‘Definitely going ahead’: V’landys reveals bold NRL global push and FIFA World Cup copy

NRL boss Peter V’landys has revealed the game will launch a ‘Global Round’ and take matches to Asia and Europe along with America.

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Not content with having games in only Las Vegas, the NRL will look to host matches in Hong Kong, Japan and England, likely in the 2028 season.

V’landys was keen to kick off Global Round next season but told CODE Sports that the long negotiations to finalise the record $5.3 billion broadcast rights deal have hampered that idea.

But the game’s boss is bullish about Global Round becoming a permanent fixture on the rugby league calendar as he tries to take the sport to the world.

“Global Round will definitely be going ahead in 2028, no doubt about that,” V’landys said.

“We’ll know in the next few weeks if it’s 2027, but we’re running out of time because we had to sort out the broadcast deal, which took all our time.

“But now we’ll be putting our focus into making this happen. Now we’ve got the funds to be able to do a Global Round.”

The game could also potentially be played in the Middle East with Abu Dhabi already offering $1 million to be part of Global Round, but the ongoing war in Iran may halt that dream.

The NRL is keen to host two games in 2028 in two different countries along with the premiership season-opener in Las Vegas which would be the fifth year in a row that has occurred.

The NRL said it made a $2 million profit from last year’s Las Vegas season opener and in 2028 it will be in the final year of a contract with the Nevada Government to host matches in Sin City.

V’landys wants to keep matches in America beyond 2029 and there’s even been talk about Miami hosting the season opener one day.

“We’re going to put people full-time on this (Global Round project) now, within the NRL,” V’landys said.

“Now that the broadcast deal is done, Global Round is a big-ticket item we’ll be looking at.

“England is still there as an option, although we’re a bit hampered because we’ve got to wait for the (English Premier League) soccer draw to be released because we want to play at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground.”

According to CODE Sports, South Sydney has voiced an interest in playing in Hong Kong, while the Roosters and Broncos could stage a match in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, V’landys has revealed that the NRL’s plans to buy a stake in the English Super League may not come to fruition.

V’landys told CODE Sports that the NRL was finding it “tough” to go ahead with buying the struggling league as clubs lose millions.

“We’re trying to make the figures work at the moment, but unless the figures work, we won’t do it,” he said.

“We’re having trouble making the figures work, that’s the truth of it.”

V’landys said the NRL will have further talks with Super League officials, noting the importance of the English game and the part it will play in the NRL’s world strategy.

“We understand the importance of the international game, so we’re not giving up,” he said.

The NRL is also considering playing extra games during grand final week in an effort to have more live football played in the lead up to the Sunday decider.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the NRL is considering copying the FIFA World Cup and having a playoff match for third spot between the two defeated preliminary finalists.

The game would be played a couple of days before the grand final, but the issue will be how interested players will be taking part in such a game after a long season.

Warriors CEO Cameron George suggested the NRL host the annual All Stars match between the Maori and Indigenous teams.

There is also the possibility of an under-21s match between NSW and Queensland to be played in the lead-up to the NRL decider.

V’landys wants to give footy fans more games to watch during the code’s biggest week.

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