NRL officials have reached an agreement with the governing body for collegiate rugby union in the US to sent teams to the Vegas Nines.
National Collegiate Rugby has said it will send men’s and women’s representative teams to the third holding of the tournament, to be held at Silver Bowl Park on February 26 and 27.
Interestingly, the two teams will not be chosen by the NCR but by NRL talent scouts, who will attend a tournament in Atlanta a month earlier. There will be 15 players per team and the NRL and its sponsors will pay for them to travel to, and compete in, Las Vegas.
NCR director of Men’s Rugby, Brad Dufek said in a statement: “This partnership presents a unique opportunity for a deserving group of our membership to experience something they haven’t before.
“Regardless of variation, rugby has a way of taking people places, and we’re grateful for the work the NRL team has put in to make this possible for our student athletes.”
NCR women’s director Alycia Washington said in a statement: “This is an opportunity for our student-athletes to experience international play and see how they measure up on the world stage and in a new rugby format.
“Many of our athletes have shown their strength in collegiate and regional tournaments, now they have a chance to showcase their abilities before professional scouts and take the next step in their rugby journey.”
All colleges, regardless of whether their players make the All Star teams, would be given the opportunity to play Nines, the NCR statement also said.