The Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters weren't the only winners when Australia's National Rugby League kicked off its 2024 season with a Las Vegas doubleheader earlier this month Canadian Megan Pakulis was one of four participants at a NRL combine
The Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters weren't the only winners when Australia's National Rugby League kicked off its 2024 season with a Las Vegas doubleheader earlier this month
While rugby league, the lesser-known rugby code, has a small presence in Canada, Pakulis has bona-fide credentials. Canada coach Mike Castle, a transplanted Brit who now works for the NRL in Australia as its pathways manager, was involved in the combine and sent the Ravens the application form, via the team's group chat.Pakulis was planning to take part in the NRL Nines tournament, another event around the NRL games, as a member of the Ontario Ospreys.
Pakulis was not that optimistic, given she hurt her leg playing in the nines tournament. She was actually at Allegiant Stadium, settling in to watch the NRL doubleheader when Castle pulled her aside and broke the good news.The doubleheader drew an announced attendance of40,746 with the NRL looking to bring games to Vegas for the next four years.
Pakulis earlier earned her B.Sc. at York in kinesiology, playing rugby union for the Lions. She also played for the Canadian under-20 team and plans to play in Ontario again this summer in the hope of advancing her rugby union career.