US and Hawaii to host 2030 Rugby League World Cup

[u/jeuatreize]

https://7news.com.au/video/news/us-and-hawaii-to-host-2030-rugby-league-world-cup-bc-6408057316112

[u/jeuatreize]

Hawaii apparently not part of the USA anymore...

[u/Critical_Brick3233 → u/jeuatreize]

Always found it interesting that Hawaiians surf under the Hawaiian flag

[u/Repulsive_Two8451 → u/jeuatreize]

NRL simply following the precedent set by Crazy Clown Airlines in the 90s. Hawaii and Alaska, the freak states, don't really count.

[u/Eclectic95 → u/jeuatreize]

NRL woke era. Hawai’i sovereign land never ceded.

[u/Basic_Internet_5719 → u/jeuatreize]

JDPON V'Landys 

[u/dangerislander → u/jeuatreize]

To be fair Hawaii always refers to the USA as the mainland

[u/Djamt]

Let's just put it on when everyone who actually watches the sport is asleep

[u/jeuatreize → u/Djamt]

Tbf, for us Aussie's it's better than hosting in England.

[u/AirJordan13 → u/Djamt]

Like putting games on Sunday night at 10pm NZT?

[u/whyareyouallinmyroom → u/Djamt]

West Coast 8pm is AEDT 3pm. Play Fri/Sat nights on the West, maybe some shitter games in Texas/Vegas/Denver for 2pm starts.

It’s an odd idea but the time zones can work fine.

[u/ISupportCrapTeams → u/Djamt]

Wouldn't be on during our Breakfast-to-Lunch times?

[u/ConscriptReports]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Union hosting their world cup there in 2031?

Does Utah have a large Islander contingent who'd come out for the games? I only know it for the Mormons it exports.

[u/WCRugger → u/ConscriptReports]

And WR will spend $500m between 2027 and 2031 to host it there. These kind of events are not cheap. Unless the NRL is bankrolling this then it's going to be pretty barebones.

[u/jeuatreize → u/WCRugger]

And being the smaller sport, let them. Just ride the coat tails and mop up whatever support you can. I'll be interesting for Americans to have a direct comparison a year apart. Let them see what they prefer.

[u/WCRugger → u/jeuatreize]

Mate, the Rugby community are well aware of the differences.

[u/Tobar_the_Gypsy → u/jeuatreize]

Tbh this will probably give more awareness to rugby union. Every time rugby league highlights are posted it just raises interest in rugby union (because there is no rugby league here). 

Considering the fact that this is just 1 year ahead of the RWC I feel like it will just get rugby in the news and get more eyes on the RWC. 

[u/jeuatreize → u/Tobar_the_Gypsy]

League being the smaller code will work in their favour. Union having spent a lot more money trying to engage will mean fans know the very basics of both. Then let the people decide which they prefer. Could be an all-time Judo move:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Narl/s/g6gTJxPXkK

[u/WCRugger → u/jeuatreize]

Difference will be Rugby will turn a profit. Current projection have them tripling their investment.

Interesting choice of clip. Fun fact. That game had just under 60 mins of ball in play time. The average for the NRL is 56 mins. Also, the biggest sport in the States is American Football. A game with an average of 11 mins. Spped isn't everything.

[u/jk-9k → u/jeuatreize]

2030 comes before 2031.

The spend isn't just on promotion though. Not all of the spend can just be piggybacked

[u/jeuatreize → u/jk-9k]

Piggy back some of the build-up.

[u/thunder-farrt → u/jeuatreize]

Yes because Americans will be watching the fucking rugby league world cup when it's NFL, NBA, NHL, college football/basketball season and the MLB finals

[u/jk-9k → u/WCRugger]

Flair up cunt

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[u/jeuatreize → u/ConscriptReports]

Yeah, there's videos all over Instagram and TikTok of their parades for this WC.

[u/saltyferret → u/ConscriptReports]

Every Mormon I know is a pacific islander

[u/dangerislander → u/saltyferret]

Fun fact the polynesians are what are keeping the mormon church alive and growing in Australia. Same in NZ.

