USA Rugby League
Current season or competition: | |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2011 |
| Inaugural season | 2011 |
| Chairmen | Peter Illfield (INC Chairman) Danny Hanson (Domestic Chairman) |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Country |  United States |
| Champions |  Brooklyn Kings (1st Title) (2019) |
| Most titles |  Philadelphia Fight (4 titles) |
| Website | usarl.com usarl.us (Domestic Competition) |
The USA Rugby League (USARL) is the official governing body for rugby league, a code of rugby football, in the United States.
The organization also runs the national semi-professional competition for club teams in the USA. The league consists of eleven teams located in east coast states, with a development conference in the Mid-West states. The regular season is played between May and September.
The league was founded in 2011 by clubs that had broken with the established American National Rugby League (AMNRL), plus expansion franchises. The USARL began its inaugural 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.[1]
History[]
2011–2012: Foundation[]
The formation of the USA Rugby League was announced on 12 January 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.[2][3][4]
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.[5] The New York team was unable to find a suitable stadium in the city, and instead became the Rhode Island Rebellion.[6] One additional team, Oneida FC, joined the top-tiered competition for the 2011 season.[7]
On 13 January 2011, the USARL announced that Peter Illfield, chairman of the Philadelphia Fight, would be the league's first Chairman.[8][9] The league's first event was a rugby league nines tournament in the Philadelphia area on 28–29 May 2011. Round 1 of the regular season championship kicked off on 4 June; the Jacksonville Axemen won the minor premiership with the best regular season record. In the inaugural Grand Final on 27 August, the Philadelphia Fight defeated the New Haven Warriors to win their first ever national championship.[10]
2013–2014: Expansion[]
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.[11]
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.[12] To reduce operating costs, the competition was split into two conferences.[13] Meanwhile, the AMNRL suspended its 2014 season.
2015–present: AMNRL folds[]
In 2015, the AMNRL folded, leaving the USARL as the undisputed top-level rugby league competition in the United States. 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.[14]
Structure[]
The first event of the season is the rugby league nines tournament.
Regular season[]
The USARL is split into two conferences, North and South. In the South Conference, teams play a double round-robin schedule of 8 games. In the North Conference, teams play a single round-robin schedule of 5 games plus an additional 3 games. Teams qualify for the playoffs based on point differential, with a win counting for 2 points, a draw for 1, a loss for 0, and a forfeit for −2. The regular season runs through May and July.
Play-offs[]
In the South Conference, the top four teams make the playoffs. The teams with the best and worst records, and the second- and third-best records, play each other in the South Conference semi-finals. The winners meet in the South Conference finals. In the North Conference, the teams with the six best records make the playoffs. The winners of the South Conference finals meet the winners of the North Conference finals in the USARL Grand Final.
Teams[]
South Conference
North Conference| North Conference | ||||||
| Colors | Club | Founded | City (MSA) | Stadium | Titles (Last) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Delaware Black Foxes | 2015 | Wilmington, DE | Eden Park Stadium | 0 (N/A) | |
 |
Northern Virginia Eagles | 2007 | Nokesville, VA | Grizzly Sports Complex | 0 (N/A) | |
 |
Philadelphia Fight | 1998 | Conshohocken, PA (Philadelphia) | Garthwaite Stadium | 4 (2016) | |
 |
White Plains Wombats | 2016 | White Plains, NY | Blind Brook Elementary School | 0 (N/A) | |
| South Conference | ||||||
| Colors | Club | Founded | City (MSA) | Stadium | Titles (Last) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Jacksonville Axemen | 2006 | Jacksonville, FL | UNF Rugby Field | 2 (2018) | |
 |
Lakeland Renegades | 2019 | Lakeland, FL | All Saints Academy | 0 (N/A) | |
 |
South Florida Speed | 2021 | Miami, FL | North Dade Optimist Park | 0 (N/A) | |
 |
Southwest Florida Copperheads | 2018 | Fort Myers, FL | Lehigh Senior High School | 0 (N/A) | |
 |
Tampa Mayhem | 2014 | Tampa, FL | Tampa Catholic High School | 0 (N/A) | |
Former teams[]
| Former Teams | ||||||
| Colors | Club | Years Active | City (MSA) | Stadium | Titles (Last) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Atlanta Rhinos | 2014-2020 | Atlanta | Atlanta Silverbacks Park | 1 (2017) | |
 |
Baltimore Blues | 2012–2014 | Baltimore | 0 (N/A) | ||
 |
Boston Thirteens | 2011-2020 | Boston | Eastern Boston Stadium | 1 (2015) | |
 |
Brooklyn Kings | 2014-2020 | Brooklyn | Randalls Island Field 10 | 1 (2019) | |
 |
Bucks County Sharks | 1997–2016 | Bucks County, PA (Trenton) | Falls Township Park | 0 (N/A) | |
| Central Florida Warriors | 2014–2017 | Deland, FL | Spec Martin Stadium | 0 (N/A) | ||
 |
Connecticut Wildcats | 2003–2015 | Norwalk, CT | Andrews Field | 0 (N/A) | |
| |
D.C. Slayers | 2003–2016 | Washington, D.C. | Duke Ellington Field | 0 (N/A) | |
 |
New Haven Warriors | 2006–2012 | West Haven, CT (New Haven) | Ken Strong Stadium | 0 (N/A) | |
| New Jersey Turnpike Titans | 2011–2012 | Jersey City, NJ | Cochran Stadium | 0 (N/A) | ||
 |
New York Knights | 1997–2018* | New York City | The Castle Pier 40 | 0 (N/A) | |
|
Oneida FC | 2011–2012 | Cambridge, MA | Henry G. Steinbrenner Stadium | 0 (N/A) | |
 |
Rhode Island Rebellion | 2011–2017 | Providence, RI | Marvel Field | 0 (N/A) | |
*= On hiatus due to return in 2021.
