Exclusive: ‘Why Not Have Rugby’ NRL Star James Tedesco Discloses Why Americans Will Fall in Love With Rugby Ahead of Double Header Season Opener in Las Vegas

Are you ready for a thrilling season in America? The NRL Telstra Premiership rugby season is upcoming with some interesting rules which are somewhat “no rules,” as the games will be played without using timeouts, pads, or helmets.

To provide further insight, NRL star James Tedesco chatted exclusively with us, revealing why one can fall in love with the sport.

James Tedesco’s 5 reasons to fall in love with rugby this time!

Weeks after Jordan Mailata’s exclusive chat with us, Sydney Roosters’ fullback, James Tedesco, joined with EssentiallySports to talk about the NRL Telstra Premiership rugby season approaching this weekend. Tedesco was asked about what difference would the NRL offer to America which is currently immersed in the NFL, and has recently witnessed a spectacular 2023 season & Super Bowl LVIII. To this, the fullback replied with five reasons that can make a person immerse in the upcoming rugby season.

The 31-year-old said, “I think you can’t get enough sport, especially living in America. I mean, the more sport, the merrier. So I think that’s the sort of motto.” Stating the second reason, he said, “I know there’s always a lot of sport in America, whether during the day or at night or any time of the day. But…I know there’s lots of sports bars that have five or six sports on at the same time, so why not have rugby league on as well?”

The Roosters’ player continued, “Because it’s not as long, it doesn’t take four hours like an NFL game, it’s only two hours, but that’s 40 minutes with not many breaks in between. And yeah, it’s short, sharp and compact with not many breaks in play. So I think that’s a thing that can attract a lot of the American audience. And…they can really enjoy watching it every day, any minute game.”

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The NRL Telstra Premiership season kicked off on March 2, 2024 for the first time in American soil. Additionally, it will be held in Las Vegas, the same location where the NFL Super Bowl LVIII was played.

Why Las Vegas this time?

The 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership season is starting with a unique milestone in rugby league history. The opening weekend will feature the first-ever back-to-back regular season games played on American soil. The Roosters will face the Broncos, followed by the Sea Eagles against the Rabbitohs, all happening at the renowned Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This move is considered bold, expanding the game beyond Australia into the United States, showcasing two games in a stadium with a seating capacity of 65,000.

According to RNZ news podcast, “In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing each state to enact and implement its own regulations pertaining to sports betting. That led to a flood of new options entering the country….in Las Vegas.” Additionally, according to the outlet, the NRL aims to establish a present in the Vegas sports betting landscape.

The season kicked off in Las Vegas, will be followed by exciting matchups back in Australia, including clashes between Penrith and Melbourne, as well as Parramatta and Canterbury.

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