By early 2011, if negotiations work out as expected, the sport of rugby league will receive a major boost in reception in the United States, with the inauguration of the National Rugby League USA. The league hopes to become the single entity league when it comes to American rugby.
The proposed mechanics of the league will be more than just about what happens on the playing field. Participating rugby league club owners are expected to invest in a financial stake in the league itself, and not just their respective teams.
Many aspects of the league such as stadium rental and player compensation will be handled centrally. The league and its rugby league club operators have agreed to work together to spread best practices throughout the National Rugby League USA.
Each rugby league club that will participate in the National Rugby League USA will have a twenty-two man playing roster made up of professional players taken from open tryouts. The commissioner of the league, David Niu, has suggested that teams would attempt to lure over a few big name players from the international scene, even going as far as recruiting players who have been superstars in other Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
Originally it had been planned for the regular season to be 14, with each rugby league club hosting seven home games and playing in seven away games. In January 2010 however it was revealed that a different type schedule format would be employed. For six weeks, the clubs would move to a new city where they would play a whole round of fixtures at a single venue. It was confirmed that the league will kick off in early 2011. The league plans to begin promotional activities in July 2010.
