Rugby league fans will know a certain adage. Call it what you will: an opportunity missed, a shot in the foot. You don’t need to hear the whole line again. Just know it happened again.
At this time of the year, heading into 2024, there was only one place it could happen: the United States of America – home of the NRL’s hotly-debated season opener experiment for the next five years.
Specifically, the state of Utah, where Roosters rep Spencer Leniu was sent for a coaching clinic with a local high school team during the recent promotional Vegas visit.
This fact alone would suggest a well-thought-out initiative had been launched, proving there was more to the Sin City venture than the gambling revenue factor the NRL has been much maligned for.
But there was one small problem: the team involved did not play rugby league, but another sport involving that dreaded ‘U’ word.
Once word got out that Spence had met with a rugby union team, the usual media suspects piled on and the NRL was ‘called out’, ‘under fire’, and worst of all ‘slammed’. An ‘embarrassing blunder’, 7NEWS called it. Union supporters got to lap up the controversy that came with it.
The NRL could almost be forgiven for what has transpired. Union and league footprints occupy a small part of a massive American sports market and the two have not often been distinguished – even among the nation’s league clubs, it has occasionally simply been called “rugby”. This could just be a case of the two being confused during communications and not wholly the NRL’s fault. But if just one person at Rugby League Central had googled “Utah rugby league”, then a more suitable coaching clinic partner would have been found in the Beehive State.
Meet the Utah Rugby League Association (URLA), a young organisation that has already made significant progress in establishing the game around the Salt Lake City area. It has ties with the Hopoate family, after whom its main competition is named, and its teams have also played alongside clubs in California and the south-east states.
Not only that, but a growing junior system in the state – the Utah Junior Rugby League – is the only one of its kind in the country, and was the perfect opportunity the NRL squandered to work with America’s next generation of rugby league potential.
Once alerted to where the NRL’s coaching clinic had gone, the URLA quickly took to social media to vent its frustration.
“Disappointed with the NRL coming to Salt Lake City and running a clinic with a rugby union club,” it said on Instagram. “Interested to know what he taught them.
“We have four youth teams here in SLC that are playing in our winter 9s tournament right now but NRL rather go to a union club and not the youth rugby league teams!”
Spencer Leniu speaks during the NRL Vegas Promo Tour at Allegiant Stadium. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for NRL)
On X, the URLA even threatened to withdraw 13 teams it planned to send to a Nines tournament – also part of the NRL’s Vegas bundle in 2024.
Plenty of noise was made and it quickly garnered attention – many league fans joined the outcry, although the hardline stance drew some criticism. Within days, the URLA provided another update.
“We are glad that the NRL noticed our concerns and reached out directly to URLA.
“We are both putting this behind us and moving forward working together, shoulder to shoulder to build the great game of rugby league here in Utah.”
Amends have been made and all appears to have ended well. But the fact that this unfolded in the first place is indicative of a deeper running issue in the US league scene, that has frustrated its efforts to grow: not everyone is on the same page.
It’s a situation that has gone on since 2021 at the latest. At the time, the USA Rugby League (USARL) competition was around ten teams strong, although all of them lined the eastern coast from Boston down to Tampa. Additionally, a New York team’s planned entry into the British RFL professional system was up in the air alongside Ottawa, after the Toronto Wolfpack had been kicked out of their first Super League season.
Then the North American Rugby League (NARL) burst onto the scene – a fully professional competition aimed at bringing the US game to the next level. 14 teams were announced, including the Wolfpack and other RFL hopefuls, several USARL clubs, and several more pulled out of thin air and planted in Washington, Austin, and the West Coast. It was ambitious, and 2021 proved the worst time for ambition as the reality of the ongoing pandemic – and the USARL’s disapproval – set in.
As time went on and launch date upon launch date passed with radio silence, the NARL collapsed into a shadow of its lofty ideals. Most of its new franchise attempts disappeared. Ottawa moved to Cornwall under a new identity to pursue the RFL. Other clubs withdrew over time until it was clear that the dream was over.
Since this disaster, the USARL has been forced to regroup, while other non-aligned and breakaway entities formed and tried to go their own way. The west coast “Championship Rugby League” and the Carolina Lightning are among those that popped up, earnt some fanfare, then faded into silence again.
Other clubs, however, have persisted in Cleveland and the Washington DC Cavalry, and 2023 has overall been a positive year for the American game. The Wolfpack are back on steady ground, while north-eastern clubs have launched Rugby League United. The Pacific Coast Rugby League (with whom the URLA is affiliated) reached an agreement with the USARL and the two ran a full competition with teams from the south-west and south-east corners of the US.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
To cap off the year, the USARL has also announced the election of a new board (overseen by the International Rugby League) to signify a new era in January 2024. Also confirmed are six member clubs, with more expected to join.
It’s likely no coincidence that this is happening shortly ahead of March’s NRL Vegas openers. A United States rugby league body that is undeniably united can facilitate effective communication and ensure the existing rugby league structures are properly supported.
With a five-year plan in place for the initiative, ample opportunity exists to not just make up for recent mistakes but push American rugby league in the right direction.
