National Rugby League, in partnership with National Collegiate Rugby’s high performance program, has locked in the rosters for the men’s and women’s select side teams that will represent NCR in the Premier Division of the 2026 NRL Vegas 9s Festival.
Through a groundbreaking partnership with the National Rugby League (NRL), NCR will send two elite collegiate teams to compete on one of rugby league’s most visible international stages. The Vegas 9s will place NCR student-athletes in front of NRL and NRLW officials, creating direct exposure to professional scouting and potential trial opportunities.
Often referred to as the “NFL of Australia,” the NRL is supported by a domestic media rights deal valued at approximately $2.2 billion AUD, underscoring the scale and competitiveness of the league and its growing investment in both the men’s (NRL) and women’s (NRLW) professional games.
The journey to Las Vegas began at NCR’s All-Star Championships in Atlanta, where more than 600 student-athletes were evaluated against NRL and NRLW high-performance standards. From that pool, 15 women and 15 men were selected by NRL scouts to form the teams that will compete in Las Vegas. The NRL will fund team travel and develop individual recruiting profiles for each athlete.
“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,” said NCR Women’s Director Alycia Washington. “They have a chance to showcase their abilities before professional scouts and take the next step in their rugby journey.”
Director of Men’s Rugby Brad Dufek added, “Players selected for the NRL 9s were scouted directly from the January All-Stars tournament, creating a clear performance-based pathway to international competition. We’re grateful to the NRL for recognizing the quality of talent within our competitions.”
The 2026 Vegas 9s will launch a marquee Triple Header weekend, giving NCR athletes the rare chance to compete under the lights just days before the world’s best rugby league players take the field for three NRL matches at Allegiant Stadium.
Women’s 9s Roster
Men’s 9s Roster
