LA Roosters will defend their title at the 2026 Rugby League Las Vegas Nines after securing a place in the women’s final. The Roosters overcame an early upset to advance, while the men’s team, coached by Luke Keary, fell short in their semi-final bid.
United Sporting Club advanced to the men’s final, defeating Keary’s Roosters 16-14 in the semi-final. The United Sporting Club side featured former NRL players Joe Williams, Dylan Farrell, and David Fifita. They will face the Titans of Coal, the 2025 champions, led by former PNG Kumuls captain Kyle Laybutt, in the championship match at Allegiant Stadium.
In the women’s final, the LA Roosters will play the Aus Vegas Angels. The two teams previously met in the opening round, resulting in a 10-10 draw. The Aus Vegas Angels topped the ladder after an undefeated run, featuring former Dragons rookie Indie Bostock.
The Roosters’ path to the final wasn’t without challenges. They lost their opening game against Nesian Gummas, 26-12, a result described as an upset. Still, they rebounded with victories over NCR All Stars and then swept their Day 2 matches at New Silver Bowl Park against Hunter Hurricanes, Ontario Ospreys, and Titans of Coal to secure second place and a final berth.
Millie Elliott, making her first appearance since the 2024 Pacific Championships, played a key role for the Roosters. She had missed a Jillaroos Test against England last year. Elliott, a four-time NRLW premiership winner with the Broncos, Knights, and Roosters, returned to the field after the birth of her daughter, Gigi, in September following a pregnancy that kept her sidelined in 2025.
The Nesian Gummas’ victory over the Roosters included Fiji internationals Sienna Laing and Tahlia Marshall, Queensland U19s representative Keira Rangi, former Cowboys forward Shaylee Joseph, ex-Raider Felice Quinlan, and Canterbury’s Bridget Hoy.
Corey Thompson’s team suffered consecutive losses to the Hurricanes and Angels on Day 2, allowing John Strange’s Roosters to advance.
The LA Roosters men’s team recovered from a 26-12 loss to Titans of Coal to finish second in Pool A, winning their remaining four games. However, they were ultimately defeated by United Sporting Club, who finished atop Pool B. Titans of Coal secured their spot in the final with a 20-4 victory over Hunslet ARLC from England.
Titans of Coal, representing Titan IND, a company providing skilled labor to mining companies in Australia, expanded from one team in 2025 to three teams this year. They have already claimed the Men’s Community Division trophy, defeating Coogee Wombats 28-14 in the grand final. The Women’s Community Division grand final was won by Northern Territory’s Garamilla Duavata, 18-12 over Canada’s Scarborough Aces, led by York-bound Ravens international Petra Wood.
The Premier Divisions of the Vegas 9s included teams from the National Collegiate Rugby’s national championships, with NCR’s men’s and women’s player-of-the-year winners, Alex Nyamunda and Telesi Uhatafe, attracting interest from NRL clubs.
