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Club NewsRugby in Las Vegas: a history from 1976 to the APR Games
A newspaper ad in 1976, a national final in 2009, a national title in 2010, a decade of World Sevens Series crowds and now a professional tournament of its own. Here is how rugby grew up in the desert, told by the city's oldest sports club.
Key facts at a glance
- 1976: the Las Vegas Blackjacks RFC is founded after a newspaper ad recruits players, making it the city's oldest sports club
- 2006: the Blackjacks win the Tonik Sevens title
- 2009: two comebacks from 22–0 and 28–0 down send the Blackjacks to the national final, where they lose 25–8 to the Gentlemen of Aspen
- 2010: Division I national champions, 36–22 over Belmont Shore in Glendale, Colorado
- 2010–2019: the USA Sevens runs at Sam Boyd Stadium, peaking at 80,691 fans over the 2017 weekend
- 2024–2027: the NRL plays in Las Vegas from 2024, and Rugby League Las Vegas returns to Allegiant Stadium on 27 February 2027
- APR Games 2027: May 29–31, 2027, Las Vegas, 10-a-side, with five founding franchises including the Blackjacks
Las Vegas is known for boxing, the Raiders, the Golden Knights and the Aces. But rugby in Las Vegas has a longer local history than any of the city's big-league teams. It started with a classified ad, grew through club rugby and sevens, and has reached a point where the city now hosts international rugby league and is about to launch a pro-style tournament of its own.
The Vegas Blackjacks have been part of almost every chapter. This is the story of Las Vegas rugby, decade by decade: what happened, what the records show, and what it means for anyone who wants to play in the desert today.
When did rugby start in Las Vegas?
The modern story begins in 1976. That year a newspaper advertisement went out looking for rugby players in Las Vegas. Enough people answered to form a club, and the Las Vegas Rugby Football Club, known as the Las Vegas Blackjacks, was born. The club's history and its Wikipedia entry both record the 1976 founding and the newspaper ad that started it.
That makes the Blackjacks Las Vegas's oldest sports club. The city did not get a major-league franchise until the Golden Knights arrived in 2017, so the Blackjacks had been playing for four decades before Las Vegas had a big-league team.
Club rugby in the United States has always been amateur and volunteer-run. Players pay dues, find their own pitches, and travel on their own money. In a city built around casinos and shift work, that meant training around night shifts, bar jobs and 24-hour schedules. The club's name reflects that city. A blackjack is a winning hand, and the club crest still pairs a spade and playing cards with an oval ball.
Every club has a founding story. Ours starts with strangers answering an ad in the paper, and that tells you what Las Vegas rugby has always been: people who came from everywhere, found each other and built something that lasted. Nobody handed the city a rugby culture. It was recruited one player at a time.
How did the Blackjacks become a national contender?
For its first three decades the club played in the western U.S. club system. Las Vegas competed in the Southern California Rugby Football Union (SCRFU), which meant regular road trips across the desert to play Southern California clubs.
The mid-2000s were when the club became a national contender. According to the club's records, the Blackjacks reached the national Final Four three times from 2006 onward. In 2008 they won the SCRFU Division I regular season and the SCRFU playoffs, the club's first regional title of that kind.
Sevens was part of the rise as well. In 2006 the Blackjacks won the Tonik Sevens title, one of the trophies in the club's honors list. A photo from that day shows the squad in white with the trophy and an oversized winner's check, and it now hangs in the Blackjacks' trophy cabinet.
What happened in the 2009 national playoffs?
The 2009 run was one of the most dramatic in club history. In the USA Rugby men's club championship, the Las Vegas Sun reported that the Blackjacks came back from 22–0 down to beat Glendale, Colorado, 27–22 in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal they trailed Pearl City 28–0 and won 42–33. Center Seta Tuilevuka scored his fifth try in three straight playoff games.
Two huge comebacks on back-to-back days took a toll. A day later, in the national final, the Blackjacks met the Gentlemen of Aspen. The Sun's match report described a scrappy, tired game. Aspen led 5–0 at half-time and pulled away to win 25–8, with Tuilevuka scoring a late consolation try. (USA Rugby's results table, as reproduced on Wikipedia, lists the score as 25–10.)
Losing a national final is hard. It also showed that a club from Las Vegas could compete with the best clubs in the country.
How did Las Vegas win the 2010 national championship?
A year later the Blackjacks went one better. On June 6, 2010, they won the USA Rugby Division I men's club national championship, beating Belmont Shore RFC 36–22 in Glendale, Colorado. USA Rugby's championship records show Las Vegas as the 2010 Division I champion, the year after Aspen beat them in the final.
Nevada Public Radio's State of Nevada covered the win on 16 June 2010, describing a national title that was "35 years in the making."
The club's honors list counts three national championships. The 2010 Division I title is the one recorded in USA Rugby's national results, and its photos are in the Blackjacks trophy cabinet on our homepage.
The 2010 title came from the 2009 final. Lose a national final after two huge comebacks and you either fade or you come back hungrier. That is the Blackjacks Way: physical, intense, passionate, and doing it together. Our values were not written for a website. That season is where they come from.
