Japan??

[Gobsmacked]

I know, it's crazy talk right?
But it might be a fun discussion!
RU have laid all this foundation and there's a successful Union comp there to some degree
Union tried the sun wolves there in SR to my knowledge. But Union isn't really everyone's bag and the Japanese aren't built for it.. League on the other hand may just be a bridge not too far.

It's a 9 hour flight but a favourable time zone.

We're looking at adding it to our season opening with Vegas. What if it's an overwhelming success?
What if it's just their thing like Baseball became a hit?
NRL 2026, Andrew Abdo, expansion, Rugby League Las Vegas | NRL.com https://share.google/AkRhOgh47YYpKgTHA

 

[Diesel]

Time zone is a tick
Season kick off in a winter environment- tick
Popular location for Aus/NZ fans

 

[Pippen94]

If Nrl wants to run pacific (which they have strong argument now anyway) then Japan should be target.

 

[i0Nic]

Tokyo Tsunami, Osaka Ronin and Nagano Frost have a ring to it

 

[i0Nic]

Nrl expansion fan fiction pacific competition:

- Southern cross conference
Brisbane Broncos
North Queensland Cowboys
Gold Coast Titans
Dolphins
Canberra Raiders
Melbourne Storm

- Tasman conference
Sydney Roosters
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Parramatta Eels
Penrith Panthers
New Zealand Warriors
Christchurch Orcas

- Pacific Islands conference
Papua New Guinea Hunters
Fiji Drua
Cronulla Sharks
Canterbury Bulldogs
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
St George Illawarra Dragons

- Pacific Rim conference
Perth Bears
Tokyo Raijin
Osaka Oni
Hawaii Aliʻi
Wests Tigers
Newcastle Knights

With two more divisions in Europe:

- Northern Crown conference
Wigan Warriors
St Helens
Leeds Rhinos
Warrington Wolves
Hull KR
Hull FC

- Continental conference
Catalans Dragons
Toulouse Olympique
London broncos
Toronto Wolfpack or Berlin Bears
Paris Citadels
Cardiff Red

 

[Gobsmacked]

I was expecting a lot more push back lol

 

[i0Nic]

Nrl expansion fan fiction pacific competition:

- Southern cross conference
Brisbane Broncos
North Queensland Cowboys
Gold Coast Titans
Dolphins
Canberra Raiders
Melbourne Storm

- Tasman conference
Sydney Roosters
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Parramatta Eels
Penrith Panthers
New Zealand Warriors
Christchurch Orcas

- Pacific Islands conference
Papua New Guinea Hunters
Fiji Drua
Cronulla Sharks
Canterbury Bulldogs
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
St George Illawarra Dragons

- Pacific Rim conference
Perth Bears
Tokyo Raijin
Osaka Oni
Hawaii Aliʻi
Wests Tigers
Newcastle Knights

With two more divisions in Europe:

- Northern Crown conference
Wigan Warriors
St Helens
Leeds Rhinos
Warrington Wolves
Hull KR
Hull FC

- Continental conference
Catalans Dragons
Toulouse Olympique
London broncos
Toronto Wolfpack or Berlin Bears
Paris Citadels
Cardiff Red

22 regular season games for each team
- 10 vs conference teams (playing everyone in your conference twice)
- 6 vs other teams in your division (pacific vs Europe division)
- 4 vs other teams in the opposite division
- 2 vs wildcard opponents for global rounds and other showcase games, like magic rounds, etc

finals (top 14)
- top 2 teams from each pacific division conference qualify (8 teams)
- top 1 team from each Europe division conference qualify (2 teams)
- next best 4 qualify regardless of conference

finals format: nfl style
- week 1 eliminations
- week 2 quarter finals
- week 3 semi finals
- week 4 prelims
- grand final: rotating grand final location between major cities in Australia, nz, UK, USA, Japan and France

 

[Wb1234]

f**kishima meltdowns

And nah the union game there is a corporate plaything there without which it goes bust

Focus on png nz and Perth then maybe Fiji

 

[Diesel]

Nrl expansion fan fiction pacific competition:

- Southern cross conference
Brisbane Broncos
North Queensland Cowboys
Gold Coast Titans
Dolphins
Canberra Raiders
Melbourne Storm

- Tasman conference
Sydney Roosters
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Parramatta Eels
Penrith Panthers
New Zealand Warriors
Christchurch Orcas

- Pacific Islands conference
Papua New Guinea Hunters
Fiji Drua
Cronulla Sharks
Canterbury Bulldogs
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
St George Illawarra Dragons

- Pacific Rim conference
Perth Bears
Tokyo Raijin
Osaka Oni
Hawaii Aliʻi
Wests Tigers
Newcastle Knights

With two more divisions in Europe:

- Northern Crown conference
Wigan Warriors
St Helens
Leeds Rhinos
Warrington Wolves
Hull KR
Hull FC

- Continental conference
Catalans Dragons
Toulouse Olympique
London broncos
Toronto Wolfpack or Berlin Bears
Paris Citadels
Cardiff Red

This could work but it’d be 2-3 different competitions.

