Super League’s Las Vegas 2026 selection timeline revealed amid World Club Challenge intent and other road games hint
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 5:32 pm
The Super League selection process for next year’s event in Las Vegas is expected to take place in the next couple of weeks. That’s according to Rugby League Commercial CEO Rhodri Jones, who has also hinted at the possibility of more games going on the road next season.
Wigan Warriors took on Warrington Wolves at the NRL’s Las Vegas event earlier this month with Matt Peet’s side running out convincing winners at the Allegiant Stadium. However, the event was about so much more than just a set of results, with Super League fans making a huge impact on Sin City over the course of the week.
As such, the Northern Hemisphere game has been invited back to Vegas next year, with RL Commercial asking outfits to register their interest in being part of the momentous occasion. A raft of clubs have shown an interest with Leeds Rhinos, Hull KR, St Helens, Leigh Leopards and Hull FC known to be keen, with a number of those clubs sending representatives to Nevada this time around
Clubs have been asked whether they would be willing to be the home team or the away team in Vegas with one side unfortunately having to give up a home game and that provides an added complication to the selection process.
However, Super League fans might not have to wait too long to find out whether their team will be going stateside in 2026.
“Some clubs have returned expressions and I’m just following up with a couple of clubs to determine their interest or not, which I’ll do by the end of this week,” Rhodri Jones said. “We have discussed 2026 with the NRL, they’re quite keen to make an efficient decision on 2026.
“They’re clearly doing the same piece of work with their clubs over in Australia. The selection process will be in the next couple of weeks rather than months.”
On the prospect of the World Club Challenge being held at the event next season, Jones commented: “I have spoken to the NRL about the World Club Challenge. The intention and desire in both hemispheres is that the World Club Challenge will happen next year.
“The separate question is, it in Vegas? I don’t know, but the desire from both hemispheres is that the World Club Challenge is back on next year.”
The clash in Las Vegas was the second most watched regular season Super League game of all-time, behind Hull KR vs Catalans Dragons, which was played out at the start of Covid. That clearly shows a commercial value to taking games on the road and there has been talk of Catalans Dragons marking their 20th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of Super League with a game in Paris.
However, it seems there has been discussions about more games being taken elsewhere next season.
“I don’t think Vegas will be the only on the road game next year from what I’m led to believe,” Jones added. “The Dragons for example, they’ve talked for the last two years about taking a game on the road to celebrate their anniversary next year, as an example.
“I’m also aware of one or two clubs up here talking about potential games on the road. I do think they might become more popular but the clubs have to balance between a home game and moving a home game onto the road which obviously has financial implications and challenges. I think it’s an evolving scenario.”
https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/super-le ... nt-102638/
Wigan Warriors took on Warrington Wolves at the NRL’s Las Vegas event earlier this month with Matt Peet’s side running out convincing winners at the Allegiant Stadium. However, the event was about so much more than just a set of results, with Super League fans making a huge impact on Sin City over the course of the week.
As such, the Northern Hemisphere game has been invited back to Vegas next year, with RL Commercial asking outfits to register their interest in being part of the momentous occasion. A raft of clubs have shown an interest with Leeds Rhinos, Hull KR, St Helens, Leigh Leopards and Hull FC known to be keen, with a number of those clubs sending representatives to Nevada this time around
Clubs have been asked whether they would be willing to be the home team or the away team in Vegas with one side unfortunately having to give up a home game and that provides an added complication to the selection process.
However, Super League fans might not have to wait too long to find out whether their team will be going stateside in 2026.
“Some clubs have returned expressions and I’m just following up with a couple of clubs to determine their interest or not, which I’ll do by the end of this week,” Rhodri Jones said. “We have discussed 2026 with the NRL, they’re quite keen to make an efficient decision on 2026.
“They’re clearly doing the same piece of work with their clubs over in Australia. The selection process will be in the next couple of weeks rather than months.”
On the prospect of the World Club Challenge being held at the event next season, Jones commented: “I have spoken to the NRL about the World Club Challenge. The intention and desire in both hemispheres is that the World Club Challenge will happen next year.
“The separate question is, it in Vegas? I don’t know, but the desire from both hemispheres is that the World Club Challenge is back on next year.”
The clash in Las Vegas was the second most watched regular season Super League game of all-time, behind Hull KR vs Catalans Dragons, which was played out at the start of Covid. That clearly shows a commercial value to taking games on the road and there has been talk of Catalans Dragons marking their 20th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of Super League with a game in Paris.
However, it seems there has been discussions about more games being taken elsewhere next season.
“I don’t think Vegas will be the only on the road game next year from what I’m led to believe,” Jones added. “The Dragons for example, they’ve talked for the last two years about taking a game on the road to celebrate their anniversary next year, as an example.
“I’m also aware of one or two clubs up here talking about potential games on the road. I do think they might become more popular but the clubs have to balance between a home game and moving a home game onto the road which obviously has financial implications and challenges. I think it’s an evolving scenario.”
https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/super-le ... nt-102638/