American National Rugby League
Encyclopedia
The American National Rugby League (AMNRL) is a rugby league football competition for semi-professional
clubs in the United States
. It is the country's first domestic rugby league competition. The AMNRL is recognized as the governing body for the sport in the United States by the Rugby League International Federation
(RLIF), and oversees the United States national rugby league team
.
The competition that became the AMNRL was established in 1997, with six teams competing in the first season the following year. It grew to eleven by 2010, with future plans for westward expansion. On January 12, 2011, seven teams announced they were departing the AMNRL to form the new USA Rugby League
.
, establish an amateur domestic competition, and build the sport in the United States. The organization was initially established by Rupert Murdoch
's News Corporation
in an attempt to spread rugby league to the United States. The organization was run by former professional player David Niu
, who had come to Philadelphia in 1992 and had been active in promoting the sport there. Super League America's domestic competition began its inaugural season in 1998, and was contested by six teams all in the Northeastern United States
: the Glen Mills Bulls (now the Aston Bulls
), the New Jersey Sharks
(now the Bucks County Sharks), the New York Broncos (now the New York Knights
), the Philadelphia Bulldogs
(now the Philadelphia Fight
), the Boston Storm, and the Pennsylvania Raiders. The Boston and Pennsylvania teams soon dropped out; the others formed the core of the modern AMNRL. Super League America organized the domestic competition in 1998 and 1999; the Glen Mills Bulls were declared league champions in both years.
In December 1999 Super League America announced a reorganization. The league headquarters moved to Jacksonville, Florida
, with Jacksonville marketing executive Steve Gormley made the organization's new president; David Niu would serve as CEO and maintain the northeastern branch. The organization was renamed the United States Rugby League, and set its sights on expanding into the Southeastern United States
and attracting British rugby league teams to Florida for training camps and international competitions. The USRL was successful in attracting foreign teams and advanced the U.S. national team to the Rugby League World Cup
qualifiers
for the first time; however, it was soon beset by internal strife.
Complications over a deal with the British Rugby Football League
led to a dispute that bankrupted the USRL. In the midst of the dispute, in May 2001 the five domestic teams announced they were forming a new organization, the American National Rugby League, with Niu as its head. Later that year Gormley sold the USRL's assets to the Rugby Football League, leaving the AMNRL as the sole rugby league body in the United States.
, the sport's world governing body, through Super League America. Expansion of the domestic league became a major goal for the organization, and new teams were added every few years. The Wilmington Vikings, now the New York Raiders
, joined the competition in 2002, bringing the number of teams back up to six. The following year the Connecticut Wildcats
of Norwalk, Connecticut
and the Washington, D.C. Slayers were added.
In 2006 the league expanded once again to include the Jacksonville Axemen
, the New Haven Warriors
, and the Boston Braves
. After the end of the season, however, the Boston Braves folded, and two charter teams, the Media Mantarays and the Philadelphia Fight, announced they were merging. The Fairfax Eagles
joined the competition in 2007, and the Boston Thirteens joined in 2009. Another charter franchise, the Bucks County Sharks, suspended operations in 2010, while the Pittsburgh Vipers
were added.
It was announced in early January 2010 that the Grand Final would be played at Philadelphia's A. A. Garthwaite Stadium. The league underwent a major rebranding in 2010, with all teams getting their logos upgraded. The league has also announced plans for expansion; after a great first showing showing at the 2010 War at the Shore (L 10-16), Midwest Rugby League looks to possibly add the Chicago Stockyarders
to the AMNRL in the coming years.
(USARL). Officials have given the lack of club involvement in the AMNRL's decision making as the reason for the split; the USA Rugby League will involve member clubs in its administration. The departing teams are the Boston 13s, the D.C. Slayers, the Fairfax Eagles
, the Jacksonville Axemen
, the New Haven Warriors
, the Philadelphia Fight
, and the Pittsburgh Vipers
(later the Pittsburgh Sledgehammers). Five of these teams (all except Fairfax and Pittsburgh), along with three new teams, participated in the USARL's inaugural 2011 season
.
. The AMNRL has revisited these plans several times since.
In 2009 league officials announced the creation of a new, fully professional league, the National Rugby League USA
(NRLUS), which originally hoped to launch in 2010. The AMNRL would serve as an amateur and semi-professional feeder league for the new competition. However, the new league has not gotten off the ground, with officials blaming the Great Recession for the delay.
