vegas hosts action from the NRL after Brisbane Broncos, Manly Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters played there as part of the NRL's opening weekend in 2024.

"I think it's really exciting for the game that two great foundation clubs get to play over there in the States," Warrington head coach Sam Burgess told 成人论坛 Sport.

"We saw the NRL get over there and play two games at the beginning of the year, and it was hugely successful.

"A lot of English fans went over there to watch those games, so it will be amazing to see some Super League action.

"We're looking forward to it, it'll be a great week, and the team are certainly excited about that."

England women's captain Jodie Cunningham added: "I think it鈥檚 fantastic that the NRL have recognised the importance of the women鈥檚 game in this way.

"We all watched the NRL games in Vegas at the start of this season, and it was so exciting to see the impact they made."

English rugby league goes from The Den to Las Vegas - Analysis

成人论坛 Sport's rugby league reporter Matt Newsum

England women, Wigan and Warrington have a unique opportunity to showcase the British game as part of this link up with the elite Australian National Rugby League - with games played in Las Vegas on 1 March 2025.

English rugby league fans impressed the NRL powerbrokers with their level of attendance, and the work of Wigan chief executive Kris Radlinski firstly and Warrington counterpart Karl Fitzpatrick cemented the Super League's input.

The games promise much as a chance to sell the game to a new American audience as well as impressing the level of talent over here on an oft-sceptical Australian market.

The fact that the NRL has brought the games on board as a partner and sees the value is a fillip for the British game, and there will be financial benefits through ticket sales.

Super League has been played at venues as diverse as Barcelona's Nou Camp, Tynecastle in Edinburgh and Millwall's The Den, while these two teams, Wigan and Warrington, did meet stateside in Milwaukee back in 1989.

However, none of those plans were as ambitious as this, and there is a financial risk behind it, as both parties admit, but the opportunity for rewards in terms of exposure and a chance to shine outweighs any of the concerns.

It is a venture that has already got people talking, and for that alone, the rugby league in this country will feel it is already proving its worth.