Roosters build on LA foundations with coaching clinic

LA Roosters players joined former NRL star Dean Widders and members of the Arthur Beetson Foundation to conduct a coaching clinic in Los Angeles that prompted many of the participants to declare they were now rugby league converts.

The players included the seven LA Roosters representatives in the USA Hawks men’s and women’s teams who will play Scotland on Friday as part of Rugby League Las Vegas 2026, headlined by the NRL’s season opening double-header at Allegiant Stadium.

Widders, Mark Beetson - a member of the Sydney Roosters coaching staff - and NSWRL Indigenous and Community Program Manager Kristian Heffernan also helped teach rugby league skills to students from Verbum Dei Jesuit High School and children from the Watts neighbourhood, along with other members of the Beetson Foundation and USARL Chairman Matt Goschnick.

The two-hour event also involved volunteers from Los Angeles Police Department, Project Blue and LA Fire Department, as well as rugby union coaches from the high school, which hosted the event – now in its second year.

Among those in attendance was LAPD Deputy Chief Ruby Flores - the first Latino Deputy Chief in the LAPD's history and a former Division 1 Collegiate athlete.

Flores is currently the Commanding Officer of the Community Safety Partnership (BSP) Bureau, whose mission is a focus on community driven policing and mentorship.

LAPD BSP Officer Melissa Ohana played an integral role in the planning of the event over the last several months, along with Sydney Roosters CEO Joe Kelly and Project Blue’s Marc Maye, who both spoke to welcome the participants before introducing Flores.

In a further display of support, the LAPD dispatched a helicopter to circle over the event.

The NRL and NSWRL donated balls for the participants, while signed Kangaroos and Jillaroos jerseys, were awarded to the Most Passionate Boy and Most Passionate Girl at the clinic, which featured fitness, passing, kicking and tackling drills.

The winner of the Rising Roosters award was also presented with an autographed Sydney Roosters jersey.

LA Roosters president Josh Brandon said many of the 100 participants had declared that they were now converted to the game of rugby league.

“In particular, they responded to the values of teamwork and having each other's back, and the parents were delighted to see a sport in which every player actually got to handle the ball,” he said.

Sydney Roosters CEO Joe Kelly said the number of participants had doubled from last year's attendance, and the Sydney Roosters and LA Roosters looked forward to a continued partnership each year with Project Blue, the LAPD, and the LAFD.

"It was a really successful event this year, building on the foundations of 2025 and many more kids came out to give rugby league a go," Kelly said.

"Also, the fact that very senior figures from the LAPD were present for the duration of the event was a clear sign this activity from the Sydney Roosters/LA Roosters is having a positive impact in the community and also to have the LAFD involved was another show of support for the event."