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 20th
Uniforms
Kit left arm blackflair.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body Vwidegreen collar.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm blackflair.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts blacksides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks greentop.png
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
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 made 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 match against Canada on 19 October 2024: [6]

PlayerClub
Romario Bartley Liguanea Dragons
Javian Bryan Duhaney Park Red Sharks
Lamont Bryan London Chargers
Kymani Green Brampton
Adrian Hall Liguanea Dragons
Joshua Hill Wigan St Judes
Aaron Jones-Bishop Milford ARLFC
Orlando Jones Toronto Saints
Alpachino Mignott Washington Blvd. Bulls
Jimmy Morgan London Chargers
Jenson Morris Duhaney Park Red Sharks
Michael Pearson Liguanea Dragons
Ricardo Richards West Kingston Hyenas
Tyrone Rowe Brampton
Leo Skerrett-Evans Castleford Tigers
Adrian Thomas Duhaney Park Red Sharks
Marvin Thompson Duhaney Park Red Sharks
Tremaine Thompson-Griffiths Brampton

Competitive Record

Jamaica have played 30 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 20101031633%2024
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 2009920725%2023
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 201620110%2024
Total200930732030%2024

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
19542000 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 :

IRL Rankings

Official rankings as of July 2025
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 83
3Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 80
4Steady2.svgFlag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 62
5Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 53
6Steady2.svgFlag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 51
7Steady2.svgFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 43
8Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 29
9Increase2.svg 2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 22
10Steady2.svgFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 22
11Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 18
12Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 18
13Steady2.svgFlag of Malta.svg  Malta 16
14Increase2.svg 1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 14
15Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 13
16Steady2.svgFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 11
17Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 10
18Steady2.svgFour Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 9
19Increase2.svg 5Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8
20Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 8
21Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 8
22Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 7
23Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 7
24Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 7
25Steady2.svgFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 5
26Increase2.svg 1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 5
27Increase2.svg 1Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 5
28Decrease2.svg 2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 5
29Steady2.svgFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 4
30Steady2.svgFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 4
31Steady2.svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 4
32Steady2.svgFlag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 3
33Steady2.svgFlag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 3
34Increase2.svg 22Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3
35Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 3
36Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2
37Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 2
38Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2
39Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 2
40Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1
41Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 1
42Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1
43Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1
44Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1
45Decrease2.svg 1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 0
46Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 0
47Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
48Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0
49Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 0
50Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 0
51Increase2.svg 6Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0
52Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0
53Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0
54Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0
55Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 0
56Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0
57Decrease2.svg 7Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 0
Complete rankings at
www.internationalrugbyleague.com

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. "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.
  6. "Canada and Jamaica name sides for men's international". European Rugby League. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2025.