BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Exclusive: Canada have been brushed from the sport’s big week in Las Vegas next month after falling out with USA Rugby League (USARL), with a planned match against Greece canned.
Canada played the USA Hawks in Las Vegas last year, as part of the first year of the NRL’s five-year push into the Nevada capital, and had been in talks to return and face Greece stateside this year.
But the game has been inexplicably scuppered by the USARL in a move that’s left the Wolverines furious and Canada Rugby League Association (CRLA) allegedly thousands of dollars out of pocket for flights and accomodation.
rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads understands the USARL disinvited Canada from playing the Greeks in Las Vegas, have stopped a Canadian Under-19s team playing an American Under-19s side in the city, and may not even allow a Canadian team to feature in the NRL Nines tournament that will take place in the two days before the quadruple-header at Allegiant Stadium on March 1.
Instead, the Americans and Greeks will now face off in a men’s international at Silver Bowl Park on February 26, and the two countries will then bizarrely again play in both men’s and women’s Tests at the same venue on February 28 – just two days later.
The USARL, International Rugby League (IRL) and Greek Rugby League Federation have all been approached for comment.
CRLA president John Cameron declined to comment, saying simply in a statement: “We’re disappointed that we weren’t able for something to work out to get the opportunity for our men to get more experience playing a variety of teams”.
However, sources who spoke to rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads on the condition of anonymity, have described the situation as “ridiculous” and “frustrating”.
It is believed the CRLA were not even notified by the USARL of its stance, with confirmation coming from the IRL, and have been ignored by the American governing body.
rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads understands Greece, bankrolled by Sydney Roosters owner Nick Politis, were keen to play Canada in Las Vegas and the match had the support of the NRL.
But the European nation has been pressured to pull out, with Canada’s plan to play Greece in Nevada believed to have upset the USARL, who claimed that the game was “too much rugby league for the week”, and another claim that “the second game would be too close to the first game for player welfare”.
One source said: “USA rugby league is still riven with infighting and dissent. Crucial matches cancelled, coaches resigning, people not speaking to each other, and so on.”
Another source admitted: “It’s been a shitshow.”
It is believed a formal complaint over the situation has been lodged with the IRL.
Over the past two years the IRL has tried to initiate reform in the United States, to improve the governance of the sport in the country.
In 2024 a number of changes were made to the USARL, including the appointment of new independent directors and a new chairman.
