North American Rugby League

Last updated

North American Rugby League (NARL)
Official NARL logo.png
Sport Rugby League
Instituted2021
Inaugural seasonStill to occur
CEORobert Curtis
Number of teams 3
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States (3 teams)
Website narugbyleague.com
Broadcast partnerSportsFlick

The North American Rugby League (NARL) is an unsanctioned rugby league club competition in North America.

Contents

At launch, the league announced fourteen teams; twelve from United States and two from Canada. [1] [2] An inaugural season was planned for 2021 but was deferred until 2022 (which itself never happened) due to increased health and safety needs regarding COVID-19 and insurance and travel costs.

History

Background

An American based rugby league competition was first established in 1998 when the American NRL was formed. The organisation ran the AMNRL league competition and organised the USA national team and their fixtures. This competition lasted for 13 years until seven clubs left to form the USARL, citing the poor running of the competition as their reason for a breakaway.

The USARL was founded in 2011, however the AMNRL was still active, meaning there were two major rugby league competitions in the US. The AMNRL suffered from competition with the USARL and did not run a competition in 2013. The following year the AMNRL folded and handed over all control of the USA national team to the USARL making it the sole governing body and league competition in the US.

2016–2020: North American clubs in Britain

In 2016, Toronto Wolfpack were founded and entered the British RFL system in League 1. They were promoted to Super League in 2019, however withdrew after seven rounds in 2020 following financial problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and were not readmitted for the 2021 season. The demise of Toronto and a report by then-Super League chief executive Robert Elstone saying there were no opportunities for rugby league in North America left doubts over transatlantic teams competing in the British rugby league system. However, the RFL later admitted Ottawa Aces and New York Rugby League. Ottawa, however, later relocated to the UK as Cornwall. New York's future in the UK remains unclear.

2021: COVID-19 postponement

In March 2021 the North American Rugby League was announced and slated to include 14 founding teams: the two clubs previously accepted into the RFL (Ottawa and New York) as well as Toronto and recently formed Cleveland, along with three USARL clubs (Atlanta Rhinos, Boston Thirteens, and Brooklyn Kings), a former rugby union club, and six new clubs (Austin Armadillos, Las Vegas Blackjacks, Phoenix Venom, Portland Loggers, San Diego Swell, San Francisco Rush, and Washington D.C. Cavalry.

In April 2021, USARL issued a statement that NARL is not recognized or sanctioned by USARL (as the governing body for rugby league in the USA) and therefore anyone playing in the NARL was ineligible to play at international level. [3]

The inaugural season was due to start on June 19, 2021, with Boston hosting the first four Eastern Conference games and Las Vegas hosting the Western Conference games on June 20, with all games to be streamed globally on SportsFlick. There are plans for clubs to draft 14 players who will be signed centrally by the NARL. [4] On May 12, the league announced that the Western Conference would be postponed to 2022 as the teams were unable to arrange adequate insurance for the players. [5]

On June 7, 2021, Robert Curtis, the league's chief operating officer, announced that competition would be suspended until 2022 due to cost issues and health and safety restrictions relating to COVID-19. [6] Some friendly matches will be played and the Canada Cup will be contested by Toronto Wolfpack and Ottawa Aces. [6]

Following the announcement of the league's suspension, USARL issued a statement that all NARL teams and players would be welcome to join USARL for the 2021 season. [7]

The league has partnered with Italian sportswear company Macron, who will provide kits to all teams in the competition. [8]

In October 2021, the Ottawa Aces announced their relocation back to the United Kingdom, where they had been originally formed, opting out of the NARL.

The league announced in late 2021 that it intends to launch with just 6 foundation clubs in spring 2022, 5 from the United States plus Toronto Wolfpack from Canada. [9]

The Canada Cup went ahead for 2021 but DC Cavalry took Ottawa's places following the latter's relocation to Cornwall. The match was won by Toronto.

2022: Second failed inaugural season

After an announcement for the 2022 season to start on May 21 followed by uncertainty, it was announced a day before on the NARL social media pages the expected kick off that there will be a pre-season trial on June 4 between Washington D.C. Cavalry and the Atlanta Rhinos. Atlanta won the match 34-24. [10] In July 2022, Cleveland Rugby League withdrew from the competition, leaving it with four teams. [11]

On 20 June 2023, Wolfpack withdrew from the competition as no seasons had occurred. [12]

Teams

Usa edcp (+HI +AL) location map.svg
Black pog.svg
Black pog.svg
Black pog.svg
Washington
class=notpageimage|
Locations of NARL teams for 2021 season

The 3 confirmed foundation clubs are: [11]

Seasons

SeasonNorth American Rugby League ChampionsCanada Cup Winner
2021Cancelled New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Toronto Wolfpack
2022CancelledCancelled
2023CancelledCancelled

Finals

NARL Grand Finals

SeasonChampionsScoreRunners-upRefereeVenueAttendanceDate
2022Cancelled29 October
2023Cancelled

Canada Cup Finals

SeasonChampionsScoreRunners-upRefereeVenueAttendanceDate
2021 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Toronto Wolfpack42–6 Auckland colours.svg D.C. CavalryUnknown Lamport Stadium, Toronto Unknown18 September
2022Cancelled

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Knights (rugby league)</span> US semi-pro rugby league club, based in New York City, NY

The New York Knights are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in New York City. The team currently plays in the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at Pier 40 in Hudson River Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American National Rugby League</span> Rugby league organization in the United States

