The Sydney Roosters have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the NRL internationally by entering a landmark strategic partnership with the USA Rugby League (USARL) as their Game Development Partner for at least the next three years.
The partnership aims to enhance the development of rugby league in the United States through various initiatives, as outlined in the official announcement from the club:
– The naming rights sponsorship for the establishment of the Roosters West Coast Rugby League Academy, which aims to identify and develop talented youth rugby league players across the United States, providing elite coaching and training opportunities.
– A major sponsorship deal with the USA National Elite Youth representative team, featuring the Roosters West Coast Academy logo on the front of the team jerseys.
– The Sydney Roosters will be the back-of-shorts partner for the Men’s and Women’s USA National Hawks teams. Additionally, they will be the referee sponsor for the USARL domestic competition, with the Roosters logo appearing on national team shorts and referee shirts. In the second year of the partnership, the Roosters logo will also appear on every football used for training and matches across domestic competitions.
– Annual funding will be allocated to a Club Development Fund, enabling clubs from the four conferences (Pacific Coast Rugby League (PCRL), Utah, Rugby League United, and Florida Rugby League) to apply for funding to support the growth of rugby league awareness and participation in their regions.
“We are extremely excited to partner with USA Rugby League,” said Sydney Roosters CEO Joe Kelly. “This landmark agreement presents a unique opportunity to expand the reach of rugby league and share our expertise in game development with a passionate and growing rugby community in the United States. We believe this partnership will have a significant impact on the growth of the sport internationally, and we are incredibly optimistic about the opportunities to uncover future rugby league talent in the US.”
USARL Chair Matt Goschnick expressed hope that the investment from the Sydney Roosters will stimulate the future growth of rugby league in the United States.
“This is an exciting day and marks a significant milestone for rugby league in the United States with the announcement of a new partnership between the Sydney Roosters and the USARL,” said Goschnick. “This collaboration will create unprecedented opportunities for male and female athletes, establishing a clear pathway for those involved in or aspiring to join the sport.”
“Our goal is to see players from this program secure NRL contracts in the coming years,” he added.
In addition to the investment in the USARL, the Sydney Roosters will field a team in the Pacific Coast Rugby League (PCRL) conference for the 2025 season. The Los Angeles Roosters will be based between Newport and Long Beach and will be coached and managed by Emiliano Nash, an LA local who founded the LA Bandidos team in 2023, which will be rebranded as the Los Angeles Roosters.
“This announcement marks a new beginning for Rugby League in the US, especially on the West Coast,” said Ady Cooney, president of the PCRL. “Through the Roosters’ involvement in the Pacific Coast Conference, our vision is to see many more people take up the game of rugby league.”
“I truly believe there’s a lot of talent here in the US, and the fact that we will be part of this journey is a blessing,” said Nash.
The NRL has shown keen interest in expanding internationally, particularly in the United States, following increased interest in the game during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included live games broadcast on Fox Sports One to US viewers from Las Vegas, with plans to continue expanding the game in the US in the coming years.
“We now have to build the house,” said V’landys.
