Overview

• The Perth Bears will join the NRL in 2027, marking the return of professional rugby league to Western Australia for the first time since the Perth Reds folded in 1997.
• The Western Australian government has committed A$65.6 million over seven years, including A$60 million in direct funding and A$5.6 million for match-day support and marketing.
• The club will operate under a five-year free licence from the Australian Rugby League Commission, transitioning to a member-owned, not-for-profit model thereafter.
• Most home games will be played at an upgraded HBF Park, with a potential player-sharing agreement being explored between the Perth Bears and rugby union team Western Force.
• The Perth Bears will integrate the heritage of the North Sydney Bears, appealing to both Western Australian fans and the club’s historical supporter base in New South Wales.