USA Rugby League | |
---|---|
Founded | January 12, 2011 |
IRL affiliation | 2015 |
Americas affiliation | 2014 |
Responsibility | United States (from October 2014 [1] ) |
Competitions | USA Rugby League |
The USA Rugby League (formally the US Association of Rugby League, Inc.) is the national governing body for rugby league in the United States.
The organization is responsible for running the domestic club competitions and the United States national rugby league team in addition to other responsibilities.
The body was founded in 2011 by clubs that had broken from the established American National Rugby League (AMNRL), plus expansion franchises. The USARL began its inaugural competition season in 2011 with eight teams.
The USARL was granted affiliate membership in November 2014 of the RLIF and RLEF, replacing the AMNRL which is now defunct. [2]
The formation of the USA Rugby League was announced on January 12, 2011. Seven teams that had previously competed in the American National Rugby League, the United States' established rugby league organization and recognized governing body for the sport, announced they were breaking with the AMNRL to form a new league. The stated reason for the split was dissatisfaction with the governance of the AMNRL; the departing teams were unhappy with the lack of club involvement in the league's decision making, and the new league was founded with the principle of including its member clubs in its administration. [3] [4] [5]
The departing AMNRL teams were the Boston Thirteens, the Washington, D.C. Slayers, the Fairfax Eagles, the Jacksonville Axemen, the New Haven Warriors, the Philadelphia Fight, and the Pittsburgh Vipers; they were to be joined by two new teams, the New Jersey Turnpike Titans and Kodiak Rugby from New York City. Before the season Pittsburgh and Fairfax became "developmental" teams in the new league outside of the top-tiered competition; Fairfax subsequently suspended operations. [6] The New York team was unable to find a suitable stadium in the city, and instead became the Rhode Island Rebellion. [7] One additional team, Oneida FC, joined the top-tiered competition for the 2011 season. [8]
On January 13, 2011, the USARL announced that Peter Illfield, chairman of the Philadelphia Fight, would be the league's first chairman. [9] [10] The league's first event was a rugby league nines tournament in the Philadelphia area on May 28–29, 2011. Round 1 of the regular season championship kicked off on June 4; the Jacksonville Axemen won the minor premiership with the best regular season record. In the inaugural Grand Final on August 27, the Philadelphia Fight defeated the New Haven Warriors to win their first ever national championship. [11]
In 2013 the USARL and AMNRL increased their focus on reunification, particularly after the United States' encouraging showing at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. An independent commission assembled to lead negotiations, however the USARL clubs eventually pulled out. USARL commissioner Peter Illfield blamed apparent dysfunction and disorganization in the AMNRL organization for this decision. The USARL subsequently invited AMNRL clubs to join their ranks as full members and initiated a four-team expansion. [12]
In 2014, the USARL expanded to 10 teams, adding expansion squads Atlanta Rhinos, Central Florida Warriors, and Tampa Mayhem. In addition, the Northern Virginia Eagles withdrew from the AMNRL and joined the USARL. [13] To reduce operating costs, the competition was split into two conferences. [14] Meanwhile, the AMNRL suspended its 2014 season.
In 2015, three former AMNRL clubs joined the USARL; Bucks County Sharks, Connecticut Wildcats, and New York Knights. The Delaware Black Foxes also joined as an expansion squad. For 2016, the Connecticut Wildcats left the competition and were replaced by the White Plains Wombats. Before the 2017 season, the D.C. Slayers and Bucks County Sharks left the competition, and the USARL abolished the division structure within the North Conference. Before the 2018 season, the Central Florida Warriors left the competition and were replaced by Southwest Florida Copperheads and Danny Hanson was appointed the second league chairman. The Rhode Island Rebellion also left the competition. The New York Knights left the competition after the 2018 season. [15]
USARL membership has been in flux since the announcement of the North American Rugby League in spring 2021. Boston 13s and Philadelphia Fight left USARL to be founding members of the new competition. White Plains folded after NARL established the New York Freedom. Northern Virginia folded after most of its players joined the newly established DC Cavalry in NARL. Lakeland Renegades suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 USARL season was contested by six teams. Philadelphia and Delaware in the North; Tampa, Jacksonville, Southwest Florida Copperheads, and South Florida Speed in the South. USARL South Championships Tampa Mayhem defeated North winners Delaware Black Foxes in the championship. The North Division has been unable to play in 2022. Multiple forfeits by South Florida Speed in July 2022 have put their future with USARL in doubt.