In 2011 the AMNRL announced plans for development in Hawaii in coordination with the Hawaii Rugby League. The Atlanta Legion plan to join the competition in 2012 as part of the Southeast Conference currently the AMNRL have a Southwest, Pacific and Midwest Conference with plans for Detroit to be part of the Midwest Conference as well.
, the AMNRL season will consist of an eight-round, seven-game regular season followed by a playoffs series culminating in the Grand Final. All six teams will advance to the playoffs, which will consist of a three-round single-elimination tournament
, with the Grand Final winners receiving the championship title.
One of signature events in the AMNRL's domestic schedule has been the War at the Shore. The event, held annually in Sea Isle City, New Jersey
, generally consists of full 13-a-side and rugby league sevens
games between AMNRL teams, local and national representative side
s, and developmental teams. Other scheduled events include the East v West Challenge Cup, a match between the Grand Final winners of the eastern competition and the Hawaiian Rugby League, and national team events.
. Four of these teams, the Aston Bulls
, the Connecticut Wildcats
, the New York Knights
, and the New York Raiders
, played in the AMNRL the previous season. The Bucks County Sharks, who did not compete in the 2010 season, also rejoined the league in 2011. A sixth team, the Delaware Vipers, were announced in April 2011. Based in Wilmington, Delaware
, the AMNRL considers them successors to the Media Mantarays, who played in the competition from 2000–2006.
In 2011 the AMNRL launched a Hawaii
-based competition in partnership with the Hawaii Rugby League. The AMNRL dubbed this the "Pacific Conference", while the East Coast-based competition was named the "Atlantic Conference". Teams listed in the Pacific Conference as of July 16, 2011 are the Hawaii Islanders, Honolulu Titans, Kalihi Raiders, Marist Marauders, Maui Voyagers, and Tama Suma Ie. However, as of that time, only the Marist, Maui, Tama Sulu, and Kalihi teams had played games, and had not played consistently.
In addition, other teams are scheduled to compete in AMNRL-sponsored tournaments, and the league has announced plans for prospective future expansion. The Chicago Stockyarders
played two rugby league nines
games in 2010 and will embark on a fuller exhibition schedule in 2011. On June 10, 2011, the Utah Avalanche of Salt Lake City, Utah
, announced they were joining the AMNRL as a developing team. The Avalanche were formed in early 2011 and were previously aligned with the USARL, playing in a USARL rugby league nines
tournament in Philadelphia in May. In June 2011 they announced they were re-aligning with the AMNRL.
Note Delaware Valley Mantarays
merged with Philadelphia Bulldogs
in 2006. The AMNRL considers the Delaware Vipers to be successors to the Mantarays.
the title of Most Valuable Player
is awarded to the individual whom accumalates the most points via a voting system that is undertaken after every game. Each official at the conclusion of a regular season fixture awards either three, two and one points for the most deserving players on game day; these points are then added up to determine the MVP. Performance is not only measured by individual feats but also the influence that player has had on the performance of their respective team.
Every season to date has seen an individual awarded the MVP excluding the 2005 season where both Andrew Webster and Erik Hollingsworth were awarded the Most Valuable player after they finished on equal points.
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
clubs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the country's first domestic rugby league competition. The AMNRL is recognized as the governing body for the sport in the United States by the Rugby League International Federation
Rugby League International Federation
The Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
(RLIF), and oversees the United States national rugby league team
United States national rugby league team
-2008 & 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying:In October 2006, The Tomahawks were to participate in a four team Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but South Africa and the West Indies withdrew. As a result, The Atlantic qualifying pool was reduced to a single game...
.
The competition that became the AMNRL was established in 1997, with six teams competing in the first season the following year. It grew to eleven by 2010, with future plans for westward expansion. On January 12, 2011, seven teams announced they were departing the AMNRL to form the new USA Rugby League
USA Rugby League
The USA Rugby League is a semi-professional rugby league football competition based in the United States. The league was founded in 2011 by clubs that had broken with the established American National Rugby League , plus expansion franchises...
.
Origins
The competition that became the modern American National Rugby League was founded in 1997, when Super League America was formed to organize a national teamUnited States national rugby league team
-2008 & 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying:In October 2006, The Tomahawks were to participate in a four team Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but South Africa and the West Indies withdrew. As a result, The Atlantic qualifying pool was reduced to a single game...