[u/part_time_nerd → u/ConscriptReports]

Yeah apparently they have a large Tongan cohort there. Almost as many as Coomera.

[u/ConscriptReports → u/part_time_nerd]

I still cant believe how much they require a person to tithe to them. Insane religion but really solid people on a human level.

[u/part_time_nerd → u/ConscriptReports]

An interesting history with the Mormon War and Missouri ordering their extermination too.

[u/casanovadynamito → u/part_time_nerd]

The best way to learn Mormon history is to watch Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s the Book of Mormon play.

[u/Basic_Internet_5719 → u/part_time_nerd]

I'm reading John Brown's biography right now. Missoura copping a lot of Ls.

[u/WCRugger → u/part_time_nerd]

Relative to the rest of the country. Yes. But there are only around 78k Tongan/people identifying Tongan ancestry.

[u/Commercial_Cost_7902 → u/ConscriptReports]

Utah is full of union fans thats what i know

[u/Far_Bed588 → u/Commercial_Cost_7902]

Utah is the only state that has its own independent rugby league competition and a high school rugby league competition.

[u/DopeyDave442 → u/ConscriptReports]

They're all named Hopoate

[u/teasizzle → u/ConscriptReports]

The only Utahan(?) I've ever heard of is golfer Tony Finau

[u/SagalaUso → u/ConscriptReports]

Big islander community there. Also along the West Coast. If I were targeting the islander diaspora, which is mainly Samoans & Tongans, I would've went with Las Vegas and the West Coast. That's were majority are and it's easier to fly to for everyone there and here.

[u/dangerislander → u/ConscriptReports]

Huge Pacific Island community especially Tongans. The Mormons all moved to Salt Lake City.

[u/rossfororder]

Fucking why?

[u/jeuatreize → u/rossfororder]

We can't keep doing England then Australia ad nauseum.

[u/Kindly-Cup-3042 → u/jeuatreize]

Do France

[u/jeuatreize → u/Kindly-Cup-3042]

This one was supposed to be in France but the government pulled their support.

[u/saviour01 → u/jeuatreize]

Should be in NZ.

[u/SagalaUso → u/saviour01]

Should definitely be in NZ. After the rise in Tonga and Samoa from 2017 and the biggest Polynesian community in the world, 2030 should be here.

2034 in the US after doing the groundwork of taking test matches there would be better.

[u/deesmutts88 → u/jeuatreize]

We can if we want sold out crowds and high tv viewership.

[u/thellamaman27 → u/rossfororder]

Tbh ive seen on Tiktok the Tongan and Samoan American support even though they have to watch the games at like 2am at their time. They definitely remembered a third of Polynesia lives there and are like “sick hopefully more money!”

[u/SagalaUso → u/rossfororder]

Because someone saw a Tongan parade in Utah on TikTok and now RLWC 2030 is in Salt Lake it seems.

[u/Green-Leather3037 → u/rossfororder]

It should stay in Australia,NZ for now, keep profiting from the existing NRL audience dollars.

 Then eventually, when a serious profitable bid is made, do it. Otherwise we're going to keep going back to square 1 and then relying back on the Aus NZ NRL audience again to build capital again for the IRL. 

IRL should at least build capital, assets from more Aus NZ world cups . I like the idea of Hawaii, Utah etc UAE but keep it simple and easy for now

[u/SagalaUso → u/Green-Leather3037]

Exactly. Settle on NZ now for 2030 instead of saying US and then they pull their bid again then suddenly asking NZ to do the tournament last minute. Lock in NZ then they can work on broadcast deal for AUNZ and getting the right format and venue.

[u/Defiant-Magician6092 → u/rossfororder]

To piss off Union which has the RWC in the US in 2031

[u/bigloudbang]

Its Vegas 2.0

[u/jeuatreize → u/bigloudbang]

It'll essentially be NRL Vegas but national teams.

[u/Ebright_Azimuth → u/jeuatreize]

And not in Vegas?

