USA 2026

[yakstorm]

Vegas Nines:
The Vegas Nines will look different in 2026, with both the Men's and Women's competitions set to be broken into three separate divisions. With a growing number of international teams wanting to take part, the NRL has decided to split the open age competitions into a Premier Division (designed for Elite, Rep & Semi-Pro teams) and a Community Division (for amateur teams).

In addition a College Division will also be run which is open all North American colleges.

The College division comes after the NRL formed a partnership with National College Rugby (https://www.ncr.rugby/news/ncr-open...nership-with-australias-national-rugby-league). As part of this partnership the NCR will enter an All Stars side in both the Men's and Women's Premier division. These players will be selected from the NCR All-American Championships that takes place in January.

So far for the Men's competitions, at least 15 clubs have been confirmed, whilst for the Women's, there are 12.

Men's:
Titan Industries (Queensland, Australia), Coogee-Randwick Wombats (NSW, Australia), San Diego Barracudas (California, USA), Hunslet (Yorkshire, UK), Skirlaugh Rangers (Yorkshire, UK), Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans (California, USA), United Sporting Club (Queensland, Australia), West L.A Renegades (California, USA), Wide Bay Renegades (Queensland, Australia), Atlanta Copperheads (Georgia, USA), Brooklyn Kings (New York, USA), National College Rugby All Stars (USA), LA Roosters (California, USA), Rugby Expo (USA), Boston Bears (Massachusetts, USA)

Women's:
Titan Industries (Queensland, Australia), Nesian Gummas (Queensland, Australia), San Diego Barracudas (California, USA), Scarborough Aces (Ontario, Canada), Far North Queensland Pearls (Queensland, Australia), Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans (California, USA), Garramilla Duavata (NT, Australia), Atlanta Copperheads (Georgia, USA), Hunter Hurricanes (NSW, Australia), Indigenous Mana (Queensland, Australia), National College Rugby All Stars (USA), LA Roosters (California, USA)

 

[yakstorm]

Copperheads relocate
The formerly Southwest Florida Copperheads have moved north and will be known as the Atlanta Copperheads from 2026.

The formerly Lee County based team has moved around between Leigh Acres, Naples and Cape Coral in their 8 year existence before deciding to relocate to Georgia.

It's unknown whether the Copperheads move means the Atlanta Rhinos are officially dead, with minimal signs of life from the club since last year's Vegas Nines.

 

[yakstorm]

Dead Pelicans to visit Brazil
The Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans are off to Brazil in 2026.

The club will send both it's men's & women's teams and play local club, Sao Lourenco, and the Brazilian national teams in the week long tour.

Further details of the tour are set to be announced, but the Sao Lourenco match will take place in Minas Gerais.

Sao Lourenco will also host Lancaster University in 2026.

 

[yakstorm]

USA announce new coaches for 2026
The USARL have announced new Men's, Women's & U19s coaches for 2026.

Full story is here: https://www.usarl.org/news/national-program-update/

The TLR; version is former NRL player, Adam Woolnough, will take over Sean Rutgerson as Men's national coach. Cory Paterson will be Men's assistant.

Troy Clarkson will coach the Women's Hawks and Ray Pua the Junior Hawks.

 

[yakstorm]

USA invited back to European U19s Championship
The Junior Hawks are off to France in July to take part in an expanded Euro U19s Championship.

The Junior Hawks took part in the 2024 tournament in Serbia, making history with wins over Serbia & Ukraine.

The 2016 tournament will feature 10 nations, with Norway, Greece, Wales & Ireland joining the 6 participants from 2024 (France, England, Scotland, Serbia, Ukraine, USA).

 

[yakstorm]

Vegas to host USA v Scotland triple header
The USA Hawks will face Scotland on the eve of the 2026 NRL in Vegas Triple Header.

Taking place on the Friday, the Hawks U19s, Women's & Men's team will play their Scottish equivalents in a triple header at Silverbowl Park.

The Tests will be the third time the Hawks & Bravehearts have clashed, with Scotland winning both previous clashes (2013 RLWC, 1995 ENWC)

The Scotland's men's side has already been named

Men's squad named for Las Vegas

Coach Adam Houston has selected his Scotland men's squad to face the USA Hawks in Las Vegas February 2026.The group contains a mix of youth and experience, with a blend of players from the domestic competition and SRL pathways complementing a number from the professional or semiprofessional...

www.scotlandrl.com

 

[yakstorm]

Sin City Islanders to compete at Vegas 9s
The Vegas 9s will finally have some local representation with the Sin City Islanders the latest team confirmed for the Men's Community competition.