, establish an amateur domestic competition, and build the sport in the United States. The organization was initially established by Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
's News Corporation
News Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
in an attempt to spread rugby league to the United States. The organization was run by former professional player David Niu
David Niu
David Niumataiwalu, better known as David Niu , is an Australian-American rugby league and rugby union administrator, coach, and former player...
, who had come to Philadelphia in 1992 and had been active in promoting the sport there. Super League America's domestic competition began its inaugural season in 1998, and was contested by six teams all in the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
: the Glen Mills Bulls (now the Aston Bulls
Aston Bulls
The Aston Bulls, also known as the Aston Delco Sports Club Bulls , are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Aston Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The team currently plays in the American National Rugby League , the United States' oldest competition...
), the New Jersey Sharks
New Jersey Sharks
The Bucks County Sharks are a rugby league football team based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The team played in the American National Rugby League from 1998–2009 and rejoined the league for the 2011 season....
(now the Bucks County Sharks), the New York Broncos (now the New York Knights
New York Knights
The New York Knights were an Arena Football League team based in New York City. They played in the league for one season, 1988. They played their home games at Madison Square Garden. After going 2-10 overall in their only season the team ceased operations...
), the Philadelphia Bulldogs
Philadelphia Fight
The Philadelphia Fight are a semi-professional rugby league team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They are the current champions of the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at A. A...
(now the Philadelphia Fight
Philadelphia Fight
The Philadelphia Fight are a semi-professional rugby league team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They are the current champions of the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at A. A...
), the Boston Storm, and the Pennsylvania Raiders. The Boston and Pennsylvania teams soon dropped out; the others formed the core of the modern AMNRL. Super League America organized the domestic competition in 1998 and 1999; the Glen Mills Bulls were declared league champions in both years.
In December 1999 Super League America announced a reorganization. The league headquarters moved to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, with Jacksonville marketing executive Steve Gormley made the organization's new president; David Niu would serve as CEO and maintain the northeastern branch. The organization was renamed the United States Rugby League, and set its sights on expanding into the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
and attracting British rugby league teams to Florida for training camps and international competitions. The USRL was successful in attracting foreign teams and advanced the U.S. national team to the Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
qualifiers
2000 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
2000 Rugby League World Cup qualifying was contested by the national rugby league football teams of Lebanon, the United States, Morocco, Canada, Italy and Japan for the 16th spot in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup tournament...
for the first time; however, it was soon beset by internal strife.
Complications over a deal with the British Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
led to a dispute that bankrupted the USRL. In the midst of the dispute, in May 2001 the five domestic teams announced they were forming a new organization, the American National Rugby League, with Niu as its head. Later that year Gormley sold the USRL's assets to the Rugby Football League, leaving the AMNRL as the sole rugby league body in the United States.
Growth
The AMNRL is affiliated to the Rugby League International FederationRugby League International Federation
The Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
, the sport's world governing body, through Super League America. Expansion of the domestic league became a major goal for the organization, and new teams were added every few years. The Wilmington Vikings, now the New York Raiders
New York Raiders
The New York Raiders were an ice hockey team and founding member of the World Hockey Association based in New York City. Intended to be the WHA's flagship franchise, its short tenure was a result of being unable to compete with the National Hockey League's established New York Rangers, and the...
, joined the competition in 2002, bringing the number of teams back up to six. The following year the Connecticut Wildcats
Connecticut Wildcats
The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League ....
of Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
and the Washington, D.C. Slayers were added.
In 2006 the league expanded once again to include the Jacksonville Axemen
Jacksonville Axemen
-Southeastern Rugby League Championship:In 2011 the Axemen launched a reserve grade competition, the Firehouse Subs Southeastern Rugby League Championship, which acts as a feeder club system for the Axemen to further develop players...
, the New Haven Warriors
New Haven Warriors
-Stadium:The Warriors home ground is Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School in West Haven, Connecticut.-Statistics and records:Biggest winning marginBiggest losing marginMost points for the clubMost points in a match...
, and the Boston Braves
Boston Braves RLFC
-Stadium:The Boston Thirteens play all home matches at MIT's Steinbrenner Stadium.-External links:Official websites* * * at usarugbyleague.com...