2023 has seen significant expansion. Atlanta Rhinos rejoined the USARL, playing in the South Division. Pacific Coast Rugby League (PCRL) joined USARL, operating on the West Coast. PCRL brought Los Angeles Mongrel, San Diego Barracudas, and Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans – all formerly part of California Rugby League – as well as the newly formerly Los Angeles Bandidos into USARL. Additionally, four Utah teams, Riverton Seagulls, Herriman Roosters, Glendale Storm and Provo Broncos began playing USARL sanctioned matches as affiliates of PCRL. In August 2023, the first ever coast to coast National Champion was crowned with Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans defeating defending champions Jacksonville Axemen, 20–16.
In late December of 2023, the USARL announced the introduction of Women's National Competition or the Women's Championship for 2024. 6 clubs from both coasts, Los Angeles Mongrel, San Diego Barracudas, and Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans joined to represent the Western Conference, while Carolina Valkyries, Tampa Mischief, Jacksonville Axewomen and New York State Queens to represent the Eastern Conference. The winner of each conference would face off to crown the National Women's Champion. [16] In 2024, the governing body also announced the beginning of Youth Hawks, the Under 20 national team. This is first time since the late 1990s that a USA youth rugby league team will be put together. [17]
In late April of 2024, the USARL announced a new Regionalized structure to the national league. The Utah Rugby League Association would now operate as an independent entity distinct from the Pacific Coast Rugby League, managing its competition in accordance with USARL standards. At the end of the season, URLA and PCRL winners will play for the Western Championship, with the winner facing the Eastern Champions for the National Championship. Secondly, the unification effort on the East Coast of the United States sees the return of Boston 13s, Brooklyn Kings, and Delaware Black Foxes with DC Cavalry joining as the Rugby League United competition becomes the Northeastern conference of USARL. Lastly, the USARL South would now become the Florida Rugby League, the rebranding affects both men's and women's teams in the region, including the Jacksonville Axemen and Axewomen, Southwest FL Copperheads, Tampa Mayhem and Mischief, and the Atlanta Rhinos. [18] [19]
Current season or competition: 2024 USARL season | |
Sport | Rugby league |
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Instituted | 2011 |
Inaugural season | 2011 |
Number of teams | 18 |
Country | United States |
Champions | Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans (1st title) (2023) |
Most titles | Philadelphia Fight (4 titles) |
Website | usarl.org |
Staring in 2024, the USARL competition was expanded following teams withdrawing for the NARL in the years previous. The competition would be structured into four regional leagues across an East and West Conference. Winners of each league advance to the their respective conference final before the winners of each facing each other in the Grand Final. [19]
Between 2014 and 2023 the USARL competition was split a Northern and Southern Conference with the top four teams advancing to their conference semi-final. Winners of each conference final would contest the Grand Final.
California Rugby League (now Pacific Coast Rugby League) was established in 2018 but was not intergrated into the USARL competition until 2024.
In the first three seasons of the league, clubs were only present in the North East thus only one geographic group was required. The top four teams advanced to the playoffs ending with the Grand Final.
Northeast Rugby League | |||||
Colors | Club | Founded | City (MSA) | Stadium | Titles (Last) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston Thirteens | 2014 | Boston | Eastern Boston Stadium | 1 (2015) | |
Brooklyn Kings | 2006 | Brooklyn | Randalls Island Field 10 | 1 (2019) | |
Delaware Black Foxes | 2018 | Wilmington, Delaware | Eden Park | 0 (N/A) | |
D.C. Calvary | 2021 | Washington Metro | Central Sports Complex | 0 (N/A) |
Florida Rugby League | |||||
Colors | Club | Founded | City (MSA) | Stadium | Titles (Last) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta Rhinos | 2014 | Roswell, GA | Elkins Pointe Middle School | 1 (2017) | |
Jacksonville Axemen | 2006 | Jacksonville, FL | UNF Rugby Field | 3 (2022) | |
Southwest Florida Copperheads | 2018 | Naples, FL | Paradise Coast Sports Complex | 0 (N/A) | |
Tampa Mayhem | 2014 | Tampa, FL | Hillsborough High School | 1 (2021) |
Pacific Coast Rugby League | |||||
Colors | Club | Founded | City (MSA) | Stadium | Title (Last) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Mongrel | 2019 | Los Angeles, California | Various | 0 | |
Los Angeles Bandidos | 2022 | Los Angeles, California | Various | 0 | |