The Islanders previously took part in the 2023 Championship Rugby League competition, playing the Provo Steelers (losing 44-40), before the competition fell apart.

Encouraging to see them back in some form and hopefully won't be their only Rugby League appearance in 2026.

 

[yakstorm]

Sarasota to join Florida Rugby League
The old USARL South (now Florida Rugby League) will welcome a new club in 2026, the Sarasota Bull Sharks.

The Bull Sharks aim to run both men's & women's teams in their inaugural season and will join Tampa Mayhem, Jacksonville Axemen, Miami Shoremen & the relocated Atlanta Copperheads in the Florida League.

Sarasota is located 80km south of Tampa on Florida's western coast.

 

[yakstorm]

Vegas schools program
Started earlier this year, the NRL will continue to send Development Officers to schools across Clark County introducing the sport.

18 schools have been visited in late 2025, with the NRL set to visit more in early 2026.

These schools have the opportunity to take part in a Gala event scheduled in the lead up to the NRL in Vegas Triple Header (32 teams have been entered so far), with hopes a schools competition can be established in the area.

Vegas students embrace rugby league as NRL wraps up community visit

Thousands of US students have received their first taste of rugby league as the NRL invests in a long-term plan to grow the sport in America.

www.nrl.com

 

[LimeRick]

Copperheads relocate
The formerly Southwest Florida Copperheads have moved north and will be known as the Atlanta Copperheads from 2026.

The formerly Lee County based team has moved around between Leigh Acres, Naples and Cape Coral in their 8 year existence before deciding to relocate to Georgia.

It's unknown whether the Copperheads move means the Atlanta Rhinos are officially dead, with minimal signs of life from the club since last year's Vegas Nines.

Excuse my ignorance, but how does an amateur or near-amateur team relocate?

Surely the players aren't moving with the team.

 

[yakstorm]

Excuse my ignorance, but how does an amateur or near-amateur team relocate?

Surely the players aren't moving with the team.

Same way as it happens in other sports, there will be some senior individuals who are relocating due to work/opportunities and they take the club with them. In this case, I know of Curtis Goddard, the CEO, who has relocated, though not sure who else has followed (though they have a lot of board members and advisors signed up for Atlanta).

In terms of players, considering the club will still play the majority of it's games in Florida, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the squad from this year stay on and will in on away trips.

 

[LimeRick]

Same way as it happens in other sports, there will be some senior individuals who are relocating due to work/opportunities and they take the club with them. In this case, I know of Curtis Goddard, the CEO, who has relocated, though not sure who else has followed (though they have a lot of board members and advisors signed up for Atlanta).

In terms of players, considering the club will still play the majority of it's games in Florida, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the squad from this year stay on and will in on away trips.

Fair enough. It just seems weird to me that the team and name goes with the one person rather than the players.

If the Rhinos are dead, would've made more sense to me to just start a new team in Atlanta rather than take away the hard work done in Florida.

 

[yakstorm]

Fair enough. It just seems weird to me that the team and name goes with the one person rather than the players.

If the Rhinos are dead, would've made more sense to me to just start a new team in Atlanta rather than take away the hard work done in Florida.

I guess in fairness to Curtis, he has worn a lot of hats at the club, being captain, coach, CEO, original founder and a significant sponsor/investor in the club since 2018. It's fair to say to arguably 'owns' the Copperhead brand.

That said, personally, I hope the Rhinos aren't dead and I hope another club can pop up in the Naples/Fort Myers part of Florida (especially now with the Bull Sharks being formed). Having two clubs in Georgia would go a long way to helping the code grow northwards, and I agree it's a shame if the last few years of work by the Copperheads goes to waste.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Sarasota to join Florida Rugby League
The old USARL South (now Florida Rugby League) will welcome a new club in 2026, the Sarasota Bull Sharks.

The Bull Sharks aim to run both men's & women's teams in their inaugural season and will join Tampa Mayhem, Jacksonville Axemen, Miami Shoremen & the relocated Atlanta Copperheads in the Florida League.

