National Rugby League, in partnership with National Collegiate Rugby\u2019s high performance program, has locked in the rosters for the men\u2019s and women\u2019s select side teams that will represent NCR in the Premier Division of the 2026 NRL Vegas 9s Festival.<\/p>\n
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Through a groundbreaking partnership with the National Rugby League (NRL), NCR will send two elite collegiate teams to compete on one of rugby league\u2019s most visible international stages. The Vegas 9s will place NCR student-athletes in front of NRL and NRLW officials, creating direct exposure to professional scouting and potential trial opportunities.<\/p>\n
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Often referred to as the \u201cNFL of Australia,\u201d the NRL is supported by a domestic media rights deal valued at approximately $2.2 billion AUD, underscoring the scale and competitiveness of the league and its growing investment in both the men\u2019s (NRL) and women\u2019s (NRLW) professional games.<\/p>\n
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The journey to Las Vegas began at NCR\u2019s All-Star Championships in Atlanta, where more than 600 student-athletes were evaluated against NRL and NRLW high-performance standards. From that pool, 15 women and 15 men were selected by NRL scouts to form the teams that will compete in Las Vegas. The NRL will fund team travel and develop individual recruiting profiles for each athlete.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis is an opportunity for our student-athletes to experience international play and see how they measure up on the world stage and in a new rugby format,\u201d said NCR Women\u2019s Director Alycia Washington. \u201cThey have a chance to showcase their abilities before professional scouts and take the next step in their rugby journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Director of Men\u2019s Rugby Brad Dufek added, \u201cPlayers selected for the NRL 9s were scouted directly from the January All-Stars tournament, creating a clear performance-based pathway to international competition. We\u2019re grateful to the NRL for recognizing the quality of talent within our competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
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