Atlantic Cup Squads

[Steve Davy]

Press Release, which I have just received;



2013 WORLD CUP ATLANTIC QUALIFIER SQUADS ANNOUNCED



USA, Jamaica and South Africa have announced their 30-man squads for October’s 2013 Rugby League World Cup Atlantic Qualifiers in Philadelphia.



While the hosts and the men from the Caribbean can call on players with Super League and NRL experience, the South African Rhinos are exclusively drawn from their domestic competition, with Tuks Bulls from Northern Gauteng having the most representatives.



The Tomahawks are trying to qualify for their first ever World Cup and Head Coach Matthew Elliott has called on Castleford Tigers’ utility Ryan McGoldrick who is one of one of eight players remaining from their 2007 qualifying semi final when they went down to Samoa, the others being Curtis Cunz, Louis Tulio, Matt Petersen, David Myles, Tyrone Coppedge, Mark Cantoni, and David Marando. Parramatta’s Joseph Paulo, who is in the squad, was playing for Samoa in that match. Jacksonville’s Apple Pope retains the captaincy while Kelly McGill, Jayson Rego, Johua Rice and Nate Smith are former College Football players with the University of Hawaii and the University of Louisville.



"We have had a good preparation, which started some time ago but really began to take shape when I visited Hawaii to develop team systems and player evaluations with the staff,” said Elliott. “I know the players are keen to do well and I am very excited about the tournament and the challenges we will face," he added. He will have Marcus Vassilakopoulos and Shane Millard as his assistants.



The headline inclusion for the ‘rugby reggae’ boys is Wigan’s Karl Pryce who has spent the season on loan with Harlequins, while young Leeds winger Jamal Chisholm has twice been accorded the British game’s ‘fastest man’ title in sprint challenges. Champions Duhaney Park Red Sharks and Grand Finalists Vauxhall Vultures provide five men each, Lamont Bryan of Harlequins adds experience to the pack and there is outstanding pace throughout the squad.



Jamaica Head Coach Dean Thomas noted, “I have been able to monitor the continued personal development of the players in their club environment. 2011 has seen a marked improvement in all of them and the squad has a good balance of experience and youth. Hunslet’s Waine Pryce is an ideal calming influence and there is the enthusiasm of the likes of Corey Hanson of Sheffield Eagles who at 18 has had a great break through year. All the players are extremely excited about the prospects of playing in a World Cup.”



South Africa have concluded a lucrative three year sponsorship deal with Steeden as they begin their campaign and they will also carry the legacy project "rhinoforce" on their shirt as part of a drive to raise awareness of the plight of the endangered Rhino. Their coach Steven van Zyl is confident that, although being an unknown quantity, his charges can make an impact. “We have some players playing league internationally but the squad that we currently have, have been together for a while, so they understand each other,” he said.



“We had a long chat with them and explained that we're confident with them, now all they have to do is go out and perform on the field. Although we have a relatively inexperienced team in terms of international games, we do have a very good mix of brawn and intelligence. We have played against some strong touring teams and the guys have acquitted themselves brilliantly at all times.”



JAMAICA

Wayne Allen, Daley Lee Williams (Batley Bulldogs), Ashley Johnson (Coventry Bears), Romaen Campbell, Roy Calvert, Damon Gayle, Ryan Grant, Marvin Thompson (Duhaney Park Red Sharks), Joseph Brown (Gateshead Thunder), Jode Sheriffe, Paul White (Halifax), Lamont Bryan, Omari Caro (Harlequins), Ross Peltier (Huddersfield Giants), Richie Barnett, Waine Pryce (Hunslet Hawks), Jymel Coleman, Jamaine Wray (Keighley Cougars), Danny Bravo, Jamal Chisholm (Leeds Rhinos), Wesley Haughton (New Haven Warriors), Corey Hanson, Reece Williams, Sam Williamson (Sheffield Eagles), Karl Pryce (Wigan Warriors), Carlye Burgher, Jahdeek Clarke, Sandino Hastings, Tyronie Rowe, Claude Yen (Vauxhall Rugby Club)



