Month: September 2016

Wests Tigers are locked in discussion with the NRL and a rival club to take a pre-season trial to Hawaii.

The match is pencilled in to take place after the Auckland Nines in February and will be played at the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium, home of the University of Hawaii’s Rainbow Warriors football team who recently travelled to Sydney to kick off the US College Football season against University of California.

This isn’t the first time a club has proposed taking a game to Hawaii after Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos brought forward a similar plan last season, however the NRL remains hesitant about the idea after raising concerns over player welfare.

Hawaii has become a popular destination to promote the game due to it’s large Polynesian community.

Speaking to FairFax media, Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said, “We try to take these games away for strategic reasons, not just for our commercial benefit, but for the game’s benefit.”

“There are a lot of synergies from a cultural perspective to Australia around the value of family, wellbeing and healthy living. Our community programs work well there and have been really well received there.

“It’s a great initiative for Wests Tigers and also the game.”

The Tigers’ plans include holding clinics, touring the University of Hawaii and promoting the game with the aim of increasing interest for Rugby League for both the community and broadcasters.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

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