'We are pioneers': Historic US tour to NZ strengthens pathways

The first tour to New Zealand by an American rugby league team in more than 70 years has left the pioneering teens hungry for more as officials look to create greater pathways in the USA.

Inspired by the NRL’s Vegas venture, the West Valley Pitbullz youth team followed in the footsteps of Mike Dimitiro’s 1953 American All Stars when they travelled to New Zealand to play matches and further their rugby league education.

The Utah-based team, which comprised of players aged 15-to-18-years-of-age, played under the USARL banner in two matches against invitational teams organised by Ellerslie Eagles director of coaching and development Todd Price.

“I wanted to educate the players on the proper way to play rugby league and hence that is why we came to New Zealand, to get that right start for the club and build that right foundation,” Pitbullz founder and coach Vaki Paea said.

“As far as the boys went, they loved it and they want to come back. They are hooked on league. We didn’t know how they would go against the Kiwis, and our team was really physical.

“The Kiwis had to step up their game to make sure they didn’t lose to us. They didn’t want to be known as the first New Zealand team to be beaten by a USA team.”

Highly regarded Warriors pathways coach TJ Ashford, who guided the club to back-to-back Harold Mathews Cup U17s premierships and is also an assistant with the Jersey Flegg team, took a training session.

Warriors great Jerry Seuseu also hosted a visit to the club’s headquarters, while players attended the Jersey Flegg match against Kaiviti Silktails – an iconic moment as the teams from USA, Fiji and New Zealand came together.

“TJ just embraced us. He ran a few coaching workshops prior to their game and the boys were just like sponges,” Paea said.

“He invited us to go and watch the Jersey Flegg game, and he bought us into the changing room, and really made us feel welcome.

“These boys are just over the moon and hungry for more. I didn’t know how it would pan out being the first team to come out to New Zealand, but they really turned around the thoughts of Kiwis about how Americans play.”

The inspiration for the tour came from the NRL’s first foray to Vegas, with Paea and his wife LaToya attending the 2024 season opener at Allegiant Stadium.

They returned this year with the players who toured New Zealand.   

“Going to Vegas was the highlight of these kids’ NRL experience,” Paea said. “Just to see some players that they knew and to watch them play live.

“A lot of them are [American] football players, but the question now is what is next. They have developed and they know they can hang with the Kiwi kids.

"The main difference is just the game time for us; we don’t have that luxury of playing each week.

“Hopefully this tour will kick start that and the USARL can find a way to further the youth program back in the US.

I guess we are the pioneers for youth rugby league in the USA now, and for the USA Hawks.

“That is the whole purpose of this tour and coming to the New Zealand. There is a pipeline between us and New Zealand now, with the Auckland Rugby League and the Warriors.

“I hope we can grow from here. That will make it worthwhile coming down to New Zealand if we can make that happen.”