With the help of the local scene, the NRL could chase all kinds of success in the wild west.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Robbo repeating a lie doesn’t make it true… kids outside QLD and NSW are playing ‘soccer’ and ‘football’. That’s the situation whether you like it or not. Kids saying they play ‘AFL’ is a NSW/QLD thing – kids in other states just don’t say this…. And I too have lived in several states but now reside in Sydney – before coming to Sydney I’d never even heard a kid say they play ‘AFL’ and found it a little odd to be honest when I heard Sydney kids saying it. So yes that’s what kids in NSW and QLD say but in other states kids play football – they might refer to playing football for the school or local suburban club – no kid in these states is walking around saying they play AFL – it’d sound very odd. Kids play junior football for their school or club and if good enough they get drafted to the AFL when they’re 18 – that’s how people talk. And if you lived in those other states you know this.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
No - not correct - I live on the border of qld and nsw - I know what the kids say. I'm also glad that you speak for the whole of Australia on where any confusion lies - you really have your finger on the pulse. I have lived in all states and am well aware that 'football' is used by players of all codes although in Oz we do tend to use 'soccer' a bit more. 100% the kids are saying that they play 'NRL' or 'AFL', rather than the sports themselves. It's a generational thing. Suggest you find a new pulse for your finger
GoGWS
Roar Guru
I think the NRL should change to the National Rugby League League… that might help.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
No. If you ask a kid what they play they say ‘football’, and if you’re not living in QLD or northern NSW that is a reference to Australian Rules. Only in NSW and QLD do you have this confusion - for the rest of Australia it’s football, soccer, Rugby Union and Rugby… there is no confusion. Very simple. It’s in NSW/QLD where confusion reigns with both soccer and Rugby League keen to claim the word ‘football’ - this is genuinely a non-issue in other states.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Yep changing the name would actually help - how about Mungo-ball or handbags at 20 paces ( as a S African mate likes to call it)? If you ask the kids what sport they play, they would say 'NRL' or 'AFL' - not Rugby League or Aust Rules Football
GoGWS
Roar Guru
I don’t think there is much of a connection… the main point being made though is that Rugby League is an unfortunate name because in America, and most for the world (including Australian States other than QLD and NSW), the use of the word ‘League’ is synonymous with an association etc. So newcomers to the sport would assume the sport is ‘rugby’, and in fact even in Australia that’s what it’s commonly called if you’re not a QLD/NSW resident. Whether you like it or not the yanks will be referring to ‘rugby’ being played in Las Vegas, those that even realise the game is on.
Randy
Roar Rookie
I did, still don't get the connection
sheek
Roar Guru
Randy - read it again.
Randy
Roar Rookie
what's the Matilda's popularity have to do with Rugby League?
Ben Pobjie
Expert
It should really be the National Rugby League League.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :thumbup:
sheek
Roar Guru
Americans identify league as a competition, not an individual sport. Indeed, 3 of the 4 major sports in the US have league in their title - National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB) & National Hockey League (NHL). The other major sport is the National Basketball Association (NBA). The word association conveniently confuses the matter further, also being used to describe a competition. Americans probably think Rugby Union is simply another comp, not another sport. That's why they see no essential difference between rugby union & rugby league. To them, it probably means two different comps of the same sport. Furthermore, the US national semi-pro rugby union comp that ran from 1997-2012 was called Rugby Super League (RSL). It didn't matter to Americans that they were calling their national rugby union comp after an Australian breakaway civil war rugby league comp. Now the US national rugby union comp is known as, wait for it, Major League Rugby (MLR). Good luck to the NRL. I reckon they're wasting their time. Rugby league is more popular in Oz because it has more money & the better players than rugby union. It is also heavily promoted by media who depend on the success of the NRL for their incomes, personal & corporate. But otherwise, rugby league is no better a sport than rugby union IMHO. They are both equal in what makes them enjoyable & also duds. And the adoration received by the Matildas demonstrated how & why so many general Aussie sports fans are turned off by the self-glorifying, entitled, privileged, meatheaded, mumble bumbles of rugby league.
the outsider
Roar Rookie
I think you might be right. Its PVL first and daylight second from the sidelines.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
Why do you think they chose Vegas? Three games a year isn't going to make a real impact on participation in the sport. What it might do is get those interested in betting on it to tune in a bit more.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
You clearly have little to no actual knowledge of the playing landscape in the US when it comes to Rugby. Certainly if you think it's limited to Ivy League schools. There are over 900 College clubs registered with USARugby. The version of Rugby most Americans are familiar with is Rugby Union. There's even an professional league, Major League Rugby, broadcast on the very same network as the NRL Vegas event and a professional 7s League in Premier Rugby 7s.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I love seeing them test themselves out against the speedsters of the game
Succhi
Roar Rookie
My sister in law is from the US. Took her to a NRL game once. Her favourite part was watching the touch judges run. God help us.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
When Jerryd Hayne turned up for his first ever practice session with NFL side the SF 49ers, he was asked: "So have you played against the All Blacks?" RU's penetration of the US market (especially NZ's) is more advanced and remains a work in progress, especially given the ABs want to play Ireland in the Boston area. Having a Hollywood movie with big names like Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman also helps. The ABs also bring a sense of theatre to the occasion with their haka. RL has an opportunity to leverage off RU's work but whether they do is another matter.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
My take on the vagas games is to grow revenue from sports gambling, FA to do with growing the game in the US.
ForeverBok
Roar Rookie
I love NRL, and cannot wait for the new season to start. I`m sick of boring cricket. Bring on the NRL.