. After the end of the season, however, the Boston Braves folded, and two charter teams, the Media Mantarays and the Philadelphia Fight, announced they were merging. The Fairfax Eagles
Fairfax Eagles
The Fairfax Eagles were a rugby league team based in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S. The club was active from 2007 to 2011, when it suspended operations....
joined the competition in 2007, and the Boston Thirteens joined in 2009. Another charter franchise, the Bucks County Sharks, suspended operations in 2010, while the Pittsburgh Vipers
Pittsburgh Vipers
-External links:*...
were added.
It was announced in early January 2010 that the Grand Final would be played at Philadelphia's A. A. Garthwaite Stadium. The league underwent a major rebranding in 2010, with all teams getting their logos upgraded. The league has also announced plans for expansion; after a great first showing showing at the 2010 War at the Shore (L 10-16), Midwest Rugby League looks to possibly add the Chicago Stockyarders
Chicago Stockyarders
The Chicago Stockyarders are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are currently planned to join the American National Rugby League in the future...
to the AMNRL in the coming years.
AMNRL/USARL split
On January 12, 2011, seven teams announced they were breaking with the AMNRL to form a new league, the USA Rugby LeagueUSA Rugby League
The USA Rugby League is a semi-professional rugby league football competition based in the United States. The league was founded in 2011 by clubs that had broken with the established American National Rugby League , plus expansion franchises...
(USARL). Officials have given the lack of club involvement in the AMNRL's decision making as the reason for the split; the USA Rugby League will involve member clubs in its administration. The departing teams are the Boston 13s, the D.C. Slayers, the Fairfax Eagles
Fairfax Eagles
The Fairfax Eagles were a rugby league team based in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S. The club was active from 2007 to 2011, when it suspended operations....
, the Jacksonville Axemen
Jacksonville Axemen
-Southeastern Rugby League Championship:In 2011 the Axemen launched a reserve grade competition, the Firehouse Subs Southeastern Rugby League Championship, which acts as a feeder club system for the Axemen to further develop players...
, the New Haven Warriors
New Haven Warriors
-Stadium:The Warriors home ground is Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School in West Haven, Connecticut.-Statistics and records:Biggest winning marginBiggest losing marginMost points for the clubMost points in a match...
, the Philadelphia Fight
Philadelphia Fight
The Philadelphia Fight are a semi-professional rugby league team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They are the current champions of the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at A. A...
, and the Pittsburgh Vipers
Pittsburgh Vipers
-External links:*...
(later the Pittsburgh Sledgehammers). Five of these teams (all except Fairfax and Pittsburgh), along with three new teams, participated in the USARL's inaugural 2011 season
2011 USARL season
The 2011 USARL season is the inaugural season of the USA Rugby League . The league was formed in January 2011 as a breakaway competition from the American National Rugby League . The regular season kicked off on June 4 and ended on July 30; the Jacksonville Axemen won the minor premiership with the...
.
Expansion plans
The AMNRL has announced various plans for future expansion at various times. Beginning in 2001 the league announced plans for a Western American National Rugby League (WAMNRL) to develop the sport on the West Coast of the United StatesWest Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. The AMNRL has revisited these plans several times since.
In 2009 league officials announced the creation of a new, fully professional league, the National Rugby League USA
National Rugby League USA
The National Rugby League USA is a proposed professional rugby league football competition to be based in the United States. The league was first announced in 2009, with an intended kickoff date of 2010...
(NRLUS), which originally hoped to launch in 2010. The AMNRL would serve as an amateur and semi-professional feeder league for the new competition. However, the new league has not gotten off the ground, with officials blaming the Great Recession for the delay.
In 2011 the AMNRL announced plans for development in Hawaii in coordination with the Hawaii Rugby League. The Atlanta Legion plan to join the competition in 2012 as part of the Southeast Conference currently the AMNRL have a Southwest, Pacific and Midwest Conference with plans for Detroit to be part of the Midwest Conference as well.
Season structure
Since 1998 member teams of the domestic competition have competed in a Grand Final for the league championship. The winning team receives the "Ferrainola Cup", named for American rugby league promoter Sam Ferrainola. Beginning in 20112011 AMNRL season
The 2011 AMNRL season was be the fourteenth season of the American National Rugby League. The Jacksonville Axemen are the reigning champions. Prior to the season seven AMNRL teams withdrew from the league to form the new USA Rugby League....
