After his Los Angeles Roosters took out the second Las Vegas Nines women’s title, coach John Strange predicted the event would grow exponentially in 2026 but stressed the importance of encouraging North American clubs.
The Roosters, a rebranded local Californian club bolstered by several players from Sydney, beat Indigenous Mana 26-12 at Silver Bowl Park, with the NRL club’s supremo Nick Politis enthusiastically joining the celebrations.
“The LA guys were putting a team into the men and the women, like they did last year - we just thought we’d help them out with some players in the boys and the girls,” Strange said.
“They’re really good athletes over here but a lot of them haven’t played rugby league.
”For them to learn the game from working and playing with these (Australian) players - it’s wonderful partnership.”
Strange describe the level of raw talent on show over two days in suburban Vegas as “amazing”.
“Eleven teams for the girls, 22 for the boys - I reckon that will double. They’re going to have to start knocked (teams) back next year because it’s so popular.”
But he said it was important the teams involved were correct for the competition and that rugby league in the US was properly nurtured.
“We wouldn’t bring a side over from Sydney Roosters that was only Sydney Roosters,” he said. “That would be pointless.
“The plan was to bring some players - male and female - and integrate them with the locals so they can all grow together.
“We want to make sure everyone is competing and enjoying themselves and not getting blown off the park.
“Hopefully myself and other coaches from Australia can come over to Los Angeles and run some clinics. There’ll be a lot of rugby union players come to those clinics but hopefully they can fall in love with rugby league.
2025 NRL Vegas Nines Day 2
"For me it's not just about growing the game in Australia or where I'm coaching, it's about growing the game in this part of the world as well."