Did a Las Vegas club send players to professional rugby?
It did. In May 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported that the Blackjacks had signed a player-development agreement with Montpellier Hérault Rugby, a French Top 14 club. Under the deal the two clubs would exchange players. Young French players could develop in the United States during France's off-season, and talented Blackjacks amateurs got a route into top-level professional rugby.
According to the Sun, Montpellier signed Seta Tuilevuka, the Fijian-born center from the 2009 playoff run, to a one-year deal. For an amateur club in the desert, sending a player to the Top 14 showed how far Las Vegas rugby had come.
What was the Las Vegas rugby scene like in the 2010s?
By the early 2010s, rugby in Las Vegas was more than one club. A January 2012 Las Vegas Review-Journal feature found:
- The Las Vegas Blackjacks, the established men's club and reigning 2010 national champions.
- The Las Vegas Rugby Academy, a youth program teaching contact and non-contact rugby to kids aged 5 to 18, with about 100 players and nine coaches at the time.
- The Sin City Skulls, a quad rugby (wheelchair rugby) club for athletes with disabilities.
- The Las Vegas Maori Rugby Club, open to all with a focus on Polynesian culture.
The same article noted that a Blackjacks season membership then cost $75, including training expenses. Those details come from 2012 and are part of the history, not a current price list. For today's club information, join The Breakdown, which carries Blackjacks tryout and training news.
When was the USA Sevens held in Las Vegas?
The biggest boost for rugby's profile in Las Vegas came from sevens. The USA Sevens, the American stop on the World Rugby Sevens Series, began in Carson, California, in 2004. In 2010 it moved to Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas and stayed for the whole decade, through 2019.
The crowds grew almost every year. Total attendance passed 67,000 in 2013, reached 75,761 in 2015 and peaked at 80,691 over the 2017 weekend, including 35,901 on a single day. The tournament put teams like Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa in front of tens of thousands of fans in Las Vegas every year.
In 2020 the event returned to Carson, and in 2026 it moved to the New York area, playing in Harrison, New Jersey. The reported crowds at later editions in Carson and New Jersey have been smaller.
| Year | Milestone | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Las Vegas Blackjacks founded after a newspaper ad | Las Vegas |
| 2006 | Blackjacks win the Tonik Sevens | Sevens tournament |
| 2008 | Blackjacks win SCRFU Division I regular season and playoffs | Southern California union |
| 2009 | Blackjacks reach the national final, lose 25–8 to Aspen | Glendale, Colorado |
| 2010 | Blackjacks win the Division I national title, 36–22 over Belmont Shore | Glendale, Colorado |
| 2010 | Player-development deal with Montpellier (French Top 14) | Las Vegas / Montpellier |
| 2010–2019 | USA Sevens at Sam Boyd Stadium; 80,691 fans in 2017 | Las Vegas |
| 2024 | NRL season opener in Las Vegas; about 40,000 tickets sold | Allegiant Stadium |
| 27 Feb 2027 | Rugby League Las Vegas: Storm v Wests Tigers, Eels v Titans, Bradford v Leigh | Allegiant Stadium |
| May 29–31, 2027 | APR Games: 10-a-side, five founding franchises plus one invitational | Las Vegas |
Why does rugby league play in Las Vegas now?
In 2024, Australia's National Rugby League opened its season in Las Vegas. On 2 March 2024, Manly played Souths and the Broncos played the Roosters at Allegiant Stadium, with about 40,000 tickets sold. The NRL has kept coming back to Las Vegas since.
The 2027 edition, Rugby League Las Vegas, is on Saturday 27 February 2027 at Allegiant Stadium. It features Melbourne Storm v Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans and a Super League game between Bradford and Leigh, according to the NRL's May 2026 announcement.
League and union are different games: league has 13 players, six tackles and no contested rucks, while union has 15, unlimited phases and contests for the ball at every breakdown. Our sister club the Vegas Kings explains it all in rugby union vs rugby league: the differences explained. Both codes now have a home in Las Vegas.
Write the next chapter in Las Vegas
The APR Games 2027: Memorial Day weekend, May 29–31, Las Vegas. Men's Elite ($10,000 prize pool), Women's Social ($5,000) and Youth divisions. Player entry $299 includes a jersey, kit bag, at least three pool games and opening-night access.
Join the APR Games waitlistWhat are the APR Games?
American Pro Rugby is bringing a tournament of its own to the city. The APR Games 2027 run over Memorial Day weekend, May 29–31, 2027, in Las Vegas.
- Format: 10-a-side rugby, two 20-minute halves, evening kickoffs on three fields
- Divisions: Men's Elite ($10,000 prize pool), Women's Social ($5,000) and Youth (no entry fee)
- Player entry: $299, including a jersey, kit bag, at least three pool games and opening-night access
- Coaching clinic: May 28–31, 2027 (see the clinic)
- Teams: five founding franchises plus one invitational team still to be revealed. Full rules and squad sizes will be confirmed with player registration.
The five founding franchises are all Las Vegas teams: the Vegas Kings, the Vegas Knights, Downtown Rugby, the Vegas Lions and the Vegas Blackjacks. The Knights, the defense-first franchise, have a guide to blitz, drift and line speed that is worth reading before any tournament.