, the AMNRL season will consist of an eight-round, seven-game regular season followed by a playoffs series culminating in the Grand Final. All six teams will advance to the playoffs, which will consist of a three-round single-elimination tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
, with the Grand Final winners receiving the championship title.
One of signature events in the AMNRL's domestic schedule has been the War at the Shore. The event, held annually in Sea Isle City, New Jersey
Sea Isle City, New Jersey
Sea Isle City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 2,114. Visitors raise the population to as much as 40,000 during the peak summer season from Memorial Day...
, generally consists of full 13-a-side and rugby league sevens
Rugby league sevens
Rugby league sevens is a seven-a-side derivative of rugby league football, which is usually a thirteen-a-side sport. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some rule changes and shorter games...
games between AMNRL teams, local and national representative side
Representative side
In sports a national representative side or team is one that plays under the national name. The phrase is often used to indicate that the team is not the official main national team...
s, and developmental teams. Other scheduled events include the East v West Challenge Cup, a match between the Grand Final winners of the eastern competition and the Hawaiian Rugby League, and national team events.
List of championship titles
| Season | Championship Final Information | Regular Season Premiers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions | Score | Runners-Up | ||
| 1998 | Glen Mills Bulls | 66 – 12 | Philadelphia Bulldogs Philadelphia Fight The Philadelphia Fight are a semi-professional rugby league team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They are the current champions of the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at A. A... |
|
| 1999 | Glen Mills Bulls | 28 – 10 | New Jersey Sharks | |
| 2000 | Glen Mills Bulls | 38 – 26 | Philadelphia Bulldogs Philadelphia Fight The Philadelphia Fight are a semi-professional rugby league team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They are the current champions of the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at A. A... |
|
| 2001 | Glen Mills Bulls | 26 – 16 | Media Mantarays Delaware Valley Mantarays The Delaware Valley Mantarays were a semi-professional rugby league football team based in the Delaware Valley area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The team played for seven seasons in the American National Rugby League , the United States' major competition, from 2000–2006... |
|
| 2002 | New York Knights New York Knights (rugby league) The New York Knights are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in New York City. The team currently plays in the American National Rugby League . They play their home games at Pier 40 in Hudson River Park.... |
18 – 12 | Glen Mills Bulls | |
| 2003 | Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... |
38 – 14 | Glen Mills Bulls | |
| 2004 | Glen Mills Bulls | 32 – 24 | Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... |
|
| 2005 | Glen Mills Bulls | 32 – 30 | Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... |
|
| 2006 2006 AMNRL season The 2006 American National Rugby League season was the ninth annual American National Rugby League season, and the 26th since the first season of semi-professional rugby league began in North America. The season began on May 17, 2006 with a match between defending premiers Glen Mills Bulls and the... |
Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... |
36 – 28 | Glen Mills Bulls | Glen Mills Bulls |
| 2007 2007 AMNRL season The 2007 American National Rugby League season was the tenth annual American National Rugby League season of semi-professional rugby league football in North America... |
Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... |
22 – 18 | Aston DSC Bulls Aston Bulls The Aston Bulls, also known as the Aston Delco Sports Club Bulls , are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Aston Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The team currently plays in the American National Rugby League , the United States' oldest competition... |
Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... |
| 2008 2008 AMNRL season The 2008 AMNRL season was the 11th season of the competition.- Results :Round OneJacksonville Axemen at Philadelphia FightGame Date: 5/31/08Game Time: 12:30 pmGame Venue: West Chester University-Farrell StadiumReferee: Robert Irwin... |
New Haven Warriors New Haven Warriors -Stadium:The Warriors home ground is Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School in West Haven, Connecticut.-Statistics and records:Biggest winning marginBiggest losing marginMost points for the clubMost points in a match... |
50 – 18 | Aston DSC Bulls Aston Bulls The Aston Bulls, also known as the Aston Delco Sports Club Bulls , are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Aston Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The team currently plays in the American National Rugby League , the United States' oldest competition... |
Aston DSC Bulls Aston Bulls The Aston Bulls, also known as the Aston Delco Sports Club Bulls , are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Aston Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The team currently plays in the American National Rugby League , the United States' oldest competition... |
