NCR Announces 2026 Vegas 9s Rosters

National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) has unveiled its Men's and Women's select side rosters for the Premier Division of the 2026 NRL Vegas 9s Festival, a monumental step for US collegiate rugby. This groundbreaking partnership with Australia's National Rugby League (NRL), dubbed the "NFL of Australia," will send 15 women and 15 men to compete, offering direct exposure to professional NRL and NRLW scouts for potential trials. Chosen from over 600 student-athletes evaluated at NCR’s All-Star Championships against NRL high-performance standards, these players will benefit from NRL-funded travel and individual recruiting profiles. Competing during a "Triple Header weekend" at Allegiant Stadium, days before elite NRL matches, provides a unique global platform to showcase their talent in a new rugby format, highlighted by NCR Women’s Director Alycia Washington. Ultimately, this initiative establishes a vital pathway from US college rugby to international league competition, underscoring American talent and providing fans a direct link to the professional future of US rugby stars.