USA 2024

[yakstorm]

With a new year fast approach, thought it was time for a new thread.

Utah:
Utah Junior Rugby League has announced an U17s Men & Women’s 9s competition to run from December to February at Zions Bank Indoor Stadium in Herriman.

The clubs entering teams are the Timp Panthers, Wolfpack, Rabbitohs, Phoenix & West Side Pitbulls.

Meanwhile the Utah RLA has confirmed that the Provo Broncos, Riverton Seagulls, Herriman Roosters & Glendale Storm are all back for 2024. Their Twitter account has indicated another 1-2 teams maybe joining, which is exciting.

 

[NRLMad]

Are they working with the nrl to promote their own competition when the nrl hits Vegas? They should all be doing clinics all around the Vegas strip.

 

[yakstorm]

Nashville:
First combine was held in Hendersonville last week, run by Nashville Head coach, Dustin Lavender.

Lavender previously coached the Tennessee Elite & Middle Tennessee State University clubs.

 

[yakstorm]

Are they working with the nrl to promote their own competition when the nrl hits Vegas? They should all be doing clinics all around the Vegas strip.

Utah Rugby League has indicated on social that they are looking to do something around Vegas and have been in contact with the NRL. The Rugby League in America podcast has also confirmed that the USARL has been involved with chats with the NRL.

Some of the speculation around that is there maybe combines in Vegas or the USA may play Canada on the Friday night.

Considering each of the NRL clubs will be in and around LA & San Diego in the lead up, I hope the Pacific Coast RL is able to do something with the clubs.

 

[yakstorm]

Utah Junior clubs have confirmed what regions they will be representing:

Rabbitohs
West Jordan, South Jordan, Sandy, Riverton, Draper

Wolfpack
Springville, Spanish Fork, Payson, Sanaquin

Phoenix
North Salt Lake, Ogden

West Side Pit Bulls
Magna, Kearns, West Valley, South Salt Lake, Murray

Timp Panthers
Mt Timpanogos surrounds


Below shows roughly where each of the clubs represent (Phoenix also represent further north and Wolfpack represents further South). Wolfpack are near Provo Broncos, Rabbitohs near the Herriman Roosters and Riverton Seagulls.

 

[RedVee_8]

Nashville:
First combine was held in Hendersonville last week, run by Nashville Head coach, Dustin Lavender.

Lavender previously coached the Tennessee Elite & Middle Tennessee State University clubs.

Were they Rugby clubs Lavender coached previously? and the combine Rugby League?

The US talk is always “Rugby” and sometimes hard to distinguish between the two.

 

[yakstorm]

Were they Rugby clubs Lavender coached previously? and the combine Rugby League?

The US talk is always “Rugby” and sometimes hard to distinguish between the two.

It looks like the University team was a 7s side, and the Elite team, he coached both the XV and 7s Rugby Union sides. The combine was a Rugby League combine.

 

[yakstorm]

Wales Wheelchair National team will play two Tests against the USA Wheelchair National team next February.

Both matches will be played at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina on February 2 and 3.

 

[yakstorm]

Utah Junior League 9s season:

 

[yakstorm]

USA Hawks to play Jamaica Reggae Warriors in Kingston on December 2.

 

[wain]

Nashville:
First combine was held in Hendersonville last week, run by Nashville Head coach, Dustin Lavender.

Lavender previously coached the Tennessee Elite & Middle Tennessee State University clubs.

interested to see which competition Nashville will slot into?
This is where we need a few teams from neighbouring cities or states to minimise travel time when these teams just start out.

 

[wain]

also, I really see the SW become the hub of RL in the USA in coming years...largely based on proximity and access to pacific Islander populations.

Honestly, my 'big picture dream' would be to have Tonga v Samoa do a 5 game series...they would confidently get decent crowds (~15-20k) in Honolulu, Utah and LA. Pick 2 of those cities each series...throw in a game in Sydney, one in Auckland, and alternate with a home nation getting one match every year. With big crowds in NZ and Aus, and strong $USD for games in USA, this would easily offset the cost of playing a game in Tonga or Samoa. That would do wonders for moving casual Pacific Islanders living in USA from Union to League by exposing them to something like that.

I dont want to hijack the thread by making it Tonga v Samoa...but this ground in Salt Lake City would be amazing for a match like this...and have the local league play some curtain raisers.

 

[yakstorm]

interested to see which competition Nashville will slot into?
This is where we need a few teams from neighbouring cities or states to minimise travel time when these teams just start out.

I guess USARL South would be the closest existing competition. Nashville to Atlanta is under 4hrs.

Not sure where in Carolina the Carolina Storm are (are they north? south?), between the new Nashville RL, the Highway Musicmen (also Nashville), Atlanta Rhinos & Storm, that might be a nice pocket competition.

 

[yakstorm]

also, I really see the SW become the hub of RL in the USA in coming years...largely based on proximity and access to pacific Islander populations.

Honestly, my 'big picture dream' would be to have Tonga v Samoa do a 5 game series...they would confidently get decent crowds (~15-20k) in Honolulu, Utah and LA. Pick 2 of those cities each series...throw in a game in Sydney, one in Auckland, and alternate with a home nation getting one match every year. With big crowds in NZ and Aus, and strong $USD for games in USA, this would easily offset the cost of playing a game in Tonga or Samoa. That would do wonders for moving casual Pacific Islanders living in USA from Union to League by exposing them to something like that.

I dont want to hijack the thread by making it Tonga v Samoa...but this ground in Salt Lake City would be amazing for a match like this...and have the local league play some curtain raisers.
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It's definitely a connection we should leverage as a sport.

The success of Mate Ma’a Tonga & Toa Samoa has sparked celebrations in Utah in 2017 & 2022 (Story about the celebrations last year https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ab...es-samoa-rugby-success-with-parade-event/amp/) despite how little presence the sport has had in the area In the lead up to both events.

I would imagine with a little bit of promotion, we could easily get a big crowd in Utah, which is conveniently next door to Nevada, a place the NRL has committed to taking games to over the next 4 years.

 

[yakstorm]

Utah Junior League kicks off this weekend:

 

[yakstorm]

Squads for USA v Jamaica clash

 

[yakstorm]

USA Hawks 30 - 26 Jamaica Reggae Warriors

 

[yakstorm]

2024 will see the USARL run its first national Women's Championship.

The West Division will contain the LA Mongrels, San Diego Barracudas & Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans.

The East Division will contain Jacksonville, Tampa Bay & the Valkyries.

 

[yakstorm]

Las Vegas 9s announced to be played on the Thursday / Friday leading into the NRL in Vegas event next March.

 

[wain]

Las Vegas 9s announced to be played on the Thursday / Friday leading into the NRL in Vegas event next March.

and Ive taken notice that a few articles have mentioned the USA Rugby League specifically...although I haven't seen anything mentioned from them yet?

That would be the ultimate icing on the cake out of this...is if the NRL is working with USARL. Not only a boost for the local game, but also would hopefully drive all the other smaller breakaway comps to look to come back to the USARL fold...and for the USARL to realise they need to get their s&*# together to continue to get the support of NRL.