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Join our Fantasy SRP league'Defy the impossible': NRL bullish about global plan
Jasper Bruce, AAP • February 10th, 2026 4:47 pm
NRL launch | Photo: AAP
Chief executive Andrew Abdo insists it is realistic to expect the NRL can "defy the impossible" and play games across Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Japan and the UK in coming years.
On the cusp of launching the season for a third-straight year in Las Vegas, the NRL is hatching ambitious plans to take games to other overseas countries, possibly as soon as 2027.
"We've proven with Las Vegas that we're able to defy the impossible and make something that's not only economically viable but actually incredibly transformative in terms of our engagement with overseas viewers," Abdo said.
The global fixtures may not necessarily open the season in tandem with the Vegas clashes that run through at least 2028.
But as the NRL officially launched its 2026 season overlooking Sydney Harbour on Tuesday morning, Abdo acknowledged it made sense to visit other landmark cities around this time of year.
"We haven't made any decisions on exactly when it will be," Abdo said.
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"Starting at the front end of the season has many advantages for us, though, particularly around turnarounds, but also the kickstart that it gives us and the awareness that it gives us here in Australia."
Abdo likes Japan as a destination for its rugby union culture and Hong Kong for its expat community, while the UK is a natural fit given it hosts the world's only other elite professional rugby league competition.
A game in Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, could bring a significant windfall for the league.
"Any new market for years and the opportunity to win new fans is a good thing. I think eventually over the next couple of years we'll hopefully get to all of them," Abdo said.
The global plans came up when Abdo and Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'landys met with long-time NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in the US last year.
The NRL will watch with keen interest as the NFL plays nine international regular-season games next season, visiting Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain and the UK.
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers face off at the MCG for the Australian fixture.
"We're taking a close look at what the Premier League in the UK does, what the NFL does, these big, massive global competitions and how they're taking the game to new markets," Abdo said.
"We've met with the NFL, Peter and I were both fortunate enough to meet with Roger Goodell on a recent trip to the States and exchanged ideas around globalisation and ways in which we can take our game to new markets."