Sacramento Immortals | 2020 | Sacramento, California | Danny Nunn Park | 0 | |
San Diego Barracudas | 2020 | San Diego, California | Various | 0 | |
Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans | 2018 | Santa Rosa, California | For Pete's Sake Field | 1 (2023) | |
West LA Jackrabbits | 2024 | Los Angeles, California | TBA | 0 |
Utah Rugby League | |||||
Colors | Club | Founded | City (MSA) | Stadium | Title (Last) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Herriman Roosters | 2022 | Herriman, Utah | Burgess Park | 0 | |
Riverton Seagulls | 2022 | Riverton, Utah | Burgess Park | 0 | |
Provo Broncos | 2022 | Provo, Utah | Burgess Park | 0 | |
Glendale Storm | 2022 | Glendale, Utah | Burgess Park | 0 |
Season | Grand Finals | ||
---|---|---|---|
Premiers | Score | Runners-up | |
2011 | Philadelphia Fight | 28–26 | New Haven Warriors |
2012 | Jacksonville Axemen | 28–22 | Boston 13s |
2013 | Philadelphia Fight | 28–22 | Jacksonville Axemen |
2014 | Philadelphia Fight | 30–18 | Jacksonville Axemen |
2015 | Boston 13s | 44–12 | Atlanta Rhinos |
2016 | Philadelphia Fight | 42–20 | Jacksonville Axemen |
2017 | Atlanta Rhinos | 32–18 | New York Knights |
2018 | Jacksonville Axemen | 56–16 | Brooklyn Kings |
2019 | Brooklyn Kings | 12–6 | Jacksonville Axemen |
2020 | Not held due to COVID-19 | ||
2021 [20] | Tampa Mayhem | 60–10 | Delaware Black Foxes |
2022 [21] | Jacksonville Axemen | 36–12 | Tampa Mayhem |
2023 [22] | Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans | 20–16 | Jacksonville Axemen |
Winners | Count | Years |
---|---|---|
Philadelphia Fight | 4 | 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
Jacksonville Axemen | 3 | 2012, 2018, 2022 |
Brooklyn Kings | 1 | 2019 |
Boston 13s | 1 | 2015 |
Atlanta Rhinos | 1 | 2017 |
Tampa Mayhem | 1 | 2021 |
Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans | 1 | 2023 |
As part of the 2011 season, a former AMNRL team, the Pittsburgh Sledgehammers, participated as a "developmental team", playing a more limited schedule while developing the club for future seasons.[ citation needed ]
National team
New England Immortals
The New England Immortals RLFC were founded in 2010 and consisted of the top players from the 3 New England based AMNRL clubs. They played their inaugural match against the Canadian National Team, on July 31, 2010, defeating the Canadians 12–8 in a tightly contested match. After the AMNRL/USARL split in 2011, the Immortals were transferred to the USARL and became the only form of representation for USARL clubs due to the RLIF regulation that USARL-based players could not represent the Tomahawks. The Immortals took to the field for their second match since their inception, and despite putting up a hard fight, they were out classed by the more experienced Marines, losing by a score of 68–12. As of 2014, due to budgetary cuts and restructuring of the USARL competition, the Immortals have not played a match since their loss to the Royal Marines.
USA Pioneers
In 2014, the league established a touring developmental side, the USA Pioneers, to play friendly matches against foreign nations. They completed a two match tour in Jamaica in April 2014, winning their first game against a Jamaican domestic outfit, but fell short to the semi-professional Hurricanes Rugby League whilst still proving to be strong opposition for the Jamaicans. [23] The Pioneers played a friendly against a touring New Zealand Police squad the following August, losing 6–62 against very strong opposition.
Presidents Barbarians
The USARL established another team to play a second match against the New Zealand Police and to 'curtain-raise' the 2014 USARL National Championship between the Philadelphia Fight and the Jacksonville Axemen. This representative consisted of overseas-imports from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and France; similar to Super League's Exiles. They were beaten by the Kiwis 16–46.
USARL Representative teams | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Club | Representation | Established | Match history | |||
New England Immortals | New England | 2010 | W 12–8 Canada July 31, 2010 L 12–68 Royal Marines April 27, 2012 | |||
USARL Pioneers | Development (non-internationals) | 2013 | W 46–26 Duhaney Park Red Sharks April 3, 2013 L 30–50 Hurricanes Rugby League April 7, 2013 L 6–62 New Zealand Blue Thunder August 16, 2013 | |||
Presidents Barbarians | 'Exiles' (overseas imports) | 2013 | L 16–46 New Zealand Blue Thunder August 23, 2013 | |||
NORTH Conference All-Stars | North of America | 2015 | L 20–34 SOUTH Conference All-Stars August 29, 2015 | |||
SOUTH Conference All-Stars | South of America | 2015 | W 34–20 NORTH Conference All-Stars August 29, 2015 |
The New York Knights are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in New York City. The team currently plays in the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at Pier 40 in Hudson River Park.