OCEANIA (NZ/Aust)
EUROPE (Europe and eastern Americas)
PACIFIC (Japan and western Americas)
Or AMERICAS - US/Canada

Americas/Pacific would have to be a tier 2 competition, so would need plenty of investment

 

[marlins2.0]

Does Max Mannix still have the rights following the Super League war that tore Japanese Rugby League apart?

 

[Steel Saints]

Actually Japan isn't be crazy talk. If anything, it makes more sense once you analyze it.

As others have said, timezone is very favourable. Popular tourist destination, rugby union is played there, so it does tick a few boxes. And depending where you live, a nine hour flight to Japan.

What the NRL could do is take a couple of games to Japan as part of Global Round. If there is interest, then help establish a domestic comp. If the comp is gaining traction, then maybe expand to Japan with two NRL clubs.

The Japanese could have two or three home game blocks before traveling away to two or three games in Aus, NZ and PNG. And in reverse, teams go to Japan and play two games.

Of course, this will take years, but it is worthwhile having a thought about Japan and rugby league.. A few may think it's far fetched. Or maybe not.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Actually Japan isn't be crazy talk. If anything, it makes more sense once you analyze it.

As others have said, timezone is very favourable. Popular tourist destination, rugby union is played there, so it does tick a few boxes. And depending where you live, a nine hour flight to Japan.

What the NRL could do is take a couple of games to Japan as part of Global Round. If there is interest, then help establish a domestic comp. If the comp is gaining traction, then maybe expand to Japan with two NRL clubs.

The Japanese could have two or three home game blocks before traveling away to two or three games in Aus, NZ and PNG. And in reverse, teams go to Japan and play two games.

Of course, this will take years, but it is worthwhile having a thought about Japan and rugby league.. A few may think it's far fetched. Or maybe not.

I think Vegas has opened up the possibility of global round, global round starts making Japan not seem too far fetched.
You play a double header in Japan to start our season, if it's successful, fund a national comp in Japan akin to a Q cup level ( semi pro) then an NRL team..
It might take 20 years but if it were to happen, that's probably the best path.

Toronto wolfpack actually went down the path of a national team recognition, funding ect, playing games against USA and Jamaica before the bold ambitions of the Wolfpack came about. So
USA playing in Vegas is part of the week.. Japan should be fielding a team to open their global round.

 

[Perth Red]

I mean if you could find someone witha spare $150mil to blow then yeh Japan would def be a goer! Might be a start to get it on tv there first and see if anyone’s interested?

maybe someone can convince Albo that chinas a threat in Japan and the Aussie govt needs stronger ties with them?

 

[Gobsmacked]

I mean if you could find someone witha spare $150mil to blow then yeh Japan would def be a goer! Might be a start to get it on tv there first and see if anyone’s interested?

maybe someone can convince Albo that chinas a threat in Japan and the Aussie govt needs stronger ties with them?

Stop being a negative pom for 2 minutes.

You were totally apposed to Vegas, said it'll never happen.. now you're organizing a pub crawl to the game lol

Looking forward to your posts from Japan next!

 

[BuffaloRules]

I mean if you could find someone witha spare $150mil to blow then yeh Japan would def be a goer! Might be a start to get it on tv there first and see if anyone’s interested?

maybe someone can convince Albo that chinas a threat in Japan and the Aussie govt needs stronger ties with them?

if there was ever a Japanese team in the NRL, we should follow the lead of the Super League and only fund half their grant … they will be doing nothing for the local TV deal !

 

[Perth Red]

if there was ever a Japanese team in the NRL, we should follow the lead of the Super League and only fund half their grant … they will be doing nothing for the local TV deal !

You think png would be in if it wasn’t for Albo? Lol.
Oh yeh ch9 and fox will be falling over themselves to pay more for an nrl with a Japanese team in it. Cuckoo cuckoo

 

[SirPies&Beers]

You think png would be in if it wasn’t for Albo? Lol.
Oh yeh ch9 and fox will be falling over themselves to pay more for an nrl with a Japanese team in it. Cuckoo cuckoo

same japan that already understands rugby and therefore wouldnt be difficult to translate to rugby league?
Same japan with a population of 123mil?

is every take you have purposely shit?

 

[Matiunz]

Worth noting the Japanese clubs basically killed off the Sunwolves in Super Rugby to protect their own interests- they’d likely do the same to any league team looking to set up.
Vegas style exhibition game though is a good shout

 

[Perth Red]

same japan that already understands rugby and therefore wouldnt be difficult to translate to rugby league?
Same japan with a population of 123mil?

is every take you have purposely shit?

Yeh you’re right, they’re just crying out for an nrl club lol
the delusional on here match anything an afl fan in China can come up with!

 

[flippikat]

- Tasman conference
Sydney Roosters
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Parramatta Eels
Penrith Panthers
New Zealand Warriors
Christchurch Orcas

If we're thinking of conferences or divisions of 6 teams, in the long run...

* NZ Warriors (Auckland)
* Christchurch
* Wellington
* Hamilton
* Fiji
* Tokyo

I was tempted to put PNG in there instead of Tokyo but I think a potential rivalry between the Cowboys & PNG Chiefs is too good to break up.