Premiership winners[]
For the first three seasons, the USARL was a single-division competition. In 2014 the teams were split into two conferences and three divisions.
| Season | Grand Finals | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Score | Runners-up | |
| 2011 | Philadelphia Fight
|
 New Haven Warriors
| |
| 2012 | Jacksonville Axemen
|
Boston 13s
| |
| 2013 | Philadelphia Fight
|
Jacksonville Axemen
| |
| 2014 | Philadelphia Fight
|
Jacksonville Axemen
| |
| 2015 | Boston 13s
|
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
|
Winners[]
| Winners | Count | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Fight
|
4 | 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| Jacksonville Axemen
|
2 | 2012, 2018 |
| Brooklyn Kings
|
1 | 2019 |
| Boston 13s
|
1 | 2015 |
| Atlanta Rhinos
|
1 | 2017 |
Development programs[]
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]
Representative sides[]
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 31 July 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.[15] 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 31 July 2010 L 12–68  Royal Marines 27 April 2012
| |||
 USARL Pioneers
|
Development (non-internationals) |
2013 | W 46–26  Duhaney Park Red Sharks 3 April 2013 L 30–50 Hurricanes Rugby League 7 April 2013 L 6–62  New Zealand Blue Thunder 16 August 2013
| |||
| Presidents Barbarians
|
'Exiles' (overseas imports) |
2013 | L 16–46 New Zealand Blue Thunder 23 August 2013
| |||
| NORTH Conference All-Stars
|
North of America | 2015 | L 20–34 SOUTH Conference All-Stars 29 August 2015
L 32–38 | |||
| SOUTH Conference All-Stars
|
South of America | 2015 | W 34–20 NORTH Conference All-Stars 29 August 2015
W 38–32 | |||
See also[]
- Rugby league in the United States
- Rugby League World Cup
- North American Rugby League
- American National Rugby League
- List of American rugby league champions
- List of defunct rugby league clubs in the United States
References[]
- ^ "USARL become members of the rugby league European federation". 6 November 2014.
- ^ Mascord, Steve (12 January 2011). "Discord 2011: Edition 2". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "New Rugby League Competition Announced". rugbymag.com. Rugby Magazine. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "Breakaway league launched in the US". code13rugbyleague.com. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "Eagles Cease Operations". fairfaxeagles.com. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ Mark Reynolds (23 July 2011). "Providence-based rugby team battles for recognition". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ "USARL Constitution, Teams, Entry Qualifications Announced". Philadelphia Fight Rugby News and Press. fightrugby.com. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ "USA Rugby League (USARL) Names Peter Illfield Chairman". usarugbyleague.com. USA Rugby League. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "USA Rugby League name a Chairman-the Fight's own Peter Illfield". Philadelphia Fight Rugby News and Press. fightrugby.com. 13 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Daniel Andruczyk (28 August 2011). "It's Hard to Keep a Game of Rugby League Down". rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ Mascord, Steve (12 March 2014). "American Civil War Wages On". Forty20 Magazine. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ "2014 Season IV schedule is here". www.usarl.com. USA Rugby League. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ http://www.usarl.com/2014/02/4th-annual-usarl-annual-general-meeting-%E2%80%93-sunday-february-16-2014/
- ^ http://www.usarl.org/news/2018/2018-season-preview-at-a-glance
- ^ http://www.usarl.com/2014/03/usa-pioneers-begin-a-new-era-for-touring-development-teams/
External links[]
| show Rugby league in the United States |
|---|
- USA Rugby League
- Sports governing bodies in the United States
- Rugby league governing bodies
- Rugby league in the United States
- Sports organizations established in 2011
- 2011 establishments in the United States