National Collegiate Rugby is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the National Rugby League (NRL) that will send NCR men’s and women’s select side teams to compete in the Premier Division at the 2026 Vegas 9s Festival. The event will place top collegiate rugby athletes on one of the sport’s most visible international stages, performing in front of NRL and NRLW officials with the potential for professional scouting and trial opportunities.
This partnership creates a direct pipeline between U.S. collegiate programs and the world’s premier rugby league competition. The NRL is frequently referred to as the "NFL of Australia," dominating the sports market with a recent domestic media rights deal valued at approximately $2.2 billion AUD. This substantial financial foundation ensures a highly competitive league with established, rising salary caps for both men's (NRL) and women's (NRLW) professional players.
The journey to Vegas begins this January at NCR’s All-Star Championships in Atlanta, where more than 600 student-athletes will be evaluated against NRL and NRLW high-performance standards. NRL scouts will select 18 women and 18 men from this competitive pool, forming two teams to represent NCR in the premier division of Vegas 9s. The NRL and sponsors will fund the teams’ travel for the tournament and create player recruiting profiles for NRL scouts.
“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. “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.”
Director of Men’s Rugby, Brad Dufek added, “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.”
In addition to the All-Stars program, the partnership introduces a new College Division, allowing all collegiate programs across North America to participate in 9s rugby during one of the biggest weekends in rugby league. Whether newcomers or seasoned competitors, teams will have the chance to test themselves in a fast-paced format and showcase their athleticism to NRL coaches and talent scouts.
The college ranks remain one of the deepest rugby participation bases in the world, featuring experienced players, international students, and crossover athletes, many developing within varsity-level, high-performance environments. NCR proudly operates five national championship events each year, including the men’s and women’s national championship XVs, national 7s, and the men’s and women’s national All-Star tournaments.
The 2026 Vegas 9s will launch a marquee Triple Header weekend, offering NCR athletes a rare opportunity to compete under the lights just days before the world’s best take the field.
For more information, visit https://www.playrugbyleague.com/vegas9s.
