As rugby league prepares for a history-making trip to Las Vegas, BBC Sport looks at why the sport is trying to crack a formidable US market.

Having another roll in Las Vegas this weekend is a long way from rugby league's first forays into selling the sport to Americans.

Four games of rugby league, traditionally played in the north of England and Australia, will be played in Sin City this weekend. Why?

Las Vegas is a notorious big-show city. On Saturday at Allegiant Stadium, the National Rugby League from Australia and New Zealand will deliver its Act 2 to the U.S. a year after debuting with a doubleheader at the home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

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Rugby League in Las Vegas 2025 will be bigger, bolder and better, with more games, more teams, more nations and more opportunities for travelling supporters to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This marks a significant moment for rugby in the U.S., as the NRL continues its efforts to grow the sport’s popularity through a five-year deal with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Rugby league returns to Las Vegas for a second successive year as the sport continue to expand its horizons in the pursuit of global growth. Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) last year hosted two season-opening fixtures in Sin City to showcase the tournament to American audiences,

Rugby league fans from across north-west England have been flying out to the United States to see two local rival teams battle it out in Las Vegas. Wigan Warriors are set to play their home Super League game against Warrington Wolves at the Allegiant Stadium on Saturday,