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NRL decided to take clinic to ‘rugby union club’ in Utah – report

NRL players Billy Walters, Aaron Woods, Campbell Graham and Spencer Leniu with former UFC fighter Forrest Griffin. Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for NRL

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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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“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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1 Comment
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Jon 486 days ago

HAHA ahh thats so sad that the antagonism between union and league even exists in a remote place like the USA.

While kids playing rugby and getting some coaching is the main takeaway you really do have the think the utah bloke is right, NRL have messed something up here. As what happens in America, the two codes probably got mixed up.

Gotta love the Aussie attitude from bringing a bunch of footy players like those 4 to mingle with NFL stars haha The NFL guys must have looked at them and thought them amateur players!

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Flankly 17 minutes ago
Late Makazole Mapimpi try earns the Sharks win away to Edinburgh

Jake White described this as the strongest Sharks lineup ever. There is no doubt that it is at least an impressive roster. They did win, which is obviously an achievement against a good Edinburgh side. However …


For much of the first half Edinburgh seemed easily able to create 2 on 1 opportunities on both wings, with the defensive wingers biting in on the inside runner and cover defence being AWOL. Conversely the Sharks showed little ability to get behind the Edinburgh defensive line, with the sole exception of a nicely-exploited Am mismatch against a second row (which led to the Fassi try).


In general the Sharks, with their full complement of Bok firepower, do not look that dangerous in attack, and while tackling was good on the whole and goal line defence was impressive at times, they were exhibiting surprising breakdowns in open play defensive structures.


Also, the Sharks continue to be inaccurate, with material impact on the scoreboard. Missing two very kickable penalties is not the way to be the best. It looked to me like the Sharks contestable kicks were not well enough executed, and were too hard to recover.


Not sure what the running attack was trying to do, but my guess is that they were trying to pull off a Harlequins-style bash-and-offload game off of 12 (Esterhuizen). That’s not a terrible idea with the personnel available, but it would require creativity and a precision on second phase that was not in evidence.


Lastly, you have to have better discipline. It’s great that the team can cope with a 13 vs 14 period (of almost 10 minutes), but smart teams a avoid cards.


Having said that it was great to see the win. I thought that Edinburgh were cynical and niggly. Always hanging around on the wrong side of the breakdown, lots of intentional obstruction, illegal dummying at the base of the ruck, etc. They played a dirty game and the ref tolerated it. Always good to see that not succeed.


Overall the “best Sharks lineup ever” scraped the win, but under-performed their Bok-laden potential. Again.

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