Big News On The Way

[Western_Eel]

http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/rugby_league/Big_News_On_The_Way.shtml

(Allene McIntosh photo)
Exciting news is in the pipeline for Rugby League in the United States in 2010.

Announcements will be made soon relating to the growth of the American National Rugby League and the development of the game in general.
One of the major items of news concerns an expansion of the AMNRL.
A new franchise is being established in Pittsburgh that will increase the AMNRL to a 12-team competition this summer.
On top of that, new logos are being designed for every team in the competition.
The league itself is undergoing a major rebranding. The overhaul is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2010 season in June.
At the same time, the national team the Tomahawks also will be rebranded.

The aim is to bring the program more in line with the focus of the future direction of the game in this country.
As well, announcements are expected to be made shortly concerning confirmation of a number of home internationals.
As the sport of rugby league continues to develop in the USA, you can check out some throwback action from the early days of American rugby league.
Highlights from USA v Ireland in the 1990's can be seen on YouTube. More USA v Ireland footage is available on YouTube.
Make sure to check back right here for all the details as they come to hand. ARN is the one and only rugby media outlet in the US that consistently covers the sport of rugby league.

 

[roopy]

Rebranding to bring a much more American feel to the comp is not a bad idea - probably something that came out of trying to sell the game to TV.

Another team is good.

Internationals are good - i'd love to see some of the newer european sides get free travel from Virgin and get over there for a few games - that would be great for everyone.

 

[Western_Eel]

American National Rugby League is a bit to much i think, maybe something abit shorter

 

[Coastbloke]

American Rugby League...??

Nah..Too simple and obvious..

 

[roopy]

Super League Rugby.

That would confuse the hell out of everyone, since their top Union comp is called Rugby Super League.

 

[Western_Eel]

National League?

 

[biggestbroncosfan]

is the NRLUS still going to happen or will they just upgrade their current competition?

 

[East Coast Tiger]

We know they are playing Italy and it seems there will be one or two more internationals. Good to see more club expansion too.

But what we all want to know is what is happening with the pro league. Mascord's story recently suggested we'd learn more about it soon and once again we're left waiting.

 

[jim_57]

What did the 'M' stannd for in AMNRL?

Why not just American National Rugby League and call it ANRL?

Hopefully with these changes the comp can be a bit more "professional" from now on, not meaning paying players but no/few forfieted or postponed games and set team numbers. Would be nice to see a few teams run second team games like the Axemen have done in the past.

As for Internationals I'd love to see them step up and take on a country participating in the Euro or Pacifc cup as a warm up for the Atlantic Cup. Whether or not it's financilly viable is another question but USA V Ireland/Scotland/Wales/Fiji/Samoa would be nice to see. Will also be interesting to see where the game against Italy is going to take place.

 

[Western_Eel]

Or even (ARL) thats not been used here anymore so i dont see why they cant use it.

 

[DINGb@T]

Pretty good news. Checked Pittsburgh on the map- seems like a good, common sense place to expand to. Not too far from the heartland. Actually it's pretty much the next major city west of the already established teams so it's the logical place to expand west.

And I'd say the rebrand would also have something to do with the potential clash of logo copyright they'd have with the various NRL teams. Going pro with a stack of borrowed logos wouldn't be a good look. It does show that they're making practical steps towards setting up the pro comp though. Could Pittsburgh be a feeder club etc for a pro team either in Pittsburgh or somewhere a bit further afield yet still close enough to the heartlands to play in the AMNRL?

 

[deluded pom?]

Going pro with a stack of borrowed logos wouldn't be a good look.

The AMNRL teams all have their own logo. Some may be similar to Australian teams but they aren't exact copies.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

RLR says Italy will hold a 3 game tour of the US including two games against club sides and one against the Tomahawaks. Plus the USA v Ireland international could be at Jacksonville.

 

[Jankuloski]

^^

The idea to change the logos is a very good one. Stolen NRL logos suggest a game played by Australians that happen to be in the US instead of an authentic competition which AMNRL is as far as I gathered.

The logo in my avatar is stolen, but it's for a univerity team, not a senior team.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Is there enough playing talent for the comp to expand?

And why not call it Rugby League America.

 

[taipan]

Call it CARL:Conference American Rugby League or Commission American Rugby League or Confederation American Rugby League.
You know its a winner.;-)

 

[RedVee]

AMNRL? - Isn't that AMerican NRL?

Just call it NRL.

 

[juro]

Wasn't the use of NRL one of the problems that NRL-US faced? The Australian NRL didn't want to share...