Perth Confirmed to Enter NRL for 2027 Season

WA Premier Roger Cook speaks as Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys and National Rugby League CEO Andrew Abdo look on during a press conference about the forming of a new National Rugby League team the Perth Bears at HBF Park in Perth, Australia on May 8, 2025. AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

The National Rugby League (NRL) has confirmed the Perth Bears franchise will enter the league from 2027, after finally approving the state’s 18-year push to return to top-flight rugby league.

NRL bosses and the Western Australian government officially announced the deal on Thursday, ending six months of high-powered and at-times volatile negotiations.