The Commission for Rugby League in the United States of America (USARLC) today announces a partnership between the Philippines National Rugby League (PNRL) to bring four men’s and women’s rugby league games to the United States a year for the next 3 years.
The agreement will bring the Philippines national team to the U.S. from 2023 to 2025 to play the USA All-Star team in four matches annually leading up to the 2025 Rugby World Cup. Both men’s and women’s rugby league teams will play in back-to-back matches, according to this landmark agreement. All four annual games will be held in the U.S., with additional games in the Philippines still being discussed.
“Rugby league in the U.S. is on the rise. This commitment from PNRL demonstrates the strength of the U.S. market and the growing investment and excitement that surrounds rugby league in America. It is also an important step in helping the U.S. qualify for the Rugby League World Cup in 2025, which they failed to do for this year’s Rugby League World Cup,” said Richard Fale, a spokesperson for the commission.
Head of the PNRL Reynaldo Nery, has highlighted the three main pillars of the organization’s focus for this partnership being to develop pathways, build networks and exposure, as well as inspire & lead.
“We believe by working with the Commission, we can both benefit by growing the game in the USA and the Philippines. The Commission’s invitation to play yearly games in California and Nevada will be a great addition to our calendar and will give us the opportunity to extend the PNRL presence amongst the Filipino community based in the US. We really are just at the tip of the iceberg with bigger things to come for the Philippines and Rugby League in the USA.”
Host locations and dates to be announced, first starting in mid-2023.
About the Commission for Rugby League in the United States of America
The Commission is known for three projects: USA All Stars, RL9s and Championship Rugby League. The USA All-Stars is a recreation of Mike Dimitro’s 1953 side of the same name. In a short space of time, USA National 9s has established long-term partnerships with Nevada towns, Elko, Winnemucca and Carson City, with the vision of hosting international events long into the future. Championship Rugby League will launch in the Spring of 2023, being the first Rugby League competition to schedule a season parallel to other Top Leagues in the USA, a feat which has largely been dismissed as impossible by prior organizations.
About Philippines National Rugby League
Pambansang Ragbi Liga ng Pilipinas (PNRL) is the governing body of Rugby League Football in the Philippines based in Baler, Aurora and Makati City. Its mission is to enable all Filipinos to have a healthy lifestyle through their participation in Rugby League Football and to be competitive amongst the Rugby League playing nations. The PNRL focuses on promoting, developing, and efficiently administering Rugby League in the Philippines. We are a non-profit organization and a member of the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC), and a member of the International Rugby League world governing (IF) body.