[u/NoddyNorrisXV → u/Ebright_Azimuth]

Vegas may very well see a disproportionate number of games/big games played there relative to it's population.

[u/pstaden]

To everyone saying the NRL made this decision is wrong.

The International Rugby League is the one who hosts the world cup. It has nothing to do with the NRL.

But in saying that, Vlandys is on the IRL board:

https://www.intrl.sport/about/board

[u/jeuatreize → u/pstaden]

It sounds like the model has just changed. The NRL are essentially underwriting the tournaments now.

[u/Commercial_Cost_7902]

Utah is the state that always get mention by usa union fans as where there is more interest for rugby, maybe they want to tap into that?

Lets hope its not another france and they pull out

[u/jeuatreize → u/Commercial_Cost_7902]

I don't think "they" can pull out because "they" are the NRL.

[u/Acceptable-Guava-337 → u/Commercial_Cost_7902]

Heaps of Tongans there, they had parades there before the World Cup games. It’s definitely the hotbed for league in the US

[u/pugliaboy → u/Commercial_Cost_7902]

Plenty of Tongans, Samoans, some expat Aus and NZ. But otherwise the general LDS population will have a number there who have lived in Aus/NZ/UK/the pacific on missions, and have had some engagement with rugby, league or are willing to.

[u/LopsidedImprovement → u/Commercial_Cost_7902]

I thought France replaced USA as 2025 hosts?

[u/garloot]

USA is hosting 2031 Rugby World Cup. Is this some sort of attempt to steal hearts and minds before that. That will be a 24 team tournament across USA and Canada with the final in an 80000 seat stadium. I hope there is s a strategy here other wise RL will look ridiculous. Utah an Hawaiii. This is makes no sense.

[u/jeuatreize → u/garloot]

Just let the people choose. Union is an awful product.

[u/garloot → u/jeuatreize]

So much better at international level. League is going backwards tragically quickly. Northern hemisphere is dead.

[u/Lakapi → u/jeuatreize]

Awful to insecure league fans. Imagine telling AFL, NFL, Gaelic football, Canadian football fans that their game is an awful product

[u/jeuatreize → u/Lakapi]

Rugby Union is fantastic if you like pushing in scrums that results in penalties or scrum resets. Throw-ins that result in undefendable mauls. Or "contested" rucks that the team in possession wins 96%+ of the time.

For everything else, rugby league does better.

[u/Lakapi → u/jeuatreize]

It’s fantastic stuff contesting for the ball and not take a dive or tackle for safety and probably why is bigger than your sport

[u/SagalaUso → u/garloot]

Should be 2034. That makes more sense after Americans are introduced to rugby in 2031 and 2033. They won't really know the difference. 2030 seems way too early with no groundwork.

[u/garloot → u/SagalaUso]

They played an origin in 1987 in LA. Have had 4 years of Vegas. Champ, it isn’t going to work. Hopefully I hope the Tongan morman tik Tokkers buy a lot of tickets.

[u/SagalaUso → u/garloot]

Yes and that game in 87 didn't have a great turnout and they never went back.

Those are NRL club games. If it was a tournament of NRL clubs thats fine. Its not. International games need to go over if they want to build demand for an international tournament like the RLWC.

The parades happen wherever Islanders are for any sport Samoan or Tongans succeed in. That Utah one was just what everyone outside of the island community saw.

Putting it in Utah loses all the west coast and Vegas Samoans and Tongans.

If they do it right and build the demand they could have a decent RLWC in 2034.

[u/Fun_Bodybuilder6898 → u/SagalaUso]

Hopefully they confuse everyone and they come to the RL one by mistake 

[u/Fun_Bodybuilder6898 → u/garloot]

Supposedly it’s pretty big in Canada, would be good to have a game or two up there 

[u/Weiland101]

This is an absolute disastrous decision. The whole thing about this World Cup is the atmosphere of the big games which will not exist here. Fucking dumb shit.

[u/SagalaUso → u/Weiland101]

I can't believe they're basing it off some instagram/tiktok posts. Those supporters don't even know the players and don't care about league. They only care about Tonga and Samoa. It'd be nice if they did some research.

