Jamaica national rugby league team

Last updated

Jamaica
Jamaica rugby league.png
Team information
NicknameReggae Warriors
Governing body Rugby League Jamaica
RegionAmericas
Head coach Romeo Monteith, Jermaine Coleman
Captain Joe Brown
Most caps Joe Brown (14)
Top try-scorer Wayne Reittie (6)
Top point-scorer Jymel Coleman (54)
Home stadium University of the West Indies
IRL ranking 18th
Team results
First international
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 37–22 Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg
(Jacksonville, Florida, US; 14 November 2009)
Biggest win
Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg 68–16 Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland
(Bray, Ireland; 16 October 2016)
Biggest defeat
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 68-6 Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg
(MKM Stadium, Hull, Eng; 22 Oct 2022)
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.

Contents

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

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]

2021 Rugby League World Cup

Jamaica made their Rugby League World Cup debut against Ireland at Headingley losing 48-2. [4] In the second group stage match, Jamaica suffered a heavy defeat to New Zealand but scored their first ever try at the tournament. In the final group stage match, Jamaica were comprehensively beaten by Lebanon 74-12. [5]

Current squad

Squad selected for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

PlayerCapsPointsClub
Jordan Andrade 512Unattached
Chevaughn Bailey 20 Flag of Jamaica.svg Duhaney Park Red Sharks
Joe Brown 144 Flag of England.svg Workington Town
Jy-mel Coleman 854Unattached
Joel Farrell 920 Flag of England.svg Sheffield Eagles
Ashton Golding 78 Flag of England.svg Huddersfield Giants
Bradley Ho 20 Flag of England.svg Keighley Cougars
Greg Johnson 612 Flag of England.svg Batley Bulldogs
Aaron Jones-Bishop 616 Flag of England.svg Cornwall R.L.F.C.
Ben Jones-Bishop 620 Flag of England.svg Sheffield Eagles
Michael Lawrence 40 Flag of England.svg Huddersfield Giants
Abevia McDonald 00 Flag of England.svg London Skolars
Khamisi McKain 70 Flag of Jamaica.svg Duhaney Park Red Sharks
Jacob Ogden 68 Flag of England.svg York City Knights
Ross Peltier 1112 Flag of England.svg Dewsbury Rams
Kieran Rush 36 Flag of England.svg Huddersfield Giants
Andrew Simpson 10 Flag of Jamaica.svg Duhaney Park Red Sharks
Marvin Thompson 102 Flag of Jamaica.svg Duhaney Park Red Sharks
Keenen Tomlinson 90 Flag of England.svg Dewsbury Rams
Renaldo Wade 88 Flag of Jamaica.svg Duhaney Park Red Sharks
AJ Wallace 30 Flag of England.svg Bradford Bulls
James Woodburn-Hall 52 Flag of England.svg Halifax Panthers
Alex Young 20 Flag of England.svg Workington Town

Competitive Record

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 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualifying play-off, winning 16-10 and earning a place in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in the process.

TeamFirst PlayedPlayedWinDrawLoss %Last meeting
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2010931533%2018
Flag of England.svg England Knights 201920020%2021
Flag of France.svg  France 201710010%2017
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 2016210150%2022
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 202210010%2022
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 202210010%2022
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 202110100%2021
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 20111100100%2011
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2009820625%2019
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 201610100%2016
Total200927731730%2022

World Cup

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

Rugby League World Cup Record
YearResultPositionPldWDLPFPA
1954 – 2000 team did not exist
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2008 not eligible
Flag of England.svg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 2013 did not qualify
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 2017
Flag of England.svg 2021 Group Stage 4th in Group C 400420190

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
YearPositionPldWDL
Flag of the United States.svg 2015 2/32101
Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2016 3/32002
Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2017 2/32101
Flag of the United States.svg 2018 1/42200

Honours

Regional:
Americas Rugby League Championship :

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada men's national soccer team</span> Mens national football team representing Canada

The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions since 1924. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association, the governing body for soccer in Canada. They have been a member of FIFA since 1948 and a member of CONCACAF since 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaica national football team</span> Mens national association football team representing Jamaica