Tens sits between sevens and fifteens. Like sevens, it is played on a full-size pitch with fewer players, so there is space to attack. With ten a side, though, there are enough forwards for real scrums and real contact. That suits a club that has always been built on physical, intense rugby.
Why the Blackjacks still matter to Las Vegas rugby
Las Vegas changes constantly. Casinos come down, stadiums go up, teams arrive from other cities. A club that has lasted since 1976 is unusual anywhere, and especially here. The Blackjacks are the link between the city's first rugby players and the players lining up for the APR Games.
The club's values have not changed: Physical (we dominate the contact area), Intense (80 minutes of pressure), Passionate (rugby is who we are) and Teamwork (championships are won together, as brothers). Those are the values that built the 2010 title, and they are what a new player signs up for. You can read more in The Blackjacks Way.
Coming to town for the Games or for Rugby League Las Vegas? Our partner Luna Appleton covers where to stay, eat and celebrate in Vegas.
History is only worth something if it keeps going. The 1976 founders, the 2009 comeback team and the 2010 champions all played because someone in Las Vegas wanted to play rugby. If that's you, sign up for The Breakdown, come to the APR Games and become part of the club's next chapter.
How can you play rugby in Las Vegas today?
There are three easy first steps:
- Join The Breakdown. The free weekly newsletter from American Pro Rugby carries Blackjacks tryout dates, training schedules and squad news before they go anywhere else. Subscribe here.
- Get on the APR Games waitlist. Player registration for Men's Elite, Women's Social and Youth opens through americanprorugby.com.
- Learn the basics safely. Rugby is a contact sport. If you are new, learn tackling, rucking and scrummaging under a qualified coach, starting slowly and building up. APR's coaching clinic runs May 28–31, 2027.
Want the gear first? APR team merchandise is in the APR merch store, and the full list of franchises is on the APR teams page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest rugby club in Las Vegas?
The Las Vegas Blackjacks, founded in 1976 after a newspaper ad recruited players. The club calls itself Las Vegas's oldest sports club.
Has a Las Vegas team won a national rugby championship?
Yes. The Las Vegas Blackjacks won the 2010 USA Rugby Division I men's club national championship, beating Belmont Shore 36–22 in Glendale, Colorado. The club's honors list counts three national titles.
Who beat the Blackjacks in the 2009 national final?
The Gentlemen of Aspen won the 2009 final 25–8, according to the Las Vegas Sun's match report, after the Blackjacks had come back from 22–0 and 28–0 down in the quarterfinal and semifinal.
When was the USA Sevens held in Las Vegas?
From 2010 to 2019, at Sam Boyd Stadium. Total attendance peaked at 80,691 in 2017. The event returned to Carson, California, in 2020.
Is there rugby league in Las Vegas?
Yes. The NRL has played in Las Vegas since 2024. Rugby League Las Vegas 2027 is on 27 February 2027 at Allegiant Stadium, with Storm v Wests Tigers, Eels v Titans and Bradford v Leigh.
What are the APR Games?
A 10-a-side rugby tournament in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend, May 29–31, 2027, run by American Pro Rugby. It has Men's Elite, Women's Social and Youth divisions, five founding franchises and one invitational team.
How much does it cost to play in the APR Games?
Player entry is $299, which includes a jersey, kit bag, at least three pool games and opening-night access. Youth has no entry fee.
How do I join the Vegas Blackjacks?
Start by joining The Breakdown, American Pro Rugby's free weekly newsletter, which carries Blackjacks tryout dates and training schedules first.
Why are they called the Blackjacks?
The name is a nod to Las Vegas itself: blackjack is the city's classic casino card game and a winning hand. The club crest pairs a spade and playing cards with an oval rugby ball.
Can beginners play rugby in Las Vegas?
Yes. Adult beginners are welcome in club rugby. Learn contact skills like tackling, rucking and scrummaging under a qualified coach, and build up gradually.
Keep reading
Sources
- Wikipedia: Las Vegas Blackjacks RFC (founding, SCRFU titles, Montpellier agreement)
- Las Vegas Sun: Las Vegas rugby team advances to national finals, 30 May 2009
- Las Vegas Sun: Blackjacks fall in rugby national finals game, 31 May 2009
- Wikipedia: USA Club Rugby XVs, national championship results (2009 and 2010 finals)
- Nevada Public Radio (KNPR), State of Nevada: Las Vegas Blackjacks, 16 June 2010
- Las Vegas Sun: Vegas rugby club enters player agreement with French pro club, May 2010
- Las Vegas Review-Journal (View): Game of rugby beginning to thrive in Las Vegas Valley, 31 January 2012
- Wikipedia: USA Sevens (Las Vegas years and attendance)
- NRL.com: Teams launched for Rugby League Las Vegas 2027, 20 May 2026
- American Pro Rugby: APR Games 2027
This article is a club history compiled from the Blackjacks' own records and the published sources listed above; where sources differ (for example the 2009 final score), both figures are noted. Historical prices and programs are from the dates shown and may have changed. Rugby is a contact sport: learn contact skills under a qualified coach.