| 2009 2009 AMNRL season The 2009 AMNRL season was the 12th season of the American National Rugby League . The Boston Thirteens joined the league as an expansion team, bringing the number of teams to eleven... |
New York Knights | 32 – 12 | Jacksonville Axemen Jacksonville Axemen -Southeastern Rugby League Championship:In 2011 the Axemen launched a reserve grade competition, the Firehouse Subs Southeastern Rugby League Championship, which acts as a feeder club system for the Axemen to further develop players... |
Jacksonville Axemen Jacksonville Axemen -Southeastern Rugby League Championship:In 2011 the Axemen launched a reserve grade competition, the Firehouse Subs Southeastern Rugby League Championship, which acts as a feeder club system for the Axemen to further develop players... |
| 2010 2010 AMNRL season The 2010 American National Rugby League season was the 13th season of the AMNRL. The Pittsburgh Vipers are the newest team to enter the competition and the Bucks County Sharks have withdrawn from the competition.-Teams:... |
Jacksonville Axemen Jacksonville Axemen -Southeastern Rugby League Championship:In 2011 the Axemen launched a reserve grade competition, the Firehouse Subs Southeastern Rugby League Championship, which acts as a feeder club system for the Axemen to further develop players... |
34 – 14 | New Haven Warriors New Haven Warriors -Stadium:The Warriors home ground is Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School in West Haven, Connecticut.-Statistics and records:Biggest winning marginBiggest losing marginMost points for the clubMost points in a match... |
New Haven Warriors New Haven Warriors -Stadium:The Warriors home ground is Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School in West Haven, Connecticut.-Statistics and records:Biggest winning marginBiggest losing marginMost points for the clubMost points in a match... |
| 2011 2011 AMNRL season The 2011 AMNRL season was be the fourteenth season of the American National Rugby League. The Jacksonville Axemen are the reigning champions. Prior to the season seven AMNRL teams withdrew from the league to form the new USA Rugby League.... |
TBD | – | TBD | TBD |
Teams
There are six teams committed to be playing in the league for the 2011 season2011 AMNRL season
The 2011 AMNRL season was be the fourteenth season of the American National Rugby League. The Jacksonville Axemen are the reigning champions. Prior to the season seven AMNRL teams withdrew from the league to form the new USA Rugby League....
. Four of these teams, the Aston Bulls
Aston Bulls
The Aston Bulls, also known as the Aston Delco Sports Club Bulls , are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Aston Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The team currently plays in the American National Rugby League , the United States' oldest competition...
, the Connecticut Wildcats
Connecticut Wildcats
The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League ....
, the New York Knights
New York Knights
The New York Knights were an Arena Football League team based in New York City. They played in the league for one season, 1988. They played their home games at Madison Square Garden. After going 2-10 overall in their only season the team ceased operations...
, and the New York Raiders
New York Raiders
The New York Raiders were an ice hockey team and founding member of the World Hockey Association based in New York City. Intended to be the WHA's flagship franchise, its short tenure was a result of being unable to compete with the National Hockey League's established New York Rangers, and the...
, played in the AMNRL the previous season. The Bucks County Sharks, who did not compete in the 2010 season, also rejoined the league in 2011. A sixth team, the Delaware Vipers, were announced in April 2011. Based in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, the AMNRL considers them successors to the Media Mantarays, who played in the competition from 2000–2006.
In 2011 the AMNRL launched a Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
-based competition in partnership with the Hawaii Rugby League. The AMNRL dubbed this the "Pacific Conference", while the East Coast-based competition was named the "Atlantic Conference". Teams listed in the Pacific Conference as of July 16, 2011 are the Hawaii Islanders, Honolulu Titans, Kalihi Raiders, Marist Marauders, Maui Voyagers, and Tama Suma Ie. However, as of that time, only the Marist, Maui, Tama Sulu, and Kalihi teams had played games, and had not played consistently.
In addition, other teams are scheduled to compete in AMNRL-sponsored tournaments, and the league has announced plans for prospective future expansion. The Chicago Stockyarders
Chicago Stockyarders
The Chicago Stockyarders are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are currently planned to join the American National Rugby League in the future...
played two rugby league nines
Rugby league nines
Rugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
games in 2010 and will embark on a fuller exhibition schedule in 2011. On June 10, 2011, the Utah Avalanche of Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, announced they were joining the AMNRL as a developing team. The Avalanche were formed in early 2011 and were previously aligned with the USARL, playing in a USARL rugby league nines
Rugby league nines
Rugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
tournament in Philadelphia in May. In June 2011 they announced they were re-aligning with the AMNRL.