The Jamaica national football team, nicknamed the "Reggae Boyz", represents Jamaica in international football. The team's first match was against Haiti in 1925. The squad is under the supervising body of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), which is a member of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and the global jurisdiction of FIFA. Jamaica's home matches have been played at Independence Park since its opening in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinidad and Tobago national football team</span> National association football team

The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed the "Soca Warriors", represents the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in international football. It is controlled by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, which is a member of CONCACAF, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), and the global jurisdiction of FIFA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States men's national rugby union team</span> Mens rugby union team

The United States men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States of America Rugby Football Union in men's international rugby union. USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States, and is a member of Rugby Americas North, one of six regional governing bodies under World Rugby. Until rugby returned to Olympic competition, with sevens at the 2016 Rio Games, the United States was the reigning Olympic rugby champion, having defeated the one other competitor in 1920 and the two other competitors at the 1924 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States men's national rugby league team</span> National rugby league team

The United States national rugby league team represents the United States in international rugby league competitions. The team is managed by the USA Rugby League (USARL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Rugby League</span> International governing body of rugby league football

The International Rugby League (IRL) is the global governing body for the sport of rugby league football. Previously known as the Rugby League Imperial Board, the International Rugby League Board and latterly the Rugby League International Federation, the IRL is responsible for the Laws of the Game, the development, organisation and governance of rugby leagues internationally, and for the sport's major international tournaments; most notably the Rugby League World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greece national rugby league team</span>

The Greece national rugby league team represents Greece in rugby league. The team has been participating in international competition since 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan national rugby league team</span> International rugby league team

The Japan national rugby league team, nicknamed the Samurais, represents Japan in rugby league football. Japan have played some international competition since 1994. The Japanese National Cup, the JRL domestic club competition, was founded in 1998. In 2021 the season was restarted after a break for COVID with five teams in two divisions, three clubs in East Japan, the Abiko Ducks, Mitaka Spartans and South Ikebukuro Rabbitohs; and two clubs in West Japan, the Kamisenryu Sea Turtles and The Kansai Kaminari.

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.

2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying matches took place from April 2006 to November 2007. Of the ten teams to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, five of them qualified based on their performance in these matches. The other five teams had qualified automatically.

The most popular sports in Jamaica are mostly imported from Britain. The most popular sports are athletics, cricket and association football; other popular sports include basketball, Tennis and netball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taioalo Vaivai</span> US international rugby league footballer

Taioalo "Junior" Vaivai is a Professional Rugby League player. He is also a United States international who last played as a centre for Toulouse Olympique in the English Super League. He has previously played for the Penrith Panthers, Hull Kingston Rovers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA Rugby League</span> Official governing body for rugby league in the United States

The USA Rugby League is the national governing body for rugby league, a code of rugby football, in the United States.

The 2017 Rugby League World Cup Europe qualification was a rugby league tournament held in October and November 2016 to decide the three European qualifiers for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

The Americas Rugby League Championship is an international rugby league football tournament contested by originally contested by North America national rugby league teams. The tournament was created to follow the success of the Americas region of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying.

The 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification was the qualifying process which will decide the 8 teams that would join the 8 quarter-finalists from the 2017 World Cup including the hosts England, who received an automatic spot, at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The process commenced in June 2018, with the commencement of the 2018–19 Rugby League European Championship C tournament, which acted as the first round for European qualification.

The 2019 Rugby League European play-off tournament was the final phase of European qualifying to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, played in October and November 2019. It featured six nations, five of whom have come through the previous phases of European qualifying - 2018 European Championship, 2018 European Championship B and 2018–19 European Championship C. The competition was played in two groups of three with the winners and runners up in each group qualifying for the World Cup.

A list of men and women international rugby league matches played throughout 2019 and does not include wheelchair rugby league international matches. A † denotes a recognised, but unofficial match that did not contribute to the RLIF World Rankings.

The repechage round held in 2019 provided the final opportunity to qualify for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. 3 nations participated; the 2018 Americas Championship runner-up, 7th highest ranked Asia/Pacific nation, and the 2nd highest ranked Middle-East/African nation.

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. ↑ "Rugby League World Cup: Ireland 48-2 Jamaica - Wolfhounds score 10 tries in emphatic win". www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. ↑ "Lebanon thrash Jamaica to reach World Cup quarter-finals". www.bbc.co.uk.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.