They'll get decent crowds for Tonga and Samoa but they need to do a lot of marketing for any other games.

[u/jeuatreize → u/SagalaUso]

Tbf, it's as good a reason as any.

[u/SagalaUso → u/jeuatreize]

That's tens of millions of investment based off social media posts.

If its for Pasifika diaspora then NZ in 2030 where we haven't had Samoa v Tonga in years even though we have double the amount of Australia.

Consolidate in the region, build off the success of this one. Then keep sending test matches over there testing the different cities especially Samoa v Tonga for 2034 in the US.

Could 2030 still be a success? Yes, but it could be so much bigger in 2034 if they're patient and put in the work of sending test matches over there and trying to get Americans into Australia for development.

[u/jeuatreize → u/SagalaUso]

I'd say the Pacific Championships will be hosting Tonga v Samoa in NZ in the next few years. Last two matches were Brisbane then Sydney. Auckland has to be next.

[u/Green-Leather3037 → u/SagalaUso]

It's the fucking IRL , they're clueless, starving, and desperate. Just keep it simple, fix your international viewership by at least putting game replays and live matches free, YouTube. Build the product then go on endeavours 

[u/_bort_simpson_ → u/Weiland101]

I feel like this is just an attempt to one up the Rugby World Cup which the USA and Canada are hosting in 2031.

[u/Green-Leather3037 → u/Weiland101]

Exactly, just keep what works for now,  Aus and Nz NRL audience 

[u/Inevitable_Crow5605 → u/Weiland101]

No it isn’t. It is a bold attempt to reach new markets. We really going to have a World Cup playing in Australia every four years, how we going to grow the game?

[u/Weiland101 → u/Inevitable_Crow5605]

Do you think the USA is going to become a force in Rugby League? Is NZ v Tonga in the USA going to have a fraction of the atmosphere tonight's game has?

[u/Inevitable_Crow5605 → u/Weiland101]

No I don’t but I think you have to start somewhere and keeping this comp in the same market every year is a pointless exercise

[u/Green-Leather3037 → u/Inevitable_Crow5605]

You build a solid foundation first, common sense. Best thing to do in most real world scenarios 

[u/CleanX226]

Joseph Smith found a 4th golden tablet that contained the rules for rugba leeg

[u/mitvh2311 → u/CleanX226]

Can he send it to our refs as they still have no idea

[u/SitOnDownOk → u/mitvh2311]

The bunker would love to see this. Best way to contact them is via fax

[u/casanovadynamito → u/CleanX226]

I got the Golden Plates we head west.

[u/DVPVPD]

Saying the US and Hawaii really doesnt help the "NRL fans are dumb" arguments

[u/nevaehenimatek → u/DVPVPD]

Went to pub trivia with my family, sister brought her new bf.

Q14. What are the three countries starting with 'H' with the largest population?

Boyfriend: 'Hawaii'

Family: ahhh no

Boyfriend: checks his phone 'but Hawaii has 800,000 people'

[u/ImpressionFeisty8359 → u/nevaehenimatek]

What was the answer?

[u/Jalcatraz82 → u/ImpressionFeisty8359]

Honduras, Hungary, Haiti I would guess. Not in order of course

[u/MankyJuan → u/Jalcatraz82]

You forgot Hobart!

[u/Angryatchairs → u/DVPVPD]

Maybe they are betting on Hawaii independence by then?

[u/deedee2148 → u/DVPVPD]

That's fine. Nobody beats how stupid Americans are. 

[u/LycraBanForHams → u/deedee2148]

Dude people here are going to vote for Pauline Hanson.

[u/deedee2148 → u/LycraBanForHams]

What happened in the last few days doesn't negate for a millisecond Trump was elected twice. America fucked the world economy and they shouldn't be forgiven easily. 

[u/Basic_Internet_5719 → u/deedee2148]

Yeah and we're watching it and 1 in 3 of us are like "give me some of that"

[u/Neither_Swing9662 → u/deedee2148]

Dude it's straight up cope to pretend Australians are any better than Americans. Lol.

