'They deserve it': Football legend Roy Keane backs NRL, Super League taking on Vegas

Roy Keane is known as one of the toughest men to grace a football pitch and he's the latest star to throw his support behind the "proper hard" rugby league players who are planning to take over Las Vegas this weekend.

The former Manchester United captain, who was renowned for his physical approach to the round-ball game, revealed he has been tuning into the early rounds of Super League.

With the Warrington Wolves set to take on the Wigan Warriors as part of the NRL's second venture to Sin City, a host of athletes are backing the expansion plan.

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Speaking on Sky Sports, Keane heaped praise on the English crop and is glad to see rugby league start to receive more publicity on a global stage.

"It's fantastic," he said.

"The league started a week or two ago, I've watched a couple of the games.

"They're proper hard players, so maybe they deserve that little bit of publicity.

"Good on them, they're spreading the word."

Fellow player-turned-pundit Micah Richards even said he'd be open to becoming part of the Vegas takeover in years to come.

"A Super Sunday from Vegas? I'd be buzzing if Leeds were there – get me involved," he said during the post-show coverage on Monday morning (AEDT).

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Last year, the NRL took two games to Vegas and attracted a bumper crowd, but have taken things to a new level this season with four matches on the agenda.

Warrington and Wigan will kick things off, before the Canberra Raiders officially kick off their 2025 campaign against the New Zealand Warriors.

England's national team will also face the Jillaroos, before reigning NRL premiers Penrith face the Sharks in the headline fixture.