Enough about USA lets talk Canada!

[judah]

The USARL/AMNRL split has created much debate on this forum, but what about Canada's rise???

Canada Rugby League has been up and running for less than two years, yet what they have been able to achieve in this short time has been nothing short of remarkable. Beating Jamaica and USA in 2011 proves what they were capable at the international level, and there is much more that was achieved behind the scenes.

The season started with a four team domestic competition based in Toronto. This was used as a trial to name a 30 man Canada Wolverines squad that went on to win two of their four internationals. The crowds were pretty good for a new sport ranging from around 700 to 2,700.

The CRL presented a rugby league show that showed highlights of the weeks NRL and Super League games as well as segments about Canada Rugby League.

Each home game was filmed and highlights were played on the show too.

The website looks great and is regularly updated.

And all this was achieved by funding that was raised from the chairman and president. There was no financial support from the RLIF or RLEF.

Not a bad effort eh! 2012 should bring some great new developments to the CRL, get excited!:crazy:

 

[NRL-TGG]

Yes, they have done a fantastic job so far and if what I am hearing comes true then it's going to be a big 2012 for them as well.

 

[flippikat]

Actually Canada might even be more receptive to rugby league than the USA - they don't have any NFL teams, and are extremely familiar with fast-paced, non-stop team sport - just look at the following that ice hockey has!

 

[Sam_the_man]

Canada should be congratulated asolutely. I'm be over the moon if they can get back to where they were in the mis 60's within 5 years.
Is that possible Judah?

 

[supercharger]

Actually Canada might even be more receptive to rugby league than the USA - they don't have any NFL teams, and are extremely familiar with fast-paced, non-stop team sport - just look at the following that ice hockey has!

Ever heard of the CFL?

 

[deal.with.it]

Yes, they have done a fantastic job so far and if what I am hearing comes true then it's going to be a big 2012 for them as well.

and what are you hearing?

 

[Mullins!!!]

Ever heard of the CFL?

Nope...I think that's his point

 

[supercharger]

Nope...I think that's his point

C'mon guys some of Y'all are starting to sound as geniused as union and afl fans
the CFL has average attendance of 27k and overall attendance 2 million with an average television audience of 700k
and the grey cup attracted 4.6 million viewers this year and 6.1 million last year

 

[Sam_the_man]

Quiet like the CFL. Quicker version of the NFL.

 

[deluded pom?]

Yes, they have done a fantastic job so far and if what I am hearing comes true then it's going to be a big 2012 for them as well.

Fingers crossed.

 

[supercharger]

Quiet like the CFL. Quicker version of the NFL.

yeah it's awesome and the CFL produced one of the best sports commercials ever http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS1jCfg7Qxc

 

[yakstorm]

There's no doubt what the CRL has achieved in such a short period of time is impressive. They are a very proactive organisation. Corey and Eric who run the league and are behind the show have worked very hard to ensure there is a regular international program for the league, which is assisting with Jamie Lester and Chris Diamond's work in the domestic competition (Toronto).

Throw in that the work that has been done in British Columbia, 2011 was a great season for the code in Canada.

2012 I'm sure will be a bit of a consolidation year for the CRL. From what I hear the Toronto domestic league won't be increasing in team size, but will run significantly longer than the 3 weeks + finals that occurred in 2011.

British Columbia I'm sure will be hopeful of getting a competition up and running this year after a few trial games in 2011.

Be interesting to see what internationals are announced by Canada in 2012...you'd expect the Colonial Cup match to continue again against the USA, hopefully there is another fixture at least between the Wolverines and Jamaica.

 

[supercharger]

There's no doubt what the CRL has achieved in such a short period of time is impressive. They are a very proactive organisation. Corey and Eric who run the league and are behind the show have worked very hard to ensure there is a regular international program for the league, which is assisting with Jamie Lester and Chris Diamond's work in the domestic competition (Toronto).

Throw in that the work that has been done in British Columbia, 2011 was a great season for the code in Canada.

2012 I'm sure will be a bit of a consolidation year for the CRL. From what I hear the Toronto domestic league won't be increasing in team size, but will run significantly longer than the 3 weeks + finals that occurred in 2011.