| AMNRL teams | ||||
| Team | Stadium | City/Area | Foundation Year | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Bulls Aston Bulls The Aston Bulls, also known as the Aston Delco Sports Club Bulls , are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Aston Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The team currently plays in the American National Rugby League , the United States' oldest competition... |
Sun Valley High School | Aston Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania | 1998 | 6 (as Glen Mills Bulls) |
| Bucks County Sharks | Falls Township Community Park | Levittown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania | 1997 | 0 |
| Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... |
Brien McMahon Stadium | Norwalk, Connecticut Norwalk, Connecticut Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County... |
2003 | 3- 2003,2006,2007 |
| Delaware Vipers | Baynard Stadium | Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley... |
2011 | 0 |
| New York Knights New York Knights The New York Knights were an Arena Football League team based in New York City. They played in the league for one season, 1988. They played their home games at Madison Square Garden. After going 2-10 overall in their only season the team ceased operations... |
Hudson River Park Hudson River Park Hudson River Park is a waterside park on the Hudson River that extends from 59th Street south to Battery Park in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Bicycle and pedestrian paths, including the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, span the park north to south, opening up the waterfront for... |
New York City, New York New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... |
1997 | 2- 2002,2009 |
| New York Raiders New York Raiders The New York Raiders were an ice hockey team and founding member of the World Hockey Association based in New York City. Intended to be the WHA's flagship franchise, its short tenure was a result of being unable to compete with the National Hockey League's established New York Rangers, and the... |
Rockland Lake State Park Rockland Lake State Park Rockland Lake State Park is located on a ridge of Hook Mountain above the west bank of the Hudson River, in the hamlet of Congers, which is in the eastern part of the Town of Clarkstown in Rockland County, New York. The park sits between the west bank of the Hudson River and Route 9W... |
Essex County, New York Essex County, New York Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown... |
2002 | 0 |
Pacific Conference
| AMNRL teams | ||
| Team | Foundation Year | Championships |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Islanders | 2011 | 0 |
| Honolulu Titans | 2011 | 0 |
| Kalihi Raiders | 2011 | 0 |
| Marist Marauders | 2011 | 0 |
| Maui Voyagers | 2011 | 0 |
| Tama Sulu Ie | 2011 | 0 |
Developing teams
| AMNRL Developing teams | |||
| Team | Stadium | City/Area | Formation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Avalanche | Taylorsville Park | Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197... |
2011 |
| Chicago Stockyarders Chicago Stockyarders The Chicago Stockyarders are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are currently planned to join the American National Rugby League in the future... |
Winnemac Park | Chicago, Illinois | 2010 |
| Atlanta Legion | Silverbacks Park | Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... |
2011 |
| Iowa City Crash | City Park City Park City Park can refer to:Australia*Launceston City ParkCanada* City Park, Saskatoon, a neighbourhoodHungary* City Park Kenya* City Park, NairobiLuxembourg* City Park , a park in central Luxembourg CityUnited Kingdom... |
Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa... |
2011 |
Former teams
| Former AMNRL teams | |||
| Team | City/Area | Foundation Year | Final Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Storm | Boston, Massachusetts | 1998 | 1998 |
| Pennsylvania Raiders | Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
1998 | 1998 |
| Delaware Valley Mantarays Delaware Valley Mantarays The Delaware Valley Mantarays were a semi-professional rugby league football team based in the Delaware Valley area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The team played for seven seasons in the American National Rugby League , the United States' major competition, from 2000–2006... |
Ridley Park, Pennsylvania Ridley Park, Pennsylvania Ridley Park is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,196 at the 2000 census. Ridley Park is the home of Boeing Helicopters.-Native American:... |
2000 | 2006 Note |
| Boston Braves Boston Braves Boston Braves may refer to any of the following American professional sports teams:*Boston Braves , the Major League Baseball team now known as the Atlanta Braves... |
Boston, Massachusetts | 2006 | 2006 |
| Philadelphia Bulldogs/Fight Philadelphia Fight The Philadelphia Fight are a semi-professional rugby league team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They are the current champions of the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at A. A... |
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania Conshohocken, Pennsylvania Conshohocken is a borough on the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in suburban Philadelphia. Historically a large mill town and industrial and manufacturing center, after the decline of industry in recent years Conshohocken has developed into a center of riverfront commercial and... |
