NRL decided to take clinic to ‘rugby union club’ in Utah – report
Looking to grow their game in the United States ahead of two games in Las Vegas next year, the NRL has been called out for apparently taking a clinic to a rugby union club in Utah.
It’s been a big week for the NRL in the USA with stars Spencer Leniu, Billy Walters, Aaron Woods and Campbell Graham rubbing shoulders with sporting royalty during their promotional tour.
Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski was pictured in a Manly Sea Eagles jersey this week as rugby league looks to make its mark in the Land of the Free.
South Sydney centre Campbell Graham and Manly prop Aaron Woods were also interviewed near the sideline during Fox Sports’ half-time coverage of a Las Vegas Raiders game at Allegiant Stadium.
But aside from the successes of their tour, the NRL has ruffled some feathers with the Utah Rugby League Association threatening to boycott the two games in Vegas next year.
The URLA has said that “none of our community will come and support your games” after Roosters recruit Spencer Leniu attended a clinic at a high school in Park City, Utah.
“Disappointed with the NRL coming to Salt Lake City and running a clinic with a rugby union club,” the comment on an NRL on Nine Instagram post reads.
“Interested to know what he taught them
“We have four youth teams here in SLC that are playing in our winter 9s tournament right now but NRL rather go to a union club and not the youth rugby league teams!
“Wow none of our community will come and support your games in Vegas! Way to grow the game NRL…”
Leniu, who won three premierships with the Penrith Panthers before signing with the Roosters ahead of the 2024 NRL season, was filmed holding tackling pads during the clinic.
As part of an interview with Nine’s Danny Wilder, Leniu said that he’d “heard that this is the pinnacle of rugby league in America.” But that comment makes the apparent clinic at a rugby union club that much more baffling.
“We are really disappointed with the NRL and the huge missed opportunity here in Utah,” the URLA wrote on X.
“We are thinking of withdrawing our 13 teams that we submitted expression of interest to attend the NRL Vegas 9s tournament in March.”
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All of these media pundits always miss the obvious whenever they analyse what is ailing or assisting the game. Rugby always has contentious points for debate when picking apart individual games and finding fault with itself. All this focus and scrutiny on “speeding up the game”, “high ball in play” etc is all contextual to the fan. As a tv viewer, if you’re absorbed into a game, regardless if your team is playing or not, more ball in play time and action are all byproducts of the contest. A good contest subliminally affects your memory in selectively remembering all the good aspects. A poor contest and your brain has switched off because its a blowout and the result is never in doubt or it’s a real chore to watch and remain engaged throughout. The URC, Top 14 and English premiership are all competitions that feel like there’s real jeopardy each week. The dominance of Super rugby by NZ teams was unhealthy from a sustainable interest perspective. You can’t fault those teams or the players, but the lack of competitions won by SA and Australian teams long term was always going to test the faith and patience of die-hard and casual fans from those regions. SANZAR took their eye off the fans and fans voted with their feet and subscriptions. They were so concerned about expanding their product they forgot the golden rule about broadcasting live sport. Viewers tune in more when there’s an atmosphere and a true contest. You need to fill stadiums to create one, host unions need to do more to service ticket buyers, and this year proves the other, there’s more interest in Super rugby this year only because more games are competitive with less foregone conclusions. All these micro statistics bandied about, only interest the bean counters and trainspotters.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
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