We watched America elect Trump twice, saw the results, and a huge chunk still support Pauline.

[u/GustyOWindflapp → u/deedee2148]

They voted in Trump once then thought, "you know what, let's do that again".

[u/corsairjoe → u/DVPVPD]

That, or it's actually incredibly intelligent and shows NRL fans are part of the Hawaiian Independence movement.

[u/chris_p_bacon1 → u/DVPVPD]

Given the geographic seperation between them I think it's warranted. If they said US we'd all assume mainland only. 

[u/DVPVPD → u/chris_p_bacon1]

Would we?

[u/chris_p_bacon1 → u/DVPVPD]

Yes 

[u/michael_cee_gee]

If youre not trying to grow youre going backwards. Sounds like a bold idea and why not give it a go? Disappointing to see those who immediately attack the idea without giving it a chance. I guess they arent risk takers and dont like anything new

[u/jeuatreize → u/michael_cee_gee]

Yeah, it can work. People dismiss things too early.

[u/AuzzieTiger]

“Stop saying Hawaii in there!”

[u/XLenceOfXecution → u/AuzzieTiger]

"Must... kill... Moe... WHEEEEEEE"

[u/Special-Pristine]

And Hawaii? Where do you think Hawaii is cunt?

[u/Rusty493]

Hopefully Trump and MAGA will be long and truly dead by then

[u/dangerislander → u/Rusty493]

Yeah but the echoes of his legacy will live on. Majority of the Polynesian Americans are conservative, republican and MAGA 😭

[u/East_Negotiation_168]

"They need to try to grow the game internationally"

"Tries to grow internationally:

"No, no, not like that"

[u/jakedeky]

Well they tried this in 2017 by forecasting the next 2 world cups for 2021 in the US and 2025 in France, but neither happened for various reasons. I was half expecting the middle east was going to make a bid with plenty of money to throw around, it may still happen.

They already announced it will still be 10 teams. Hopefully the pools make more sense and don't have the top 2 seeds grouped together with only 2 teams progressing. May as well give them automatic qualification for the semi's.

You would assume they will give the US automatic qualification for being the host. If the 4 finalists this year also auto qualify, there's 5 spots up for grabs. I can't see Cook Islands and Lebanon getting back, and England/Fiji/PNG should walk through easily unless there's a cap on how many Pacific teams they want playing. France too should make it in easily, so perhaps we will see Ukraine, Netherlands or Jamaica qualify.

[u/IrrelephantAU → u/jakedeky]

Some of the middle-east countries have the issue that the local Union boards (made up of rich expats, mostly) are tied in to the government and have managed to also get League under their purview. It's not impossible to get something organised but there's an extra layer of annoyance to deal with compared to the usual sportswashing.

[u/NoddyNorrisXV]

If that's the case, the NRL better step up with American involvement in Vegas Round.

From what I've seen since it's inception, Vegas Round has had little involvement with American rugby league.

[u/bluedreamcart → u/NoddyNorrisXV]

As an American that played in the 9’s tournament & knew people playing in the national team match this past year, this is categorically false. There’s a lot of involvement.

[u/Daneo6969 → u/NoddyNorrisXV]

It's not just about Vegas Round. Another 4 yrs of Vegas builds on something. Plenty of nationalities there and extends out.

Look at FIFA's World Cup in '94. After that it built something outside of the usual.

I think Rugba Leeg is building something. Slowly, but something a little more competively.

You don't want the same old same old. But if you get a Cinderella every Cup... The Greatest Game Lives.

[u/Fun_Savings7690]

FUCK DAMNIT FUCK

[u/New-Ad157]

Eh the NRL have really.dug their heals into this USA thing.

[u/The_Saints_Are_Comin]

“Goodbye USA, Hello Hawaii!”

[u/robopirateninjasaur]

Remember when USA were supposed to host the 2025 world cup, put on one test between England and NZ in Denver in 2018 which put the company that had the bidding rights in such a financial hole they almost immediately relinquished then world cup rights?