The American National Rugby League (AMNRL) national governing body for rugby league in the United States from 1997 to 2014.
While rugby league has been played in the United States since 1954, with Australia and New Zealand playing games there on their return from the Rugby League World Cup in France, serious attempts to start the sport in the United States began only in the late 1970s. The establishment of a national team and a domestic competition in the late 20th century has seen more recent progress.
The Bucks County Sharks were a rugby league football team based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The team currently plays in the USA Rugby League.
The Philadelphia Fight are a semi professional rugby league team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They currently compete in the USA Rugby League, having formerly competed in the now defunct AMNRL. They play their home games at A. A. Garthwaite Stadium in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The Jacksonville Axemen are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They currently play in the USA Rugby League (USARL). They play their home games at the North Practice Soccer Fields at the University of North Florida.
The Boston Thirteens are a professional rugby league football team based in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. The team previously played in the USA Rugby League, before turning fully professional in 2021 and becoming a founding member of the North American Rugby League.
The New Haven Warriors were a rugby league football team based in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. They played in the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) from 2006 to 2010 and in the USA Rugby League (USARL) from 2011 to 2012 before withdrawing. They played their home games at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven, Connecticut.
The Northern Virginia Eagles were a rugby league team based in Manassas, Virginia, U.S. The club currently plays in the USA Rugby League (USARL). From 2007 to 2011 they were known as the Fairfax Eagles and were based in nearby Fairfax, Virginia.
The 2006 American National Rugby League season was the ninth annual American National Rugby League (AMNRL) season, and the 26th since the first season of semi-professional rugby league began in North America. The season began on May 17, 2006 with a match between defending premiers Glen Mills Bulls and the Philadelphia Fight, played at Jack Pearson Stadium. The same venue hosted the Grand Final between the Connecticut Wildcats and Glen Mills Bulls on August 19, 2006 in front of a crowd of 2,500.
The 2010 American National Rugby League season was the 13th season of the AMNRL. The Pittsburgh Vipers are the newest team to enter the competition and the Bucks County Sharks have withdrawn from the competition.
The 2011 USARL season was the inaugural season of the USA Rugby League (USARL). The league was formed in January 2011 as a breakaway competition from the American National Rugby League (AMNRL). The regular season kicked off on June 4 and ended on July 30; the Jacksonville Axemen won the minor premiership with the best regular season record. The first round of playoffs were played on August 13, 2011, with the New Haven Warriors and Philadelphia Fight winning the round. The league's Grand Final took place on August 27 between the Philadelphia Fight and the New Haven Warriors. Philadelphia won 28–26, receiving their first national championship.
The 2014 USARL season was the fourth season of the USA Rugby League competition in the United States. It began on Saturday, May 31, and concluded with the Championship Final on Saturday, August 23. The Philadelphia Fight capped their first perfect season by defeating the Jacksonville Axemen 30-18 in Championship Final, claiming their third USARL Championship.
The Central Florida Warriors were a semi-professional rugby league team based in DeLand, Florida United States. They competed in the USA Rugby League (USARL) in the Southeast Rugby League Conference. They play their home games at Spec Martin Stadium.
The 2015 USA Rugby League season was the fifth season of the USA Rugby League National Premiership competition, and its first as the undisputed top-level rugby league competition in the United States. Fourteen teams competed for the USARL Championship. The season began on Saturday, May 30, and concluded with the Championship Final on Saturday, August 29, in Jacksonville, Florida. The Boston Thirteens won their first USARL Championship, defeating the Atlanta Rhinos 44-12.
The 2016 USA Rugby League season was the sixth season of the USA Rugby League National Premiership competition, and its second as the undisputed top-level rugby league competition in the United States. Fourteen teams competed for the National Championship. The season began on Saturday, June 4, and concluded with the Championship Final on Saturday, August 27, in Boston. The Philadelphia Fight won their fourth USARL Championship, defeating the Jacksonville Axemen 42-20.
The 2019 USA Rugby League season is the 22nd season overall of semi-professional rugby league competition in the United States and the 8th season under the governance of the USARL.
The 2022 USA Rugby League season is the 24th season overall of amateur and semi-professional rugby league competition in the United States and the 10th season under the governance of the USARL.
The 2023 USA Rugby League season was the 26th season overall of amateur and semi-professional rugby league competition in the United States and the 11th season under the governance of the USARL.