Sarasota is located 80km south of Tampa on Florida's western coast.

That southern corner is slowly growing.
I might be dreaming but it would be cool if global round does happen, including Miami and the same effort that has gone into Vegas is put into Florida with schools ect.
Would be really nice if the NRL could give the game a boost where there's green shoots.

 

[yakstorm]

That southern corner is slowly growing.
I might be dreaming but it would be cool if global round does happen, including Miami and the same effort that has gone into Vegas is put into Florida with schools ect.
Would be really nice if the NRL could give the game a boost where there's green shoots.

It would be great if that could happen. The clubs in the south east, especially the likes of Jacksonville and Tampa, would actually be able to support any school, college or community programs run by the NRL and ensure that those programs grow year on year.

As for the Florida competition, I'd really love for the region to explore resurrecting the South-East Minor League in some capacity as a way of getting back into cities like Daytona & Orlando and strengthening the some of the other regions.

 

[yakstorm]

Bluffdale City Rabbitahz to play in Vegas 9s
The Utah Rugby League affiliated club will take part in the Men's Community division for the 2026 event. Expecting the Herriman Roosters to join them, though they haven't yet been confirmed.

 

[yakstorm]

Ospreys & Immortals announce plans to play in Vegas 9s
The Ontario Immortals and Sacramento Immortals have both announced on their respective socials that they will be playing in the 2026 Vegas 9s.

Sacramento have confirmed that they'll take part in the Men's Premier division, whilst the Ospreys haven't yet confirmed, but are likely to also play in the Women's Premier division, especially with the Scarborough Aces to represent the region in the Community division.

Breakdown of teams confirmed so far for 2026 are:
USA: 18 Teams
Canada: 2 Teams
Australia: 11 Teams
UK: 2 Teams

MEN'S:
Premier Division
Titans Industry (Queensland, Australia), Hunslet (Yorkshire, UK), United Sporting Club (Queensland, Australia), Wide Bay Renegades (Queensland, Australia), Atlanta Copperheads (Georgia, USA), National Collegiate Rugby All Stars (USA), LA Roosters (California, USA), Sacramento Immortals (California, USA)

Community Division
Coogee-Randwick Wombats (NSW, Australia), San Diego Barracudas (California, USA), Skirlaugh Rangers (Yorkshire, UK), Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans (California, USA), West L.A Renegades (California, USA), Atlanta Copperheads (Georgia, USA), Brooklyn Kings (New York, USA), RugbyExpo Academy (USA), Boston Bears (Massachusetts, USA), Sin City Islanders (Nevada, USA), Bluffdale City Rabbitahz (Utah, USA)


WOMEN's
Premier Division
Titans Industry (Queensland, Australia), Nesian Gummas (Queensland, Australia), Garramilla Duavata (NT, Australia), Hunter Hurricanes (NSW, Australia), Indigenous Mana (Queensland, Australia), National Collegiate Rugby All Stars (USA), LA Roosters (California, USA), Ontario Osprey (Ontario, Canada), AusVegas Angels (Australia)

Community Division
San Diego Barracudas (California, USA), Scarborough Aces (Ontario, Canada), FNQ Pearls (Queensland, Australia), Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans (California, USA), Atlanta Copperheads (Georgia, USA)

 

[yakstorm]

USA Under 19s team named
The USA Junior Hawks squad has been named for the upcoming international against Scotland U19s and the Euro Championships in France. The squad features 15 players from Utah based West Valley Pitbulls and six from the LA Roosters in California.

Sacramento Immortals, who also ran a Junior program in 2025, were unlucky to have no representatives.

 

[yakstorm]

More teams for the Vegas 9s:
Few more teams have confirmed their intention to take part in the Vegas 9s. First off, Roots Rugby, who entered both Men's and Women's teams in 2025, have put out the call for sponsors to help them return for a third consecutive year.


Utah based, Riverton Seagulls, have confirmed via Instagram stories, that they'll be returning, though the club hasn't yet confirmed whether they'll be in the Premier or Community division/

Finally, unless I'm reading their social posts incorrectly, it looks like Srama Rugby League Recruitment is looking to enter a side as well.

 

[Gherkin]

Any update on the california competition this year?