Rugby union is rising in the US. That’s bad news for the NRL​

[Beaussie]

The confusion between Union and League shows no signs of abating...​
​



Jessica Gardner
United States correspondent
Feb 27, 2026 – 8.50am

https://www.afr.com/world/north-america ... 26-p5o5kc​


Rugby union is rising in the US. That’s bad news for the NRL​

Hosting season openers in Las Vegas was supposed to help the NRL grab a slice of the world’s biggest sports fan and betting market. It has not been so simple.

Washington | Sports betting analyst Brett Smiley says the NRL has a steep hill to climb before cracking the United States, but it should take heart from the sports’ growth at the college and high school level.
There is just one problem. He is confusing rugby league with rugby union.


“Ah,” he says when alerted to the mix-up. “I appreciate your explanation there, because I’m not that well-versed on rugby, but I understood that there’s a couple of different types.”

This weekend, the NRL will open its season with a costly jaunt to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the third year in a row. Canterbury meets St George Illawarra and North Queensland takes on Newcastle on Sunday (AEDT) as part of a five-year deal with the Nevada Tourism Commission.

The Vegas play was the brainchild of Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys, who reckoned it would allow the NRL to crack the world’s biggest fan market and take a slice of soaring wagering volumes. But it has not been that simple.

“It’s certainly much harder than I expected it to be,” V’landys told The Australian this week.

Interviews with sports industry observers suggest three key hurdles, and the first one might sting.

Rugby union is certainly a niche proposition in the US, but it already has greater recognition than league. Major League Rugby is in its ninth season, and the USA Eagles will host the men’s World Cup in 2031 (and the women’s two years later). In the women’s game, Ilona Maher has become a breakout star with millions of social media followers, lucrative sponsorships and a muscular Barbie doll in her image.

Could the NRL’s first hurdle in the US be that it is confused with union? David Hampian, managing director of marketing consultancy Field Vision, asks for a quick primer on the difference before answering that question.

“Okay, okay, that is the version my father-in-law watches,” he says of the union games watched by the Fijian-heritage fan. “I think that your average American consumer does not know the difference right now.”

[Beaussie]

You could say this confusion is widespread in Australia too. I know many footy fans in SA and VIC who refer to Rugby League as simply Rugby. They look totally confused when it is pointed out that they are two different codes/games.

[leeroy*NRL*]

You could say this confusion is widespread in Australia too. I know many footy fans in SA and VIC who refer to Rugby League as simply Rugby. They look totally confused when it is pointed out that they are two different codes/games.

that Proves one thing, they have not really given the games ago (if there knowledge of the two Rugby Codes)
is that they think they are the same code of Rugby> that always puzzles me.


it would take 5mins sitting down and watching Union and League

to figure out they are totally different formats, these sports people are generally not fans of Union or League.
that is why they think they are the same code

[Terry]

You could say this confusion is widespread in Australia too. I know many footy fans in SA and VIC who refer to Rugby League as simply Rugby. They look totally confused when it is pointed out that they are two different codes/games.

Wow, stop the presses.........people that don't follow or know of RL or RU don't know the difference between the two!! Geeeez, who woulda known that? Oh yeah..........every sane intelligent person on the planet loololololol!!!!!!!!

Fancy being confused about something you know nothing about. Incredible. I mean I asked my neighbour if he is aware how they split the atom and the dill said he'd never heard of it. Confused as hell he was. FFS I had to explain the theory of relativity to the simpleton. Shheeeeeshh!!!

Fair dinkum beatup, put the jealousy away for the weekend pal. Enjoy the Las Vegas extravaganza and start warming up for your baton twirling and pom pom waving at the Swans next home game.

Have a great weekend pal.

[makingnrlfansgowacko]

You could say this confusion is widespread in Australia too. I know many footy fans in SA and VIC who refer to Rugby League as simply Rugby. They look totally confused when it is pointed out that they are two different codes/games.

that Proves one thing, they have not really given the games ago (if there knowledge of the two Rugby Codes)
is that they think they are the same code of Rugby> that always puzzles me.


it would take 5mins sitting down and watching Union and League

to figure out they are totally different formats, these sports people are generally not fans of Union or League.
that is why they think they are the same code

not every one obsesses over league and has little else to do in life!

in short, they are both played on similar fields and look very similar when played, similar rules aside from the obvious tackle count & a few others
its easy to mistake them for the casual viewer

[Terry]

You could say this confusion is widespread in Australia too. I know many footy fans in SA and VIC who refer to Rugby League as simply Rugby. They look totally confused when it is pointed out that they are two different codes/games.

that Proves one thing, they have not really given the games ago (if there knowledge of the two Rugby Codes)
is that they think they are the same code of Rugby> that always puzzles me.


it would take 5mins sitting down and watching Union and League

to figure out they are totally different formats, these sports people are generally not fans of Union or League.
that is why they think they are the same code

not every one obsesses over league and has little else to do in life!

in short, they are both played on similar fields and look very similar when played, similar rules aside from the obvious tackle count & a few others
its easy to mistake them for the casual viewer

Yeah, that's true makingdumbnormal. I often watch a group of drunk octogenarians falling over each other out the back of the local pub. Similar field, similar skill level, similar plays to elite level AFL. It's damn easy for the casual viewer to mistake the two.

