How Wigan and Warrington took Super League to Vegas

Ambitious approach led the way to a historic Sin City debut as Warriors face Wolves in Nevada,

- Ross Heppenstall

From Wycombe to Wollongong, Super League has been played in some far-flung places since the competition’s formation in 1996. Today, here in Las Vegas, it will break new ground with its first game on American soil as Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves face off at the 65,000 capacity Allegiant Stadium.

It feels remarkable. Certainly walking up Vegas’s famous Strip these past few days, with thousands of rugby league fans from both sides of the world mixing happily, has been some sight. On Wednesday, the launch event at the Red Tail Sports Bar at Resorts World got a little rowdy when Wigan fans booed their former favourite George Williams when he was introduced on stage.

Why? Because he now plays for rivals Warrington, the team Wigan face in today’s historic clash and chose to sign for, rather than rejoin his hometown club, after a stint in the NRL. This might be Las Vegas, but parochial rivalries will not be forgotten. Indeed, the Australian and Kiwi fans and media seemed rather taken aback by the strength of the English passion.

Still, it was all in a good cause. On Thursday evening, huge crowds packed out Fremont Street for a fan festival where players from all eight teams arrived via a red carpet to a deafening reception. When the action gets underway at the Allegiant Stadium today, the fervour, the colour and carnival atmosphere that has been building all week here will reach a climax.

Champions Wigan, owned by the billionaire Mike Danson, decided to take their “home” round-three fixture against the Wolves to Sin City and join an NRL-hosted party that began last year. In March 2024, an inaugural double header saw Manly Sea Eagles take on South Sydney Rabbitohs and Brisbane Broncos face Sydney Roosters.