'Globalise rugby league': Abdo outlines bold vision for international expansion

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has outlined the vision for global expansion as the league looks to build on unprecedented levels of support domestically and abroad. 

Abdo was speaking at the launch of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership, with the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge providing an iconic backdrop for what is shaping to be another record-breaking season. 

The Sydney harbour is just the start, however, with the NRL looking at playing games in some of the world's biggest cities as part of an ambitious plan to grow rugby league. 

Japan, Abu Dhabi, London and Hong Kong are among the locations under consideration to build on the success of the season-opening matches in Las Vegas.

"The game is incredibly strong, healthy and growing, and winning new fans in Australia," Abdo said at Tuesday's season launch. "The growth in New Zealand is fantastic and the Pacific continues to grow. 

"For us the opportunity is there to take regular rugby league, the NRL competition, the NRLW and State of Origin to the rest of the world. Vegas was our first big launchpad to that and now we're hard at work behind the scenes around what other venues we can take the game to. 

"This is about winning fans across the world and truly globalising rugby league. There are many aspects to it but it's incredibly exciting because we know how good our athletes are, we know how great the competition is and we know how inclusive the game is. 

"It's the greatest game for all, so to be able to take it and showcase it to new markets is strategically important for us."

The NRL has enjoyed unprecedented support in Australia and New Zealand in recent years, with crowds shattering attendance records in 2025 and an average 4.55 million people tuning in to watch Brisbane's grand final victory over Melbourne. 

The sport continues to grow in new markets, fuelled by the success of the Storm and the looming expansion to Perth when the Bears join the competition in 2027. 

The Warriors are also riding a wave of support and have become a cultural phenomenon in Auckland and across New Zealand. 

The global nature of rugby league will be on display at the end of the year, when Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea host the World Cup.

Efforts to expand rugby league around the world have been in motion for a number of years and the NRL is preparing to travel to Las Vegas for the third-straight season later this month. 

Tens of thousands of fans will descend on the US tourism destination to watch the Knights play the Cowboys and St George Illawarra take on the Bulldogs at Allegiant Stadium. UK Super League clubs Leeds and Hull KR will also face off as part of the event. 

The season opener has proved to be wildly successful since it started in 2024, with the NRL taking over the Vegas strip for a week and connecting with a new legion of fans.

There are two years left on the initial five-year contract to play games at Allegiant Stadium and Abdo is currently working through ways to complement the US growth. 

One option is to hold a Global Round that will see multiple Round 1 matches played across a variety of cities around the world. The other is to play international games throughout the season in a similar model to the NFL.

Abdo and ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on a recent trip to the US as they look to replicate the league's success in generating an international fan base. 

"There is a benefit in the kick-start that Vegas gives us as a season opening but we're not closed to [playing games] at other places in the season," Abdo said. "We need to carefully consider player workload, time zones, time of year and heat. 

"All that goes into the mix so we haven't made any decisions on exactly when it will be. 

"Starting at the front end of the season has many advantages for us, particularly around turnarounds but also the kickstart it gives us and the awareness it gives us here in Australia.

"It is something our fans have embraced and it's become somewhat of a tradition to get together to watch the opening round in Las Vegas with friends and family all around Australia and New Zealand."

While the NRL is eager to expand to new markets, officials are also focused on growing the sport in traditional strongholds. 

The league has placed considerable resources into supporting the game in the UK and France, with the Kangaroos travelling to England for a record-breaking Ashes series last year.

Playing games in the UK provides a chance to cross-promote the Super League in a highly competitive sporting market.

Other factors will also come into consideration, such as time zones, expat communities and opportunities to connect with new fan bases. 

"It's about where do we think long term we can grow and acquire fans," Abdo said. "Japan is definitely interesting for us. It's a country that has a lot of rugby union players, has a big following of rugby union and we think there's an opportunity for rugby league to have a presence in Japan.

"So too Abu Dhabi, the UK remains incredibly important for us and we have lots of expats in Hong Kong so there's lots of options for us. We're hard at work looking at the business case, making sure this is viable and then the Commission will engage with the clubs and we'll have more to say in the coming months."