Jamaica national rugby league team

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Jamaica
Badge of Jamaica team
Team information
NicknameReggae Warriors
Governing bodyJamaica Rugby League Association
RegionAmericas
Head coach,
Captain
Most capsTyronie Rowe (10)
Top try-scorerWayne Reittie (6)
Top point-scorer (44)
Home stadiumUniversity of the West Indies
IRL ranking14th
Team results
First international
 United States 37–22 Jamaica 
(Jacksonville, Florida, US; 14 November 2009)
Biggest win
Jamaica  68-16  Ireland
(Bray, Ireland; 16 October 2016)
Biggest defeat
 United States 54-4 Jamaica 
(Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, US; 23 July 2016)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first time in 2021)

The Jamaica national rugby league team represents Jamaica in international rugby league tournaments. Administered by the Jamaica Rugby League Association, the team made their full international debut at the 2009 Atlantic Cup against the United States.

The team will make their first appearance at the Rugby League World Cup in 2021. They primarily wear yellow jerseys with green shorts and green socks. Their strongest line-up is composed mainly of British Jamaican professional and semi-professional players, alongside amateurs based in Jamaica.

History[]

Early years[]

In July 2004 the Jamaica Rugby League Association was born. In 2005 a domestic competition was formed featuring four teams (Duhaney Park Sharks, Vauxhall Vultures, Jamaica Defence Force and Olympic Angels), and in 2006 a representative side was selected for the first time to play against a touring side from the West Yorkshire Police.

An Intercollegiate competition was launched in 2010 and now features six Universities and Colleges (University of the West Indies, University of Technology, Mico University College, Portmore Community College, GC Foster College and Excelsior Community College). There is also a thriving junior program with a number of High Schools and Primary Schools playing the sport. There is also a Division 2 competition featuring.

Jamaica played their first full international game against the United States national side in Jacksonville, Florida in the 2009 Atlantic Cup. In October that year, Jamaica got their first victory at international level against Canada as part of the 2010 Atlantic Cup.[1]

Attempts at World Cup Qualification[]

In 2011 Jamaica entered the Rugby League World Cup for the first time as they contested the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying Atlantic section, they failed to qualify after defeating South Africa and losing to the United States.

In 2015 Jamaica aimed to improve on their 2011 disappointment and succeed in the Americas qualification in order to qualify for their first ever World Cup in 2017 but were ultimately unsuccessful.

World Cup Qualification Success[]

Main articles: 2021 Rugby League World Cup qualifying and 2018 Americas Rugby League Championship

In 2018, Jamaica entered the World Cup qualifying stages for a third time with the matches also doubling up as the 2018 Americas Rugby League Championship. On 13 November 2018, Jamaica played Canada for a place in the qualification play-off. They defeated Canada 38-8 with Ben Jones-Bishop getting two tries in the victory.[2] On 17 November 2018, Jamaica met the United States at Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida to play for a place in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. Jamaica raced into a 16-0 lead within the first 30 minutes of the game only for the United States to score 2 tries before half-time and pull the score back to 16-10 at the break. The second half was a tighter contest with defence becoming the priority for Jamaica and the half would ultimately end scoreless. Jamaica beat the United States 16-10, defeating United States for the first time in Jamaica's history and qualifying for the 2021 World Cup.[3]

Current squad[]

Having not played since October 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a list of eligible players who are contracted to professional or semi-professional clubs in 2021.

Squad selected for the upcoming matches against England England Knights and Scotland Scotland on 15 and 24 October 2021 are to be announced.[4]

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Pts Club
TBA

Competitive Record[]

See also: Jamaica national rugby league team results

Jamaica have played 22 games in their history with their first full international being played in 2009 against the United States, despite the team having been formed 3 years previously in 2006.

They have only played two nations more than once, playing Canada 9 times and the United States 8 times. Jamaica regularly compete against these two nations in the Americas Rugby League Championship, having taken part in all 3 editions of this competition to date. They have played 5 other nations, each once. The first of these teams was South Africa in 2011. In 2016, Jamaica played games in Europe for the first time, taking on Ireland, comfortably defeating them 68-16 and Wales, drawing 16-16. In 2017, Jamaica played their toughest opponent to date, taking on 2-time World Cup runners-up France, a game they would lose 12-34.

Jamaica played their 20th game when they took on United States in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup qualifying play-off, winning 16-10 and earning a place in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in the process.

Team First Played Played Win Draw Loss % Last meeting
 Canada 2010 9 3 1 5 33% 2018
England England Knights 2019 1 0 0 1 0% 2019
 France 2017 1 0 0 1 0% 2017
 Ireland 2016 1 1 0 0 100% 2016
 South Africa 2011 1 1 0 0 100% 2011
 United States 2009 8 2 0 6 25% 2019
 Wales 2016 1 0 1 0 0% 2016
Total 2009 22 7 2 13 32% 2019

World Cup[]

Jamaica will make their debut at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup having failed to qualify on 2 occasions previously in 2013 and 2017. They will become the second nation from the Americas region to play in the world cup after United States first took part in 2013.

Rugby League World Cup Record
Year Result Position Pld W D L PF PA
France 1954 Did not participate
Australia 1957
England 1960
Australia New Zealand 1968
England 1970
France 1972
1975
Australia New Zealand 1977
1985–88
1989–92
England 1995
United Kingdom France 2000
Australia 2008
England Wales 2013 Did not qualify
Australia New Zealand Papua New Guinea 2017
England 2021 Qualified

Americas Rugby League Championship[]

The Americas Rugby League Championship was introduced through the RLIF policy of international expansion and development. Previous to the tournament's existence, the only regional competition in the Americas was the annual Colonial Cup however only the United States and Canada competed in this. The new competition would feature 3 teams with Jamaica being the new edition. Jamaica have competed in all 3 editions to date. In 2016, they would finish 3rd and last but would improve their position by a single place in the following 2 editions, finishing as runners-up in 2017 and being crowned champions in 2018. That year also saw the expansion of the competition to 4 teams with the addition of Chile.

Americas Rugby League Championship Record
Year Position Pld W D L
United States Canada 2016 3/3 2 0 0 2
United States Canada Jamaica 2017 2/3 2 1 0 1
United States 2018 1/4 2 2 0 0

Honours[]

Regional:
Americas Rugby League Championship:

  • Champions (1): 2018
  • Runners-up (1): 2017

Notable players[]

The following is a list of Jamaican representative players who have played in a top-tier professional rugby league competition i.e. the National Rugby League and/or the Super League:

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Burrowes, Paul (12 April 2011). "SVL boosts national rugby team with $100,000 sponsorship". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  2. ^ rlif (16 November 2018). "USA to face Jamaica in World Cup Qualification Play off". Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  3. ^ rlif (18 November 2018). "JAMAICA WIN AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP & WORLD CUP PLACE - USA 10 JAMAICA 16 - Report". Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  4. ^ https://www.scotlandrl.com/2021/09/16/bravehearts-set-to-take-on-the-reggae-warriors/

External links[]

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