SOUTH AFRICA

Henry du Toit, Stevie Meyer, Gerrie Slabber, Christoff Swanepoel (Bloemfontein Roosters, Orange Free State), Francois Greyvensteyn, Christo Joubert, Andre Loader, Andre Olwagen, Rudi Prinsloo (Brakpan Bears, Eastern Gauteng), Pieter Lee (Ermelo Tomahawks, Mpumalanga Province), Johan Fritz (Middelburg Tigers, Mpumalanga Province), Hans du Plessis, Gerhard de Wet, Riaan Engelbrecht, Deon Kraemer, Christo Louw, Sivive Mpondo, JP Nel, Marcelle Slabbert, Jonothan Soares, Pieter van der Nest, Franco Vermeulen, Rupert Wells (Tuks Bulls, Northern Gauteng)

USA

Michael Garvey, Andrew Kneisly, Louis Tulio (Aston Bulls), David Marando (Belrose Eages), Ryan McGoldrick (Castleford), Curtis Cunz, Charles Rizzo, Salesi Tongamoa (Connecticut Wildcats), Mark Offerdahl (Easts Tigers), Mitchell Stevens (Gateshead Thunder), Keiki Misipeka, Jayson Rego, Joshua Rice (Hawaii Islanders), Apple Pope (Jacksonville), Nate Smith (Louisville), Kelly McGill, Sione Taufa (Maui Voyagers), Fitz James Adams, Charles Cortalano, Ian Elliott, Justin Ripley, Sean Taylor (NY Knights), Mark Cantoni (Northern Pride), Leslie Alovili (Northern Raiders), Joseph Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Junior Paulo (Penrith Panthers), Stephen Howard (Tuggeranong Valley), Daniel Howard (Wentworthville Magpies), David Myles, Matt Peterson (unattached)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apple Pope is listed by home-town rather than as unattached.

 

[druzik]

Interesting so basically

Jamica 37% of the squad is local based
South Africa is all local
USA is 63% local based

... and when did Louisville have a Rugby League team?

 

[aarondoyle]

Is there a link to it some where online?

 

[Steve Davy]

There is now;
http://www.rugbyleagueinternational...orld-cup-atlantic-qualifier-squads-announced/

 

[billy2]

Jamacia will certainly make the US work hard, or maybe even get up.
South Africa are the great unknown. No one has a clue if those guys are any good, but from a country where Rugby is a religion, you would think they will be mounting a serious bid.

 

[Poul]

Jamacia will certainly make the US work hard, or maybe even get up.
South Africa are the great unknown. No one has a clue if those guys are any good, but from a country where Rugby is a religion, you would think they will be mounting a serious bid.

I think you'll find that in South Africa, rugby union is a religion, whereas Rugby League would be considered more like blasphemy.

So, I don't think the South Africans will be mounting a serious bid.

For the good of the game in the US, I hope the Tomahawks get up, but I do agree they'll find it hard work against a Super League bolstered Jamaican side.

 

[franklin2323]

Jamacia and USA seem pretty close in Quality

 

[nadera78]

Good Luck Jamaica!

I'm assuming the first name of the Jamaican list is Wayne Reittie?

 

[billy2]

I've said many times before that we should consider the benefit the game would get from sides getting in.
It's a bit absurd that we are now in the position where our most important development nation, USA, could miss out, while our least important development 'nation', Cook Islands, don't even have to qualify for their first WC appearance.
In the future the non country of Cook Islands might get 10 or 20% better than they are now and cling onto a top 16 ranking for the next WC, while it's almost certain the USA will have 100% improvement by 2017 if they make it this time around.
I have nothing against the Cooks, who have done a magnificent job to get where they are, but if Cooks are in and USA miss out, we might as well just shoot ourselves in both feet instead of just one to save time later on.

 

[mother rucker]

Well they have most certainly pulled together an AMNRL select side without selecting a single player form the USARL. This is discussing that an organization that claims to be for the betterment of RL in the United States can discriminate against players because of the league that they play for. Very unAmerican David Nui. But I guess that your not anyway so bravo. Good luck with your AMNRL select side and its non American players, I look forward to the All National South Africa rolling over ya. I as an American am disgusted with the fact that you call it a USA team. No Sir, correct yourself it is not.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Jamaica has this covered.

And they deserve it too.

