Rugby League in the United States has crowned champions of its national championship since 1997.
The sport has gone through two separate competitions starting with the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) premiership from 1997 to 2014 with the Ferrainola Cup and the USA Rugby League has crowned national champions since 2014.
The Ferrainola Cup was awarded to the winner of the AMNRL Grand Final and given the title of National Champion..
The regular season title or Minor premiership was not awarded until the 2006 season.
| Year | Champions | Final score | Runners-up | Minor Premiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Glen Mills Bulls | 66-12 | Philadelphia Bulldogs | |
| 1999 | Glen Mills Bulls | 28-10 | New Jersey Sharks | |
| 2000 | Glen Mills Bulls | 38-26 | Philadelphia Bulldogs | |
| 2001 | Glen Mills Bulls | 26-16 | Media Mantarays | |
| 2002 | New York Knights | 18-12 | Glen Mills Bulls | |
| 2003 | Connecticut Wildcats | 38-14 | Glen Mills Bulls | |
| 2004 | Glen Mills Bulls | 32-24 | Connecticut Wildcats | |
| 2005 | Glen Mills Bulls | 32-30 | Connecticut Wildcats | |
| 2006 | Connecticut Wildcats | 36-28 | Glen Mills Bulls | Glen Mills Bulls |
| 2007 | Connecticut Wildcats | 22-18 | Aston DSC Bulls | Connecticut Wildcats |
| 2008 | New Haven Warriors | 50-18 | Aston DSC Bulls | Aston DSC Bulls |
| 2009 | New York Knights | 32-12 | Jacksonville Axemen | Jacksonville Axemen |
| 2010 | Jacksonville Axemen | 34-14 | New Haven Warriors | New Haven Warriors |
| 2011 | New York Knights | 38-4 | Connecticut Wildcats | New York Knights |
| 2012 | New York Knights | 60-40 | Connecticut Wildcats | New York Knights |
| 2013 | Connecticut Wildcats | 42-10 | New York Knights |
By 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, thus creating the USA Rugby League after the 2011 season.
In 2014, the United States Association of Rugby League became to undisputed top-level national after the American National Rugby League folded and the Rugby League European Federation and the Rugby League International Federation gave the USA Rugby League member status. The league began its rivalry with the former by beginning its inaugural in 2011.
For the first three seasons, the USA Rugby League was a single-division competition. In 2014, the teams were split into two conferences and three divisions.
The competition is now structured into four regional leagues across an East and West Conference. Winners of each league advance to their respective conference final before the winners of each facing each other in the Grand Final. [1]
| Club | Years Active | USA Rugby League titles | AMNRL titles | Total Number of Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Mills Bulls / Aston DSC Bulls | 1998-2013 | 1998-2001, 2004, 2005 | 6 | |
| Jacksonville Axemen | 2006- | 2012, 2018, 2022 | 2010 | 4 |
| Connecticut Wildcats | 2003-2015 | 2003, 2006,2007,2013 | 4 | |
| New York Knights | 1998- | 2002, 2009,2011, 2012 | 4 | |
| Philadelphia Fight | 1998- | 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 | 4 | |
| DC Cavalry | 2021- | 2024 | 1 | |
| Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans | 2021- | 2023 | 1 | |
| Tampa Mayhem | 2014- | 2021 | 1 | |
| Brooklyn Kings | 2014- | 2019 | 1 | |
| Atlanta Rhinos | 2014- | 2017 | 1 | |
| Boston Thirteens | 2009- | 2015 | 1 |
The clubs in italics are no longer active in the league.
USA Rugby League Competition History