The NRL's ambitions to expand its international footprint are set to become a reality, with ARLC chairman and interim NRL Executive Chairman Peter V'landys confirming a Global Round will "definitely" take place from 2028.
The NRL has been exploring the possibility of taking multiple matches overseas as part of a dedicated Global Round, with Hong Kong, Japan and England all emerging as potential destinations.
While the NRL's current five-year agreement with the Nevada Government is set to expire in 2028, V'landys has made it clear that the league remains committed to maintaining an American presence beyond the existing deal.
“Global Round will definitely be going ahead in 2028, no doubt about that,” V'landys told the Daily Telegraph.
“We'll still be doing Vegas, and we'll look at two other games (for Global Round).
England remains an option, with the NRL keen to utilise Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although the league must wait for the English Premier League draw before finalising its plans.
“But the two regions definitely on our list are Hong Kong and Japan.
“We'll know in the next few weeks if it's 2027, but we're running out of time because we had to sort out the broadcast deal, which took all our time.
“But now we'll be putting our focus into making this happen.
“Now we've got the funds to be able to do a Global Round.”
The Daily Telegraph has also revealed that South Sydney have expressed interest in travelling to Hong Kong, while the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos could potentially feature in a Global Round fixture in Tokyo.
The NRL is now set to dedicate personnel to turning the long-held concept into reality.
“We're going to put people full-time on this (Global Round project) now, within the NRL,” V'landys said.
The league's international ambitions come as the NRL also explores the possibility of operating its own aircraft to help clubs manage the increasing demands of long-haul travel.
The proposal was initially raised by North Queensland Cowboys chairman Lewis Ramsay, whose club travels more than 50,000 kilometres every season, around three times more than the Brisbane Broncos.
“Yes, we're looking into a plane, and it will help us with all the long-haul travel,” V'landys told The Daily Telegraph.
“Lewis Ramsay raised it with me a long time ago, and we're looking into it. It's a business case, and we think at the moment the business case is stacking up.
“Looking at the cost, it won't be that much more than flying commercially.
The NRL is not considering purchasing an aircraft outright, with V'landys instead indicating a lease or rental arrangement.
“It's important to spell out, we're not looking at a purchase as such, because that's very expensive; it's more a lease or rental.
“By selling seats on the plane, that will help fund the plane as well.
“It's a worthwhile move, but we'd have to do it in a way where we schedule it with the draw.
“The draw will have to fit in with when the plane is being used, so there's still a lot of work to be done on this.”
The aircraft under consideration would seat between 120 and 200 people, potentially providing clubs, players and supporters with an alternative to commercial flights for lengthy journeys.
V'landys' recent visit to Perth for the inaugural Perth Bears jersey launch has further fuelled the motivation to secure an aircraft, with the Bears set to enter the competition in 2027.
The addition of the PNG Chiefs in 2028 would further increase the potential benefits of an NRL-leased aircraft.
With the NRL preparing for an expanded competition and a Global Round now firmly on the agenda, the league's push beyond Australia is gathering momentum.
