Australian Footy Boss Extends Warm Welcome for Trump to Attend Vegas NRL Round

(L) Andrew Abdo the Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League and Peter V'landys the Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission are seen as they wait to take part in the pre-game ANZAC ceremony before the round seven NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters at Sydney Cricket Ground, on April 25, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Australian Rugby League (ARL) Commission Chair Peter V’landys has extended an invitation to U.S. President Donald Trump to attend a National Rugby League (NRL) game in Las Vegas.

The event will feature four matches between eight teams and is set to kick off at the Allegiant Stadium.

V’landys issued a video including his invitation to the American leader.

“Good morning, Mr. President, I know you watch Fox and friends, which is a great program, extremely fair and balanced,” he said.

“Mr. President, we want to introduce you to the toughest game on earth—rugby league—in the world’s sport and entertainment capital, Las Vegas.”

V’landys plays on Trump’s love of sport to further entice the president.

“We know you love physical, tough contact sports,” he said.

“There’s no sport more brutal than rugby league.

U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Feb. 9, 2025. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

“Our players don’t wear pads or helmets—the U.S. has a trade surplus with Australia, one of the rare countries. You attending will balance this out a bit.”

V’landys said he hoped to see Trump at the stadium on Saturday, March 1.

The NRL Telstra Premiership season will kick-off on American soil in the United States with the Canberra Raiders going up against the New Zealand Warriors, and the Penrith Panthers going against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

The UK’s Super League will feature with the Wigan Warriors going up against the Warrington Wolves.

A Women’s International match with the Australian Jillaroos and England’s Lionesses will also be held.

Trump is no stranger to sporting events.

He most recently attended the Daytona 500—the opening event of the popular NASCAR stock car racing series.

At the event, Trump addressed the crowd.

“From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of The Star-Spangled Banner soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength, and unyielding spirit that make America great,” he said.

“That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.”

Trump is known as a keen golfer and a regular attendee at college football games and UFC events.

The president played high school football himself, and has owned an NFL team.

He was also the first sitting president to attend the Superbowl.

Besides the footy invite, Australia is also trying to win Trump over, hoping he'll grant tariff exemptions on Aussie steel and aluminium.

The outcomes are yet to be seen.