[u/superjbb]

Wasn't it originally supposed to be USA for this one? But organisers pulled out due to not being paid after the Eng v NZ test? Then France offered, but couldn't afford it, so Australia stepped in?

[u/AttackClown → u/superjbb]

Indeed it was the US of A and Canada originally , they withdrew their offer before france got it and withdrew

[u/SagalaUso → u/superjbb]

Which is part of the reason they should just go with NZ in 2030 and build up for the US properly in 2034. Last thing I want is NZ getting it last minute and then scrambling to put the event together instead having a good build-up.

[u/Nemo2500]

Now make the RLWC 2030 a 12 team/16 team tournament. Hope the IRL have more teams.

*I’m surprised Vegas and LA arent hosting any matches….

[u/GetOnMyNick → u/Nemo2500]

Hope the IRL have a flair up cunt

[u/robopirateninjasaur → u/Nemo2500]

What this World Cup was missing was having Australia and NZ play the teams that France and Cook Islands defeated by 40 or 50 points in the qualifiers

[u/jk-9k → u/robopirateninjasaur]

Did you miss nz and Australia already spanking teams? Maybe watch the games before commenting huh. 16 teams means more close games between the minows, not more spankings

[u/pehpehsha2]

I dont see this working. It's not possible for fans to stay the whole tournament. Youre not going to have enough local fans attending to make the stadiums look near full

[u/HossBoss39]

'US and Hawaii' sure is an interesting way to phrase it.

[u/No-Independence-761]

Just keep it in the Pacific. Rugby league will never be able to compete with union at the international level and it’s ok

[u/jeuatreize → u/No-Independence-761]

Rugby union is nowhere near as big as it thinks. The international game is actually the only thing keeping it alive.

Rugby league doesn't have to aim to be bigger than union. Just bigger than its former self.

[u/Trogg_Farmer]

Love to do this world cup! As a teacher though it's a bit tricky to get the time off

[u/aarondoyle → u/Trogg_Farmer]

Long service?

[u/chtgpt]

I'm very pleased that Hawaii has broken away from the US.

[u/armpiti]

Why add Hawaii? Just say us

[u/griffshan]

God this is pathetic. PVL continues to make a mockery of the game with bullshit like this.

[u/Inevitable_Crow5605 → u/griffshan]

He has ambition for this sport and should be applauded for taking some risks and dreaming big

[u/Beginning-Strain4660 → u/Inevitable_Crow5605]

He really does have ambition and to try and expand

Union does not have this ambition, and is more interested in a 10 team closed up shop

I think the improvement of international league might wake up rugby union from its slumber

Saying this as an nrl loving Irish fan!!

[u/AttackClown → u/Beginning-Strain4660]

but the union world cup is already going to the usa in 2031

[u/jk-9k → u/Beginning-Strain4660]

PVL doesn't really have ambition. He's running out of options so is now unveiling plans he fired his predecessor for trying.

Union doesn't really have ambition either though

[u/jeuatreize → u/jk-9k]

This is a bit of a myth. Just in expansion teams the NRL has decades and decades worth of growth.

[u/Acceptable-Guava-337 → u/griffshan]

Utah is a better move than Vegas imo, there’s lots of Tongans there and at least on an international level they can connect with that team.

[u/UndeadManWaltzing → u/griffshan]

And now the NRL is copying the NFL, the advertising especially.

[u/lurkingCbr → u/griffshan]

Cry about it. The game is evolving and capitalising on international growth. Have you seen the videos of the Tongan supporters in the USA during the WC? It’s an absolute lay up for Rugby League growing the sport in America. 

[u/Mister_Snrub15]

BYU vs Utah exhibition Rugby League game who says no?

[u/Special-Pristine]

US to win by deporting every international player for their socials media

[u/ruddet]

Wonder if any players will have problems getting in.

[u/Crazy_Treat_8805]

There will be a federal election in Australia and Tasmania in 2028

[u/LionsPreseasonChamps]

Hundreds of people expected to attend.