1998 | 2010 (USARL) |
| Washington DC Slayers | Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... |
2003 | 2010 (USARL) |
| Jacksonville Axemen Jacksonville Axemen -Southeastern Rugby League Championship:In 2011 the Axemen launched a reserve grade competition, the Firehouse Subs Southeastern Rugby League Championship, which acts as a feeder club system for the Axemen to further develop players... |
Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968... |
2006 | 2010 (USARL) |
| New Haven Warriors New Haven Warriors -Stadium:The Warriors home ground is Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School in West Haven, Connecticut.-Statistics and records:Biggest winning marginBiggest losing marginMost points for the clubMost points in a match... |
West Haven, Connecticut West Haven, Connecticut West Haven is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 52,721.-History:... |
2006 | 2010 (USARL) |
| Fairfax Eagles Fairfax Eagles The Fairfax Eagles were a rugby league team based in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S. The club was active from 2007 to 2011, when it suspended operations.... |
Herndon, Virginia Herndon, Virginia Herndon is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of the United States. The population was 21,655 at the 2000 census, which makes it the largest of three towns in the county.-History:... |
2007 | 2010 (USARL) |
| Boston Thirteens | Boston, Massachusetts | 2009 | 2010 (USARL) |
| Pittsburgh Vipers | Cheswick, Pennsylvania Cheswick, Pennsylvania Cheswick is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,746 at the 2010 census.-History:Cheswick, named for a town in England, is a small town of about . The history of the lands of Cheswick seems to have belonged to the Keen family at least in part, for Archie... |
2010 | 2010 (USARL) |
Note Delaware Valley Mantarays
Delaware Valley Mantarays
The Delaware Valley Mantarays were a semi-professional rugby league football team based in the Delaware Valley area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The team played for seven seasons in the American National Rugby League , the United States' major competition, from 2000–2006...
merged with Philadelphia Bulldogs
Philadelphia Fight
The Philadelphia Fight are a semi-professional rugby league team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They are the current champions of the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at A. A...
in 2006. The AMNRL considers the Delaware Vipers to be successors to the Mantarays.
Most Valuable Player
At the conclusion of each seasonSeason (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
the title of Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
is awarded to the individual whom accumalates the most points via a voting system that is undertaken after every game. Each official at the conclusion of a regular season fixture awards either three, two and one points for the most deserving players on game day; these points are then added up to determine the MVP. Performance is not only measured by individual feats but also the influence that player has had on the performance of their respective team.
| |Year | Player | |Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Brent Shorten | Jacksonville Axemen Jacksonville Axemen -Southeastern Rugby League Championship:In 2011 the Axemen launched a reserve grade competition, the Firehouse Subs Southeastern Rugby League Championship, which acts as a feeder club system for the Axemen to further develop players... |
||
| 2009 | Luke Hume | New York Knights New York Knights The New York Knights were an Arena Football League team based in New York City. They played in the league for one season, 1988. They played their home games at Madison Square Garden. After going 2-10 overall in their only season the team ceased operations... |
||
| 2008 | Siose Muliumu | New Haven Warriors New Haven Warriors -Stadium:The Warriors home ground is Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School in West Haven, Connecticut.-Statistics and records:Biggest winning marginBiggest losing marginMost points for the clubMost points in a match... |
||
| 2006 | Jason Gargaram | Glen Mills Bulls | ||
| 2005 | Andrew Webster / Erik Hollingsworth | Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... / Glen Mills Bulls |
||
| 2004 | Marcus Vassilakopoulos | Glen Mills Bulls | ||
| 2003 | Danny Bull | Connecticut Wildcats Connecticut Wildcats The Connecticut Wildcats are an American semi-professional rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. They currently compete in the American National Rugby League .... |
||
| 2002 | Shayne Mains | Glen Mills Bulls | ||
| 2001 | Dave DiValerio | Delaware Valley Mantarays Delaware Valley Mantarays The Delaware Valley Mantarays were a semi-professional rugby league football team based in the Delaware Valley area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The team played for seven seasons in the American National Rugby League , the United States' major competition, from 2000–2006... |
||
| 2000 | Ed Woodbridge | Glen Mills Bulls | ||
| 1999 | Shayne Mains | Glen Mills Bulls | ||
| 1998 | Bill Hansbury | Glen Mills Bulls |
Every season to date has seen an individual awarded the MVP excluding the 2005 season where both Andrew Webster and Erik Hollingsworth were awarded the Most Valuable player after they finished on equal points.