 

[deal.with.it]

Obviously the USA have the better forward pack. Especially with offerdahl, cantoni and the paulo's. Not to mention good AMNRL forwards. Jamaica have the quick outside backs. Lamont bryant is good in the forwards, but jamaica's best chance of winning is the wingers i.e. pryce brothers. and also jamaine wray at hooker scooting out of dummy half coming off their own line and beating the usa forwards. i can see a few length of the field tries happening. These pro players will do wonders for the domestic jamaican players. they will improve a ridiculous amount, as we have seen from the last couple of atlantic cups.
And who really knows what the south africa team will produce. they didn't have favourable results when they played uk touring teams, or their tour of the uk.
This should be a cracking series, will it be on tv in usa or internet?

 

[Mullins!!!]

Don't you think Matt Eliot would be like "f**k of Nui I want the best players from the USARL too!" Why is he going along with this...he must know.

Also didn't Matt Peterson retire ages ago? Could look a bit shit if we heard this in the commentary of the WC (if they get there) "And here is good old Matt Peterson...he retired 10 years ago but was still good enough to walk into the national team"... would make the USA look like a joke

 

[franklin2323]

Don't you think Matt Eliot would be like "f**k of Nui I want the best players from the USARL too!" Why is he going along with this...he must know.

No. He is a hippy he always wants to be best mates with everyone and won't rock the boat. Niu would say the locals play for the best local comp so are the best available

 

[deluded pom?]

Is that the same Junior Paulo listed for the Tomahawks who played against the USA in 2007 in the WC qualifiers?

 

[franklin2323]

Is that the same Junior Paulo listed for the Tomahawks who played against the USA in 2007 in the WC qualifiers?

Yes. He is Amercian Samoan. George Carmont & Aaron Heremaia are also but don't seem to be interesting in playing for them

 

[Evil Homer]

That's a strong Jamaica squad, they would be my tip TBH.

 

[Goddo]

I've said many times before that we should consider the benefit the game would get from sides getting in.
It's a bit absurd that we are now in the position where our most important development nation, USA, could miss out, while our least important development 'nation', Cook Islands, don't even have to qualify for their first WC appearance.
In the future the non country of Cook Islands might get 10 or 20% better than they are now and cling onto a top 16 ranking for the next WC, while it's almost certain the USA will have 100% improvement by 2017 if they make it this time around.
I have nothing against the Cooks, who have done a magnificent job to get where they are, but if Cooks are in and USA miss out, we might as well just shoot ourselves in both feet instead of just one to save time later on.

Agreed, Cook Islands IS NOT A COUNTRY.

And concidering how the Canadians went against the AMNRL "all stars" side, maybe we should be offering 2 WC spots to an expanded Atlantic qualifying pool.

Jamaica, Canada, the USA and South Africa offer the game so much more than a tiny New Zealand/England dependent atoll.

 

[NRL-TGG]

The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy, they deserve a team too imo.

Any country in the world getting better at the game is overall good for the game, some more then others but it shouldn't be shunned upon.

 

[biggestbroncosfan]

Obviously the USA have the better forward pack. Especially with offerdahl, cantoni and the paulo's. Not to mention good AMNRL forwards. Jamaica have the quick outside backs. Lamont bryant is good in the forwards, but jamaica's best chance of winning is the wingers i.e. pryce brothers. and also jamaine wray at hooker scooting out of dummy half coming off their own line and beating the usa forwards. i can see a few length of the field tries happening. These pro players will do wonders for the domestic jamaican players. they will improve a ridiculous amount, as we have seen from the last couple of atlantic cups.
And who really knows what the south africa team will produce. they didn't have favourable results when they played uk touring teams, or their tour of the uk.
This should be a cracking series, will it be on tv in usa or internet?

why is Clint Newton not named? and I remember Charlie Leaneo being mentioned where is he playing? The Jamaican forward pack is pretty strong as well Ross Peltier and Wes Haughton and both big lads who will trouble the tomahawks shame Ryan Bailey is not playing. I'm tipping Jamaica to win and qualify for the World Cup. As for the USA if they don't make the World Cup then most likely the Star Group and We are Rugby will end their partnership with the AMNRL leaving the AMNRL no other option but to head to the USARL