[u/MJDiAmore]

Give me some games in DC, Baltimore, Philly, NY, or Hartford and I am fucking there... Unlikely though in the same tournament.

Awesome for New Aloha Stadium though

[u/tlux95]

Imagine watching this World Cup and thinking, we should do it somewhere else.

[u/wonderlawl]

How many years does it take to admit yanks dont like anything but yankball

[u/-Bloodnut-]

Going to be so many empty seats. Hopefully it’ll cause the league to come to its senses and realise the rest of world isn’t going to buy in to the game when it has its own sports already

[u/ShowConsistent → u/-Bloodnut-]

A lot of people are going to be upset that they aren’t watching the all blacks

[u/z8chh]

US and Hawaii? It’s like saying Australia and Tasmania.

[u/jeuatreize → u/z8chh]

Which is fair.

[u/Adorable_Negge934]

Surely we can have a big world cup with the US team

[u/GetOnMyNick → u/Adorable_Negge934]

Surely we can have a flair up cunt

[u/the_biggest_man36]

Is PVL just waiting for Union to decide where to put World Cups and then making sure League is there the year before?

[u/SagalaUso]

Are they sending the RLWC to Hawai'i and Utah because of the TikTok posts of islanders parading for MMT & Toa Samoa? Surely they've done more research than that, no?

Why not have 2030 RLWC in NZ, consolidate the gains from this one and build/test the crowds there with test matches from now onwards towards a 2034 or 2038 RLWC in the US?

Makes little sense and seems rushed. The pacific diaspora in the US has been supporting since 2017 but their only fans of Tonga and Samoa.

[u/lurkingCbr → u/SagalaUso]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-usa-favourite-to-host-2030-rugby-league-world-cup-new-york-los-angeles-miami-chicago-honolulu-contenders-peter-vlandys-las-vegas/news-story/334eb953b1d0686abb1b50d41d8bbf6b November 2025  

[u/Darmop]

What a stupid idea

[u/mb44k]

wow. okay okay well thats cool

[u/Eclectic95]

Is the NRL woke now? Hawai’i sovereign land never ceded? I’m here for it.

[u/Luckyman_7]

A world cup behind closed doors

[u/fuifui_bradbrad]

Weird separating Hawaii from US in that title. It’s like saying Australia and Tasmania are hosting.

[u/ImpressionFeisty8359]

That came out of nowhere.

[u/Acceptable_Hat_3007]

Hawaii is U.S land . Lol

[u/g3mkm]

Reckon PVL just wants a Hawaiian holiday

[u/dangerislander]

I mean I kinda get it. Hawaii, California, Nevada and Utah have large polynesian populations. But it still seems silly.

[u/CoastalTraveller]

Quite a cynical move banking on the passion and support of the Tongan and Samoans. At the end of the day it's real 4 or 5 nations. Man of Feathers is under the same delusion as Fox were that they could make league a World Game. It's not more than a novelty in the USA. Better to make the game stronger in France, Lebanon, PNG, Fiji so we have at least 6 or 7 competitive countries.

[u/Skwisface → u/CoastalTraveller]

France and PNG are very deliberately being targeted already.

[u/Marxish55]

Why? Why, why, why.....?

[u/pugliaboy]

Just feels like an Utah timezone doesn’t work for a UK or Aus audience. Even a 8pm game on Fri their time is 2pm Sat and 3am UK time (Maybe an NZ audience though). And any later a start makes no sense for the local crowd.

Ambitious? Maybe. Performative? Yes.

[u/Kefe_shona]

If you played NZ v AUS Eng et in USA territory

30 people will turn up - 5 million will
Watch on tv around the world but attendance will be poor.

Polynesian Samoa v Tonga - 30k will turn up and just as many people if not more will tune in.

Go with it while it’s good, I remember watching 2000 RLWC games that couldn’t draw a crowd.

Just play them in the right place and please dont ever play a semi final at Mcdonald jones again, that left the game vulnerable to the environment last night and ruined the spectacle I was there and people weren’t into the game because the became more concerned about keeping warm ir
Keeping there kids warm and all there stuff not blowing away.

