The NRL are reportedly considering bringing a game to London as part of a proposed ‘global round’ in the coming years.
As reported by Michael Chammas, the NRL is considering expanding its horizons beyond Las Vegas with London one of three key destinations that could host a game in the opening round of the 2027 NRL campaign.
The NRL are tied into a deal to host games in Las Vegas for three more seasons and this reported ‘global round’ would be worked around that with other NRL games to be held in different locations across the globe on opening weekend of the competition.
London is reportedly one of those destinations and Chammas, speaking on James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast has suggested the event could be the perfect one to launch the return of London Broncos to Super League, as part of a Super League and NRL double header in the capital.
Explaining what a global round would entail,he said: “They’re trying to expand on Vegas and on that opening weekend asking ‘why are we just limiting ourselves to Vegas, why not play games at Wembley or Tottenham or the Emirates on the same weekend’.
“I know London, Dubai and Hong Kong are the preferred destinations but it will depend on how much the tourism board of those cities and countries are willing to spend.”
Could an NRL and Super League double header be held in England?
The NRL is set to return to Las Vegas for a third straight year in 2026 with deals already in place for 2027 and 2028 and Chammas explained how that can be the blueprint to sell games to other tourism boards.
He explained: “I know Las Vegas are thrilled with the money that comes in. I think it was $70 million US that was brought in through the NRL that weekend.”
As for what an NRL global round could look like in England, he said: “Can you imagine if London Broncos get into the competition, and I know they haven’t got a huge fan base, but if you tie it into 2027 with the Broncos returning to Super League and they’d also get a double header of say Brisbane Broncos v the Roosters.
“You’d get 60,000 into Tottenham and it would be unbelievable. It’s on the cards but it depends how much they can bring in financially.”
Under the premise, games would be played in different locations around the globe to make a full day’s worth of games running consecutively in the Australian time zone with Dubai potentially kicking off, then London, then America and possibly around to Hong Kong as well.
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