NRL chief Andrew Abdo says a game in the US next year and the revival of rugby league’s Ashes series for the first time in two decades will be considered as part of a push to grow the game internationally.
The ARL Commission will meet on Wednesday to discuss a range of issues including the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, club grants and the finalisation of the draw for next year. The Rugby League Players Association recently wrote to its players assuring them it “will not be pressured into agreeing to terms that are unreasonable or unsatisfactory for players” and that “it is time to genuinely start bargaining” with the NRL in attempting to strike a deal.
The clubs are also seeking more money, demanding in increase in the annual grant to a record $5 million more than the salary cap from next year. Last season, the base salary cap was $9.1 million.
Those discussions are going on while the Rugby League World Cup, run by International Rugby League [IRL], takes place in England. The NRL is set to have an even greater say on the world game, with Abdo and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys set to join IRL as directors, replacing Wayne Pearce and Peter Beattie, with commissioner Professor Megan Davis a permanent proxy.
With the announcement of next year’s NRL schedule imminent, one of the burning issues at the commission meeting will be whether to proceed with plans to take a competition game to the US for the first time. While the Rabbitohs ruled themselves out of the venture for 2023, citing a lack of time to organise the logistics, Abdo is adamant the fixture could still go ahead next year.
“We are absolutely looking at it,” Abdo said. “Growth in the game in America is real for us, we believe rugby league is the best professional sport on the planet and an opportunity to take that to a market like America is enticing for us.
Manly could be one of the teams heading over to play in the United States.
“We will be looking at that and working hard on making that happen over a long term. It’s certainly a consideration for the draw for next year.”
Manly will be one of the competing teams if the venture is given the green light, while the Roosters and Melbourne are among the leading contenders to join them.
“We’re working as quickly as we can to get into position to have that certainty and plan,” Abdo said. “It’s a long-term plan and the commission want to see it from all angles. We’re looking at the West Coast because the time zone and the weather is important, not too hot and not too cold.
‘Growth in the game in America is real for us, we believe rugby league is the best professional sport on the planet.’
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo
“We’re broadcasting back into Australia in peak time zone for our fans here is important, as is the wellbeing and turnaround for the two teams with their travel.
“All that means is we’re looking at the West Coast, but in terms of which stadiums and which city remains a work in progress.”
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has called for the traditional Ashes tours to England to recommence for the first time in more than two decades from 2024. Abdo said the proposal warranted consideration.
“The commission is right behind international football. We’ve been working with the clubs and the players recently on how that can work,” Abdo said.
“Creating a dedicated international window in October-November is critical to that – the right amount of content in the right markets.
“We want to foster what we see in the southern hemisphere a great opportunity to connect with communities across Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and PNG.
“Our focus is on how we foster rugby league in this part of the world. Obviously, we want to see rugby league thrive in the northern hemisphere, England and France and surrounding countries. A tour is a possibility and all of that is going around what the next five years looks like.”
In other news, premiership-winning Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita has opted to retire. Fifita had interest from several NRL clubs but felt his body couldn’t stand up to the rigours of another season.
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