The NRL’s bold push into the English Super League is reaching a turning point, with officials set to decide whether to pursue a major stake in the competition or walk away from the deal entirely.
Senior NRL executives will meet with Super League clubs and competition bosses in London on Tuesday morning (Tuesday night AEDT) to discuss the future of the proposed partnership, a move that could reshape the global rugby league landscape.
The talks follow months of negotiations that began in Las Vegas during the 2025 NRL season opener, where Australian officials met with Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors owners Simon Moran and Mike Danson.
The two English powerbrokers have been leading discussions about the potential for the NRL to take a controlling interest in the competition.
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The Sydney Morning Herald revealed earlier this year that the NRL has been considering a proposal to purchase a 33 per cent stake in the Super League, but only if it gains administrative control of the competition from 2028.
The plan is part of a long-term strategy by Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo to expand rugby league’s international footprint and strengthen the sport’s commercial value.
However, English clubs remain divided. While leading teams such as St Helens, Wigan, Warrington, Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC, and Hull KR are open to the idea, others are reluctant to cede control to the NRL without a significant financial investment.
The NRL has signalled that it won’t force its way into the partnership. Sources suggest that self-interest among clubs could derail any agreement, as a unanimous vote would be required to approve the sale.
Some English clubs also fear that NRL influence could lead to major structural changes, including a possible reduction of the Super League from 14 teams to just 10, putting smaller clubs at risk of exclusion.
Despite these concerns, V’landys and Abdo have continued talks out of respect for Moran and Danson, who believe an NRL-led model would bring renewed credibility and commercial strength to rugby league in the United Kingdom and Europe.
If the NRL were to acquire a Super League stake, it would position the Australian competition as a truly international broadcast product ahead of upcoming media rights negotiations.
The deal could also boost cross-hemisphere events such as global rounds or multi-game double-headers staged in major cities like London, Paris, or New York.
The NRL’s enthusiasm for international expansion has also been fuelled by the record-breaking Ashes series ticket sales in England, with sellouts at Everton Stadium, Headingley, and Wembley Stadium, marking new highs for rugby league attendance in the UK.
Tuesday’s London meeting will also include representatives from the Rugby Football League (RFL) and IMG, which entered a 12-year strategic partnership with the Super League in 2022 to grow the sport’s profile and revenue.
IMG executives met privately with V’landys and Abdo on Monday ahead of the main session discussions that could influence the NRL’s final decision on whether to proceed or withdraw.
If a deal is struck, it would mark the most significant international collaboration in rugby league history. If not, it could see the NRL refocus its global ambitions elsewhere and potentially in North America or the Pacific.