With the Rugby League season in full swing and the next international Rugby League World Cup tournament due to take to the field in 2013, fans of the sport are finally about to get a taste of the game on current-generation game consoles. An oft-requested sequel to the series on the PlayStation 2, Rugby League Live will include online play for the first time in the history of the franchise when it launches on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 later this year, announced Aussie game distributor Home Entertainment Suppliers (HES) today. The title builds on 2010’s lukewarm-received Rugby League 3 for the Wii.

　　Get your shirt dirty with new uniform scuffing technology. Rugby League Live will carry the blessing of the NRL and will feature more than 40 fully licensed teams across a range of competitions including NRL, Super League, City vs. Country, World Cup, and the fiercely fought national series, State of Origin. More than 30 international venues will be included in the game, and fans will also have the ability to create new teams and custom competitions. Andrew "Vossy" Voss will again reprise his role in the commentary box.

　　Two of the biggest new features in the game will include uniform and field degradation, as well as multiplayer support. Field and uniform changes will see the pitch torn up during play, while uniforms will suitably reflect the full-contact nature of the sport as virtual players roll around in the grass and dirt during matches. Four-player multiplayer support will be available on the same console, while online play will allow fans to battle for supremacy over Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network.

　　NRL director of marketing and commercial, Paul Kind, said in a press release: "The head-to-head multiplayer feature available online is a first for Rugby League gaming and the enhanced design and interactive features provide a dynamic experience for all gamers."

　　Developed by local studio Big Ant, Rugby League Live will be released in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and France on September 2, 2010.