Hull FC could meet St Helens in Las Vegas the season after next.
Hull FC are interested in a slice of rugby league’s Las Vegas bonanza in 2027 and are seemingly in the driving seat to play St Helens stateside the season after next. If granted, it would be the Black and Whites’ first fixture in the USA and second competitive match outside of Europe, following their Super League clash against Wigan in Wollongong back in 2018.
Of course, Super League broke new ground in Vegas this year, with Wigan meeting Warrington Wolves in Sin City back in March and Hull KR facing Leeds Rhinos next season. The consensus now is Hull and Saints are on course to be the third fixture, with the NRL’s five-year Allegiant Stadium deal running until the 2028 season.
However, the fixture isn’t signed off, with RL Commercial chief Rhodri Jones stating that the governing bodies will assess the 2027 event after the Rovers-Leeds clash in February. On that note, here’s everything we know so far.
Which Super League clubs have declared an interest to play in Las Vegas?
After Wigan met Warrington, five Super League clubs – Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leeds, and St Helens – expressed an interest to play in Vegas from 2026. However, that’s not to suggest fresh clubs could express an interest now for 2027 – especially given Super League’s expansion to 14 teams: Bradford Bulls, Toulouse Olympique, and York Knights are all joining the competition.
There is a catch, though, with a club sacrificing a home game to go to the USA. That’s something Wigan did this year – with Hull seemingly willing to follow suit. Obviously it would be then down to the club to make up the matchday revenue stateside with merchandise sales, sponsorship, exposure, and the like.
What have Hull previously said on Vegas?
Obviously to be considered, Hull have expressed an interest to play in Las Vegas – an event head coach John Cartwright has experienced before in 2024 while assistant coach at Brisbane Broncos.
“As a playing group, we’d love to do it,” Cartwright told Hull Live back in March. “But it’s got to be when it’s the right time for the club, so whenever they tell us it’s time to push the button, we’d be happy for it. It’s a great opportunity to put the club on the world stage. A lot of factors will come into it, no doubt, but from our perspective, it would be wonderful if they (club chiefs) could make it happen.”
Hull CEO Richie Myler also spoke of Vegas earlier in the year. However, he wanted Hull to improve first and earn the right to feature on the big stage – with the 2027 season understood to be a preference.
“Like a couple of clubs, we’ve thrown our hat in the ring,” he said earlier this year. “We’d love to be part of it. Everyone wants a piece of it. The experience the Wigan and Warrington players had – and you could see them walking down the (Fremont) street – is something you want to be a part of. It would be brilliant for our club.”
Where are we at with Las Vegas 2027?
Hull and St Helens both expressed interest in playing in Las Vegas and have ‘a foot in the door’ to feature in 2027, as stated by Jones to Hull Live and All Out Rugby League earlier this week. But no final decision will be made until after the 2026 event.
“It’s well documented that there were four teams we spoke to and looked at and were keen on, the other two being St Helens and Hull FC,” he said. “They’ve probably got a foot in the door for 2027. But that work will start after Vegas 2026.”
What date would Las Vegas 2027 likely be?
The event kicks off the NRL season, typically played on the first weekend of March. The 2024 event was on March 2, whereas 2025’s edition was on March 1. Next year will see the event kick off on February 28. A date for the 2027 event will be finalised next year, but it could be February 27 or March 6, depending on the launch of the NRL season.
What NRL teams could play in 2027?
After next year, there will be six NRL clubs still to play in Vegas – with Perth Bears joining the competition in 2027. The existing clubs still to play in the Nevada state are Melbourne Storm, Parramatta Eels, Wests Tigers, Gold Coast Titans, and the Dolphins. Naturally there would be one club there with an instant Hull connection: the Eels, with Peter Sterling surely making the trip. A reunion with one of Hull’s greatest ever in Sin City? Oh, go on, then.