USA Rugby League

[Rampart66]

http://www.usarugbyleague.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: USA RUGBY LEAGUE (USARL) IS FORMED; NINE CLUBS ALREADY COMMITTED TO INAUGURAL 2011 SEASON. January 11, 2011 (NEW YORK, NEW YORK)-Nine prominent Rugby League clubs announced the formation of a new national competition today, the USA Rugby League (www.usarugbyleague.com), which will hold its inaugural season in the summer of 2011.

Seven clubs that have committed to the inaugural USARL competition already have a history of top-level Rugby League play in the United States. These clubs are the Boston 13s, the D.C. Slayers, the Fairfax (VA) Eagles, the Jacksonville Axemen, the New Haven Warriors, the Philadelphia Fight and the Pittsburgh Vipers. They will be joined by two expansion clubs: the New Jersey Knights and Kodiak Rugby from New York City.

One of the key differences between the USARL and any other rugby leagues in the USA is that it is a member cooperative. As stated by Daryl “Spinner” Howland of the Jacksonville Axemen: "The formation of the USARL is a watershed moment in the history of Rugby League in America. The USA has never before had a Governing Body where the Member Clubs all have an equal opportunity to progress themselves as well as the League to which they are all a part, via a true democratic process that includes elections. We feel that the USARL will allow us to support other clubs, and visa versa, in league wide efforts to see our years of investment progress Rugby League, while also having a voice in the direction the Governing Body takes the sport."

Ryan P. McGough, President of the Philadelphia Fight, expressed the same sentiments. “It will be nice to be part of a League where the Clubs have a direct say, form the long-term vision and have a clear financial stake in the result.”

Important Additional Information:

The USA Rugby League (USARL) is the source for high-level, semi-professional Rugby League competition in the USA. Formed on the principles of transparency, accountability and equal voting and equity participation by its participants, the USARL is a cooperative of the Member Clubs. The USARL will hold its inaugural season in the summer of 2011. The USARL is also committed to developing the sport of Rugby League at a grassroots level and a true focus of expanding the sport both in player numbers and in youth initiatives. This commitment embraces the sport at semi-professional and amateur levels in an effort to further progress Rugby League.

 

[roopy]

This isn't the outcome i hoped for, but onwards and upwards.

 

[westie]

Who is left to play in the AMNRL?

 

[International RL]

More or less no-one

NY Knights
Bulls
Raiders

The Raiders are a dicey proposition as is.

I'd expect those clubs to either die or eventually join the USARL.

The USARL is a better name. The AM of NRL has NEVER made sense.

 

[Ari Gold]

Same scenario as Italy.

 

[juro]

I think this is the split, with other teams to be added to either comp...

AMNRL
Aston Bulls
Bucks County Sharks
Connecticut Wildcats
New York Knights
New York Raiders

USARL
Boston 13s
DC Slayers
Fairfax Eagles
Jacksonville Axemen
New Haven Warriors
Philadelphia Fight
Pittsburgh Vipers

 

[pennpool]

from what i know. the sharks have not committed to either league yet

 

[pennpool]

I think this is the split, with other teams to be added to either comp...

AMNRL
Aston Bulls
Bucks County Sharks
Connecticut Wildcats
New York Knights
New York Raiders

USARL
Boston 13s
DC Slayers
Fairfax Eagles
Jacksonville Axemen
New Haven Warriors
Philadelphia Fight
Pittsburgh Vipers

USARL
Boston 13s
DC Slayers
Fairfax Eagles
Jacksonville Axemen
New Haven Warriors
Philadelphia Fight
Pittsburgh Sledge Hammers (Vipers) http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=375590
Kodiak rugby
New Jersey Knights

 

[East Coast Tiger]

This new mob better now show that what they have to offer is a lot better than the status quo. That means websites and a whole range of other professional off-field activities, while hopefully pushing real expansion. It is going to have to prove its long-term benefit to the sport because this split has probably ruined any hope of the pro league being established any time soon and any hope the Tomahawks had of making the WC.

 

[Rouge_Operative]

This new mob better now show that what they have to offer is a lot better than the status quo. That means websites and a whole range of other professional off-field activities, while hopefully pushing real expansion. It is going to have to prove its long-term benefit to the sport because this split has probably ruined any hope of the pro league being established any time soon and any hope the Tomahawks had of making the WC.

There never was hope of a pro league, not in the players eyes anyways. We can't even get teams to commit to matches and show up much less start a pro comp.

 

[roopy]

The league needed to split into a few conferences anyway.
Hopefully this will see all the individual clubs make efforts to improve, and hopefully there will be a re-conciliation before long.
I can see the makings of two viable comps there.

 

[RedVee]

Are these types of dramas inevitable in Rugby League?

 

[East Coast Tiger]

One of the big problems for the new league is that, like in Italy, the old governing body will remain the one recognised by the RLIF and is the one who will run the national team. That means we'll see Tomahawks sides picked from four or five club sides and an even weaker team. At this stage Jamaica or South Africa have just seen their World Cup hopes jump significantly.

 

[CQ Italia]

Same scenario as Italy.

Yes very similar.
It seems like the FIRL, the officials didn't want to listen to the teams/ concerns?

