RLWC 2017 Americas Qualifiers - LIVE Saturday morning EST

[miguel de cervantes]

1 to go same score

 

[miguel de cervantes]

USA in on the bell 34 - 24 and into RLWC 2017!

Great series, well done to Canada and Jamaica.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Welcome USA to the WC

 

[Emu01]

Great game USA deserved the win.Canada very gallent in deafeat. A couple of 40/20 kicks really help USA keep the momentum going there way..

Congratulations USA!

 

[yakstorm]

Well done to the USA Hawks for qualifying for RLWC 2017. Canada and Jamaica pushed them all the way in both games so its credit that they got the wins.

One thing I will say is I sincerely hope that this isn't the last time these three nations play each other until the 2021 RLWC Qualifiers. Whilst I know Canada and USA are likely to continue their annual Colonial Cup matches, it's important that Jamaica gets some regular fixtures so they can continue to progress as well.

Whilst I can appreciate that cost is a significant factor, especially for the Reggae Warriors, it would be great if all three nation could play each other once or twice each year and that Mexico slowly gets brought into this fixture list as well now that there are a few teams around Mexico City playing the game.

If we could have 4 or more nations for the Americas 2021 RLWC Qualifiers, this will reduce the chance of one nation getting a more favorable draw over the others.

 

[Heritage XIII]

Now the US Hawks have made @RLWC2017 any body on social media needs to promote the hell out of their attendance let alone the whole tournament. I've already noticed SBS put out a quick mention of te Hawks victory (small but hey recognition more than what the usual suspects have done so far)

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/12/13/us-qualify-rugby-league-world-cup

I've tweeted this to the US embassy via @USAembassyinOZ @AmChamAU (who assist trade links between Oz & US) plus Fox Sports links on facebook etc.

It would be good for supporters on social media to start looking at ways to push RLWC2017. Cheers

 

[sharkies9]

Congrats to the hawks!

 

[RedVee]

Congrats USA. It is a shame though, that only 1 team gets through. Hopefully sometime in the future more nations can be involved.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Much prefer the name tomahawks though

 

[deluded pom?]

Congrats USA. It is a shame though, that only 1 team gets through. Hopefully sometime in the future more nations can be involved.

It will be qualifying tournaments like this that will drive up the quality in the participating nations. The incentive to improve might not be there if qualification was too easy or non existent. I agree with Yakstorm that the group needs a fourth team to remove the advantage of recovery time that one team currently has over the others though.

 

[taipan]

I'd be pushing to get Cuba involved in the great game.
They appear to like physicality in their sports and now the USA has restored diplomatic relations with that country.
I don't believe you would need huge sums of money to get the game set up there.,

 

[yakstorm]

Whilst it would be great for a country like Cuba to take up the code, considering that there has already been some activity in Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago, I think those two should get the focus first.

 

[SJR]

I wonder if in the future there could be a repechage like in this instance Canada could play third European country from next year's qualifiers to get final spot in RLWC. This would ensure increased quality of teams in competition. It would also give some of developing areas such as Americas the chance of greater representation at RLWC.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Canada didn't finish second though. Jamaica did.

But yes, there should be some kind of repêchage for the last available place featuring all the next best teams from all the regions. In this case it would probably mean a four team tournament or knockout involving south africa, cook is, Jamaica and maybe Italy and you wouldn't back Jamaica to make it through anyway, but they probably deserve another chance.

 

[alien]

well done hawks!

 

[adamkungl]

A 16 team tournament in 2021 would open up more opportunities for things like a repechage. Hopefully we see another expansion of the qualifying process too.

As for other American nations, I know that Argentina and Brazil RLs were meeting with Latin Heat this week, interesting to see what comes of that. 4-5 years could see 1 or more South American nation get up and running

 

[alien]

i heard usa scored 8 tries but only converted 1 from 8

 

[langpark]

A 16 team tournament in 2021 would open up more opportunities for things like a repechage. Hopefully we see another expansion of the qualifying process too.

As for other American nations, I know that Argentina and Brazil RLs were meeting with Latin Heat this week, interesting to see what comes of that. 4-5 years could see 1 or more South American nation get up and running

For me, this is a must. Groups of 4 x 4 means minimal stuffing around too.

Plus based on the results of the qualifiers, no-one can really argue that Canada and Jamaica cannot hold their own in the WC if the US can.

Same goes for the Cooks, who lost to Tonga in the qualifiers.

I really believe that by 2021 we will have the depth to do this, and being in Europe (I would assume) it would be great to see an extra Euro nation competing!

 

[deluded pom?]

For me, this is a must. Groups of 4 x 4 means minimal stuffing around too.

Plus based on the results of the qualifiers, no-one can really argue that Canada and Jamaica cannot hold their own in the WC if the US can.

Do we know the mainly domestic USA team can hold their own in a WC?

 

[langpark]

Do we know the mainly domestic USA team can hold their own in a WC?

I suppose time will tell