The USA rugby league teams will host Greece in a men’s and women’s double-header on February 28 as part of the NRL's Las Vegas rugby league festival. This follows their end-of-year tour to South Africa, where they will play a two-game series.
The double-header will precede a quadruple-header at Allegiant Stadium on February 29, featuring a Super League premiership match between Wigan and Warrington, two NRL matches (Raiders vs. Warriors and Panthers vs. Sharks), and a women’s international between England and Australia.
USA Hawks coach Sean Rutgerson emphasised the significance of the match against Greece, highlighting its role in challenging and developing homegrown talent. “This fixture is crucial for offering valuable experiences and growth opportunities to our players, challenging them beyond the domestic environment,” said Rutgerson.
USA women’s head coach Ady Cooney expressed excitement about the upcoming match against Greece, seeing it as a valuable test for his team.
Greece men’s head coach Steve Georgallis is also looking forward to the Las Vegas event and plans to involve heritage and domestic players, including some residing in the USA. “We are planning a training run with the newly formed Los Angeles Roosters, which our main sponsor Nick Politis is also involved with,” Georgallis said.
The Hawks' tour to Pretoria includes fixtures on December 4 at Harlequins Rugby Club and December 7 at Grizzlies Rugby Club. The games will serve as trials for the inaugural 2025 World Series, a qualification event for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
SARL president Dr. Frans Erasmus and Rhinos coach Fanie Bredenhann highlighted the tour's importance for rugby league development in South Africa and the USA. “This tour is not only a historic milestone but also a crucial step in increasing awareness and development of rugby league in both South Africa and the United States,” Erasmus stated.
USARL chair Matt Goschnick emphasized the strategic importance of these fixtures for the growth of rugby league in the USA. “By fostering these opportunities, it will help challenge, develop, and grow players, teams, coaches, and support personnel,” Goschnick said.
Rutgerson, a former South Africa World Cup player, noted, “We are working hard to build out our international calendar and this is a great start. We are looking forward to finishing the year on a high note.”
(Source: International Rugby League)