The American National Rugby League (AMNRL) was a rugby league organization in the United States that operated from 1997 to 2014. The country's first domestic rugby league competition, it hosted an annual league from 1998 through 2013. Throughout its existence, the AMNRL was also recognized by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) as the governing body for the sport in the United States, and oversaw the United States national rugby league team, the Tomahawks.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bucks County Sharks</span> US semi-professional rugby league club, based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

The Bucks County Sharks were a rugby league football team based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The team currently plays in the USA Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacksonville Axemen</span> Semi-professional US rugby league club

The Jacksonville Axemen are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They currently play in the USA Rugby League (USARL). They play their home games at the North Practice Soccer Fields at the University of North Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Thirteens</span> US semi-professional rugby league club, based in Boston, Massachusetts

The Boston Thirteens are a professional rugby league football team based in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. The team previously played in the USA Rugby League, before turning fully professional in 2021 and becoming a founding member of the North American Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittsburgh Sledgehammers</span> US semi-professional rugby league club, based in Cheswick, Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Sledgehammers are a rugby league football team based in the Pittsburgh area. They are currently confirmed to be affiliated with the new USA Rugby League. They play their games at Founders Field in Cheswick, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada Rugby League</span> Governing body for rugby league in Canada

Canada Rugby League (CRL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in Canada. Founded in 2010, the CRL organizes the Canada national rugby league team and supports the development of the game through the country's domestic competitions.

<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 Rhode Island Rebellion were an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Providence, Rhode Island. The Rebellion compete in the USA Rugby League (USARL), which they joined as a charter franchise in the 2011 season.

The 2014 USARL season was the fourth season of the USA Rugby League competition in the United States. It began on Saturday, May 31, and concluded with the Championship Final on Saturday, August 23. The Philadelphia Fight capped their first perfect season by defeating the Jacksonville Axemen 30-18 in Championship Final, claiming their third USARL Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Rhinos</span> US semi-professional rugby league club, based in Atlanta, Georgia

The Atlanta Rhinos are an American professional rugby league team based in Atlanta, Georgia. 2014 was their inaugural season in the USA Rugby League. Starting in 2021, the club turned professional, and became founding members of the North American Rugby League. They play all their home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.

The 2015 USA Rugby League season was the fifth season of the USA Rugby League National Premiership competition, and its first as the undisputed top-level rugby league competition in the United States. Fourteen teams competed for the USARL Championship. The season began on Saturday, May 30, and concluded with the Championship Final on Saturday, August 29, in Jacksonville, Florida. The Boston Thirteens won their first USARL Championship, defeating the Atlanta Rhinos 44-12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Wolfpack</span> Canadian rugby league team

The Toronto Wolfpack RLFC is a Canadian professional rugby league club based in Toronto, Ontario. The club is the first and only professional rugby league club in North America, and as of 2023 competes in the self sponsored Canada Cup, an invitational league for North American teams organised by Toronto Wolfpack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Burroughs</span> United States international rugby league player

Ryan Burroughs is an American professional rugby football player who has played primarily rugby league he has represented the United States National Rugby League team in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, as well as the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9's. He last played rugby league for Barrow Raiders. He left the club to sign for rugby union's Major League Rugby side Old Glory DC. Primarily playing on the wing, he can also play as fullback or centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornwall R.L.F.C.</span> British professional rugby league team, based in Cornwall

Cornwall RLFC is a British professional rugby league team based in Penryn, Cornwall, England. They play their home matches at Penryn RFC's Memorial Ground and compete in League One the third tier of British rugby league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York R.L.F.C.</span> US rugby league club, based in New York City, NY

New York Rugby League Football Club is an upcoming rugby league football club in the North American Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Rugby League</span> US rugby league club, based in Cleveland, Ohio

The Cleveland Rugby League are an American amateur rugby league football club based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are a founding member of the new North American Rugby League that will begin in 2022.

2022 in United States rugby league saw an eventful season, featuring developments in the governance of the sport within the United States, the split between the United States Association of Rugby League (USARL) and the North American Rugby League(NARL) in regards to the national competition, and the conduction of multiple regional leagues below these.

References

  1. ↑ Bower, Aaron (April 4, 2021). "North America Rugby League examined - salary cap, players, impact on RFL and Super League". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ "NARL Press Release". North American Rugby League. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  3. ↑ Gordon, James (April 15, 2021). "New North American rugby league 'not sanctioned' by governing body". Love Rugby League. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ Ritchie, Dean. "North American Rugby League competition launches with eyes on recruiting NRL talent" . Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  5. ↑ "North American Rugby League:Western division suspended until 2022". Sportingnews.com. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "New North American rugby league shelved until 2022". www.msn.com. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  7. ↑ Lowe, Brian (June 8, 2021). "USA Rugby League extends olive branch to NARL teams". Rugby League Planet. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  8. ↑ "MACRON IS THE TECHNICAL SPONSOR OF THE NORTH AMERICAN RUGBY LEAGUE". www.macron.com. July 7, 2021.
  9. ↑ "North American Rugby League competition "confident" of spring launch". LoveRugbyLeague. December 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ @atlantarhinos (June 4, 2022). "Register" (Tweet). Retrieved June 5, 2022– via Twitter.
  11. 1 2 "NARL". NARL.
  12. ↑ "Toronto Wolfpack confirm 2023 return with nine fixtures announced at Lamport Stadium". June 20, 2023.
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.