British Columbia I'm sure will be hopeful of getting a competition up and running this year after a few trial games in 2011.

Be interesting to see what internationals are announced by Canada in 2012...you'd expect the Colonial Cup match to continue again against the USA, hopefully there is another fixture at least between the Wolverines and Jamaica.

all sounds pretty promising

 

[billy2]

The three North American sides can drive each other to reach new levels you would imagine.
The Canadians won't rest till they can beat USA regularly, which in turn will drive USA to improve, and Jamacia should keep them both honest.

 

[yakstorm]

Added to that, the growth of Canada and USA leagues just means more importantly more people are playing the game across North America and that hopefully we'll soon get to that point where more regional leagues can exist across the continent rather than forcing people who want to play League to travel such massive distances.

 

[judah]

I'm not sure exactly how many teams Canada had in the 60's, but it looks as though we will have four strong clubs in Ontario again for 2012 and possibly four in BC. The teams out of Ontario will be the official CRL domestic comp while the BC comp will be a development comp as it will be their first year.

There will be some changes to the domestic teams, but that will be announced officially by the CRL soon. The season will be running longer and alongside rugby union as we feel comfortable that we can field four strong teams throughout the season. The games will be played on Sunday though so players can choose to play both codes if they desire. Our goal is to have 6 teams in Ontario for 2013!

Our International schedule should be interesting if everybody that has indicated they will come does. Again, you'll have to wait for an official announcement from CRL. We are hping to do some kind of tour to the UK/Europe prior or during the 2013 World Cup and we also intend on having a Canada University team at the 2013 University World Cup... does anybody have any contact people for that???

 

[flippikat]

Ever heard of the CFL?

Vaguely - I know it's very similar to NFL, but if you asked me to name 5 teams in that league I'd seriously struggle!

The money in NFL is huge - so if they're similar games, wouldn't the best CFL athletes be head-hunted by the NFL anyway?

Also, there's always the chance that the NFL may expand into Canada - case in point, speculation that the Buffalo Bills may move to Toronto.
That would be a blow to the CFL.

Rugby League gives Canada an alternative that's similar in some ways to CFL/NFL (tackle count with kick at the end or hand-over), and different in others (non-stop play, tons of "lateral" passing).

 

[bobmar28]

yeah it's awesome and the CFL produced one of the best sports commercials ever http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS1jCfg7Qxc

That's impressive. Maybe league could gain a following in summer.

 

[PacificCoastRL]

That's impressive. Maybe league could gain a following in summer.

Bobmar if by that you mean to avoid the CFL, you couldn't. The CFL actually starts in mid-June with two pre-season games for each of the eight teams in the league. That is followed by a regular season that begins on the July 1 weekend and concludes with the Grey Cup championship the last weekend in November. At that point many football fans turn their attention to the NFL, who are now into the homestretch in their regular season, concluding with the Super Bowl the first weekend in February. And, for Canadians at least, the NHL season ends at around the same time football is beginning. I not sure there is a perfect time to play rugby league in Canada, other than to say pick a time and just go for it. Just as a qualifier, while summer begins in Canada on about June 21 and goes to about Sept. 21, it is more a state of mind. Many feel summer begins on the May Long Weekend holiday which is the third weekend in May, and ends on the Labor Day weekend which is the first weekend in September. If it were up to me out here on the West Coast, I would start a season in August and end around the end of October. Here in BC the days are hot in early August, but the nights are cool, while you can get great weather, that is, moderate temperatures and reasonably dry conditions well into October. Of course, this time frame would conflict with union who begin games in September and play until early December, then take a break until February before picking up again and playing until April-ish.

 

[billy2]

So what is the Canadian position on imported players?

I don't know the visa situation, but I get the feeling that Australians can get a work visa for Canada much easier than for the US.

The US teams seem to have a limit of 3 imports, and that seems to work well for them, but I think the Canadians could fast track their development if they went to 5 per team for a few years, assuming they could find 5 good players looking for a working holiday.

If the Canadian season and the US season were different, even a few of the more experienced US guys could play as imports in Canada if they wanted to.