 

[CQ Italia]

One of the big problems for the new league is that, like in Italy, the old governing body will remain the one recognised by the RLIF and is the one who will run the national team. That means we'll see Tomahawks sides picked from four or five club sides and an even weaker team. At this stage Jamaica or South Africa have just seen their World Cup hopes jump significantly.

That is right, except both "official governing bodies" can rely on heritage players, no matter what their domestic scene looks like. Italy has 3 'confirmed' NRL players for RLWC qualifiers team (one being a "golden boot winner"), one will be clearly Anthony Minichiello, other 2 would/might be his brother and Laffranchi. Although all 3 can still be picked for NSW.

With both nations, all players may remain eligible for the "official" NT. With Italy 3 players were chosen from the Italia RFL, from the one team, but the reasons for doing so were wrong.

Plus USA has a "bigger scale" effect to the main body, due to more teams.
Maybe there might be a DEMOCRATIC resolution for both by that time, noticed 'democratic' and real 'development' are common terms for both Italia RFL and USARL federations

What the Rugby League International fans may see in 2011 is 2 bodies that are effectively bigger (on professionalization, player/teams quality and financially), than the officially recognized bodies. :sarcasm:

Apparently AMNRL will have "twice as many teams" as last year though. Is that including the West teams...

 

[spinnerhowland]

This was the official release from the Axemen to our players/staff core and IS our stance on this issue - "No one is bigger than the sport"

All Axemen players, admin and associated volunteer staff:

You may have seen a release in regards to the new USARL today and this is the follow up from the email you received 2 weeks ago and most of the info you got at the team meeting on Sunday. Now that this is public, we ask each and everyone of you to do a two things.

Read this – then visit www.jaxaxe.com to read the official release. The Axemen are "business as usual" and moving forward with Rugby League in Florida.

We, along with you (our players and club members), show respect and give credit to David Niu and the AMNRL for all they have done for Rugby League in the USA and for those they have touched personally in those development efforts.

We have committed too, and are instructing all of you (Our club members and players) to never reply, rebut or respond in a negative way to them or what may be their future efforts.

You are all aware of the choices and decisions that lead us to this move and our reasons for being a part of the new effort. However that is now behind us and it is time to move forward for the betterment of Rugby League and our club.

In our dedication to the sport of Rugby League we will also support, encourage and develop the players on our club if they are selected for national team duties and we will also support any efforts for the Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers to be held in the USA.

 

[RedVee]

That is right, except both "official governing bodies" can rely on heritage players, no matter what their domestic scene looks like. Italy has 3 'confirmed' NRL players for RLWC qualifiers team (one being a "golden boot winner"), one will be clearly Anthony Minichiello, other 2 would/might be his brother and Laffranchi. Although all 3 can still be picked for NSW.

With both nations, all players may remain eligible for the "official" NT. With Italy 3 players were chosen from the Italia RFL, from the one team, but the reasons for doing so were wrong.

Plus USA has a "bigger scale" effect to the main body, due to more teams.
Maybe there might be a DEMOCRATIC resolution for both by that time, noticed 'democratic' and real 'development' are common terms for both Italia RFL and USARL federations

What the Rugby League International fans may see in 2011 is 2 bodies that are effectively bigger (on professionalization, player/teams quality and financially), than the officially recognized bodies. :sarcasm:

Apparently AMNRL will have "twice as many teams" as last year though. Is that including the West teams...

Firstly, bigger? What new teams are playing in the ifrl next year? afaik, there are 3/4?

Plus - is that a scoop you've just dropped in there? Minichello x2 + Laffranchi????????

 

[RedVee]

I hope by "co-operative" this means that the clubs will share conatacts for merchandise and eshop building etc. It would be great if all teams had the type of merchandise for sale that, for eg, the Axemen do. Multiply that over nn segments of the business and things could improve for each club.
I wonder if there was any hurdles to be jumped to be eligible for this comp? financial or otherwise? or, just a willingness to signup and make up the numbers?

 

[CQ Italia]

Firstly, bigger? What new teams are playing in the ifrl next year? afaik, there are 3/4?

Plus - is that a scoop you've just dropped in there? Minichello x2 + Laffranchi????????

2010 IRFL there were 4, one in your signature (Gladiators Roma, Magnifici Firenze, Spartans Catania and the 4th invited from amateur rugby - Villa Pamphili Roma Rugby). In RL World our President (Matteo Visona), stated the aim was 8-10+ teams (already been publicly announced, so this is not a scoop).


The coach dropped that scoop on twitter (Italia RFL is the unsanctioned remember):

On Thursday 23rd December 2010, @c4rlonapolitano said:Looking forward to the world cup qualifiers in 2011! We have 3 NRL players confirmed to play with one becoming the captain to add to his best player in the world accolades! Can't wait! Merry Xmas!

Therefore one can guess both Minis + Laffranchi.
Campese - is injured / would be committed to NSW/Aus
But maybe one could be Ciraldo, instead of M.M or A.Laffranchi.

 

[joshreading]

Key problem with the New Jersey Knights name... there is an Ice Hockey team named that. It might be an idea to atleast google before coming up with names.

I assume that was also the prob with the Pitt Vipers as there was already a Pitt Vipers (Ice Hockey)