Ashton on visiting Vegas

Matty Ashton and Kruise Leeming were in Las Vegas promoting the historic Rugby League event featuring their sides Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors, which will take place on March 1 at the Allegiant Stadium.

The event will be a quadruple header with the Betfred Super League clash, an international contest between Australia Jillaroos and England Women, as well as two NRL matches - Raiders v Warriors and Panthers v Sharks.

“It is good to see how much they are trying to promote rugby league,” Ashton said, as he walked out of a pack Allegiant Stadium after the NFL clash between the Raiders and Broncos.

“On Sunday we were guests at the NFL for the Raiders v Broncos, and it was a packed stadium. The build up to the game with all the fans was a great experience, there were a lot of things going on and the stadium is state of the art.

“The atmosphere was unbelievable, and it just shows how Vegas can pull off big events.

“All of the players are just buzzing to play at such a world class and famous stadium. A lot of them were messaging me asking what it was like.

“They were saying the stadium looks unreal and I think the excitement is really starting to build now for the team, as well as the fans of Warrington and Wigan, and the other teams playing here next year.”

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— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) November 25, 2024

During their trip to Vegas, the pair also visited the UFC Performance Institute and spent time with bantamweight world champion Merab Dvalisvili and Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin.

They then attended the F1 Grand Prix.

“They [Dvalisvili and Griffin] were the two showing us around and we threw the ball around with them, but they were all asking about rugby league and saying they hoped to make the game,” Ashton explained.

“We are trying to spread the word here and promote the occasion so hopefully we can get them on board.

“It’s also really exciting that rugby league is going to be added to these big occasions like the F1.

“We went to the F1 on Saturday night and that was a great experience, there were a lot of people here for the races and the whole of Vegas virtually shut down and everyone got amongst it.

“It’s going to be so exciting to see so many rugby league fans here enjoying it.

“With the roof, there wasn’t much breeze getting in so that’s alright for us wingers catching the ball and it will build a really good atmosphere!”

The inaugural NRL double-header at Allegiant Stadium drew 40,000 fans last March and another bumper crowd is predicted next year. 

And Ashton is thrilled for the fans who will be coming over to watch the action:

“I know the UK fans are going to travel in numbers and no-one brings a better atmosphere, so it is going to fantastic when they all get over here.

“I think it is going to be exciting with such a mixture of fans from the different teams and different countries.

“Rugby League is like a big family so it will be great to see everyone getting on and taking in the sights of Vegas together and watching some great rugby league.

“I think it is just good for the whole sport to have the Super League and NRL working together on one big occasion because we all have the same goal of growing the game.”

Looking ahead to the hotly anticipated event, Ashton knows it’s going to be a blockbuster clash against the current Champions and his side's fierce rivals, Wigan Warriors:

“It’s a massive two points against Wigan. Every game is important and we have got to keep that focus going into it.

“Obviously it is going to be a really exciting week but Sam [Burgess] will be big on the fact that it is business time, we are not just here to have fun, we have got to get the job done as well.

“It is going to be worldwide so it will be good to broadcast the Super League to more NRL fans and Americans too. I’m not sure how many NRL fans follow the Super League so it is a good opportunity for them to tune in and see the talent on show.”

Rugby League Las Vegas Festival 2025 – Saturday March 1

• Betfred Super League – Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves (1:30pm PST / 9:30pm GMT)
• NRL – Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors (4:00pm PST / Midnight GMT)
• Test Match - Australian Jillaroos vs England Women (6:00pm PST / 2am GMT March 2)
• NRL – Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (8:30pm PST / 4:30am GMT March 2)

All four matches will be shown live on Sky Sports – with the Wigan-Warrington match kicking off the action at 9.30pm UK time.

Information on tickets and travel packages can be found on Wigan and Warrington's official club websites.