Have a great day pal. Keep morale high.

[makingnrlfansgowacko]

that Proves one thing, they have not really given the games ago (if there knowledge of the two Rugby Codes)
is that they think they are the same code of Rugby> that always puzzles me.


it would take 5mins sitting down and watching Union and League

to figure out they are totally different formats, these sports people are generally not fans of Union or League.
that is why they think they are the same code

not every one obsesses over league and has little else to do in life!

in short, they are both played on similar fields and look very similar when played, similar rules aside from the obvious tackle count & a few others
its easy to mistake them for the casual viewer

Yeah, that's true makingdumbnormal. I often watch a group of drunk octogenarians falling over each other out the back of the local pub. Similar field, similar skill level, similar plays to elite level AFL. It's damn easy for the casual viewer to mistake the two.

Have a great day pal. Keep morale high.

To compare the skills in League to AFL is far fetched!
But to an amateur Australian rules game is still a stretch
Even a game of amateur union has far more skill’s involved than a game of professional league

[leeroy*NRL*]

not every one obsesses over league and has little else to do in life!

in short, they are both played on similar fields and look very similar when played, similar rules aside from the obvious tackle count & a few others
its easy to mistake them for the casual viewer

Yeah, that's true makingdumbnormal. I often watch a group of drunk octogenarians falling over each other out the back of the local pub. Similar field, similar skill level, similar plays to elite level AFL. It's damn easy for the casual viewer to mistake the two.

Have a great day pal. Keep morale high.

To compare the skills in League to AFL is far fetched!
But to an amateur Australian rules game is still a stretch
Even a game of amateur union has far more skill’s involved than a game of professional league

been to 100's of pubs in Sydney & Brisbane >> and all over NSW AND QLD
and all the punters did not know the difference between all these Seagulls fighting over some chips
to watching an AFL game they could not tell the difference

[makingnrlfansgowacko]

Yeah, that's true makingdumbnormal. I often watch a group of drunk octogenarians falling over each other out the back of the local pub. Similar field, similar skill level, similar plays to elite level AFL. It's damn easy for the casual viewer to mistake the two.

Have a great day pal. Keep morale high.

To compare the skills in League to AFL is far fetched!
But to an amateur Australian rules game is still a stretch
Even a game of amateur union has far more skill’s involved than a game of professional league

been to 100's of pubs in Sydney & Brisbane >> and all over NSW AND QLD
and all the punters did not know the difference between all these Seagulls fighting over some chips
to watching an AFL game they could not tell the difference

I could only imagine the level of conversation and the jealousy dribbling out of the mouth of those IQ league fans
I have yet to make it over to Queensland or spent any length of time in Sydney. The ones that make it over here West for the SOO and odd game struggle with basic banter and cannot take a joke.

Having lived in Western Europe for many years you can make enjoyable banter with fans of all sports and different countries but not so the NRL fan

[Terry]

not every one obsesses over league and has little else to do in life!

in short, they are both played on similar fields and look very similar when played, similar rules aside from the obvious tackle count & a few others
its easy to mistake them for the casual viewer

Yeah, that's true makingdumbnormal. I often watch a group of drunk octogenarians falling over each other out the back of the local pub. Similar field, similar skill level, similar plays to elite level AFL. It's damn easy for the casual viewer to mistake the two.

Have a great day pal. Keep morale high.

To compare the skills in League to AFL is far fetched!
But to an amateur Australian rules game is still a stretch
Even a game of amateur union has far more skill’s involved than a game of professional league

I wasn't comparing the skills between RL and fumbling makingstupiddumber. I was comparing it to drunken 80 year olds. And the drunken oldies come out a clear winner on skill, co-ordination and athletic ability. Fumblers ain't called fumblers for no reason pal lolllolololol.

Enjoy the stupendous Las Vegas entertainment pal keep morale high.

[Terry]

To compare the skills in League to AFL is far fetched!
But to an amateur Australian rules game is still a stretch
Even a game of amateur union has far more skill’s involved than a game of professional league

been to 100's of pubs in Sydney & Brisbane >> and all over NSW AND QLD
and all the punters did not know the difference between all these Seagulls fighting over some chips
to watching an AFL game they could not tell the difference

I could only imagine the level of conversation and the jealousy dribbling out of the mouth of those IQ league fans
I have yet to make it over to Queensland or spent any length of time in Sydney. The ones that make it over here West for the SOO and odd game struggle with basic banter and cannot take a joke.

Having lived in Western Europe for many years you can make enjoyable banter with fans of all sports and different countries but not so the NRL fan

Ummmm.......makingcrazynuts, trying to denigrate or belittle folk ain't a strong point for you pal. Exhibit A, B, C and D is every post you have made here pal. I won't embarrass you further by highlighting your deficiencies. I do however suggest you actually visit Qld and Sydney and I'm sure your IQ, manners and etiquette will improve exponentially.