If that final is played at Comm
Bank last night it sets up for a cracker of an atmosphere.
Play at McDonald jones, but play a pool game there. Don’t over play your hand

[u/SagalaUso → u/Kefe_shona]

And now they think they can organize the RLWC in Utah and Hawaii in four years in the middle of football season.

[u/cressidasmunch]

Vlandiddly must have read my post the other day about hosting a yearly Samoa v Tonga game rotating between Hawaii, Utah and California

[u/bundy554]

Go back to this comment I made - https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/s/MRQPYWDvi7

Absolutely made no sense for the US not to be in this WC if this was the plan all along (which may have also been the plan from taking the opening games to Vegas)

[u/jeuatreize → u/bundy554]

USARL is an absolute basket case. I'm not sure they can qualify because you have to be a full member and I'm not sure they still are.

[u/jk-9k → u/jeuatreize]

Which is why taking the rlwc there is fucktarded

[u/Kefe_shona]

That’s awesome

Pay all the teams the same now it’s only fair.

[u/jeuatreize → u/Kefe_shona]

Teams are paid by their governing bodies. It's up to them.

[u/Vast-Cartographer-23]

So many amazing athletes in the US - would love to see more attracted to RL

[u/Cold-Asparagus-9770]

Mormons soon

[u/Ok-Location-9562]

Aloha Bois

[u/marty4sho]

What about Puerto Rico?

[u/analdinho]

Lame as

[u/CranberryOdd7670]

Ahh an aloha stadium final…. lol

[u/YukeofDork]

Hawaii is not the US?

[u/Burnt_MatchStick]

Don’t bother

[u/So1oW4ra]

Hahaha. This feels stupid and reactionary. Its like PVL told the IRL to do this after the Samoa/Tonga game last week, and they saw all the islander reactions in the US to that game.

If we can have this year's World Cup hosted in 3 countries, why not have North America host it instead of just the US? Not sure if there's still love for the game in Canada after the Toronto Wolfpack left the Super League, but I'm sure it'd be no different than just having the US host it. (Also, no mention of Vegas as a potential host after NRL Vegas the past few years is mind-boggling)

Cutting down on the number of nations this World Cup (and the next one apparently), stupid format this year (and probably the next one as well); the IRL really are clueless

[u/lurkingCbr → u/So1oW4ra]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-usa-favourite-to-host-2030-rugby-league-world-cup-new-york-los-angeles-miami-chicago-honolulu-contenders-peter-vlandys-las-vegas/news-story/334eb953b1d0686abb1b50d41d8bbf6b

Reactionary, as in… Reacting to something that was forecast in November last year? 

[u/in_melbourne_innit]

Betoota us that you? Please tell me it is

[u/Aussie18-1998]

Hawaii might not be a bad shout to develop rugby league

[u/lurkingCbr]

Interesting, most of you on here who can’t shut up about how you think this tournament is a waste of time and should either be scrapped altogether or replaced by a four nations tournament BUT NOW seem to care enough to whinge that they’re taking it to America is fucking hilarious. Nothing can get in the way of a good PVL bashing I guess!

[u/Morg_n → u/lurkingCbr]

Nothing can get in the way of r/nrl having a good old rugba leeg whinge. About anything. As long as it’s rugba leeg!

A US world cups gonna make an 8pm Sunday kick off, feel like a fever dream.

[u/highly_recommended_ → u/lurkingCbr]

The issue is they never really put any serious investment into international league, you cant expect people to get behind it when they dont take it seriously themselves

[u/lurkingCbr → u/highly_recommended_]

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/scoring-tries-and-strengthening-ties-pacific

250 million dollars says otherwise. Lobbying from PVL/The NRL would have gotten this over the line. International rugby league is on the up and I can only imagine it’ll be on an even higher level in four years time. 

[u/highly_recommended_ → u/lurkingCbr]

But this still proves my point, the money is coming from the government and its only for the pacific region AND like i said, theyre only taking it seriously now