National Rugby League USA
Encyclopedia
The National Rugby League USA (NRL US) 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. By 2010, however, the league had not gotten off the ground; officials expressed hope that play might begin in 2011.
team. In February 2010, however, David Niu
, the league's proposed commissioner, announced that plans would be held off until 2011, citing the late-2000s recession as a factor in the league's lack of progress.
It has been reported that NRL USA are in talks with NBC
and SpikeTV about broadcasting the NRL US games but no other networks have been named officially. The price to see rugby league games in the United States will be about $15(US). It is understood that someone has offered to broadcast the games but no decision has been made yet.
, Los Angeles
, Denver, Jacksonville
and Boston
. Two more teams are to be named later. One current American National Rugby League
(AMNRL) team, the Jacksonville Axemen
, have been invited to operate the Jacksonville franchise and are currently reviewing this.
, the commissioner, has suggested that teams would attempt to lure over a few big name players from other countries, even "players who have maybe been internationals." It has been suggested that the league would "target" Australian players such as Nathan Hindmarsh
, Anthony Minichiello
, Petero Civoniceva
and Craig Fitzgibbon
. However, Niu has made it clear that "it's exciting to be linked with people like Brett Kimmorley
but the reality is that we can't compete with the Super League
and the NRL
... So it's not like we're going to go out and recruit players actively." Players that would be targeted are professional players from Australia and Europe who would be out of form recovering from injury and coaches would be up and coming or out of favour professional coaches from Australia or Europe. Private negotiations mean that unannounced overseas coaches and players are available to join the enterprise once the final decisions on timings are taken.
David Niu named former Parramatta Eels
utility and Australian international Daniel Wagon
and former New Zealand international
and New Zealand Warriors
halfback Stacey Jones
as two possible recruits to the new league, though did not state whether their involvement would be as players or in coaching roles.
In January 2010 it was revealed that a "carnival"-type schedule would be employed. For six weeks, the teams would move to a new city where they would play a whole round of fixtures at a single venue. Private negotiations mean that unannounced overseas coaches and players are available to join the enterprise once the final decisions on timings are taken.
goalposts and the kick-off to re-start play after a team scores will be made by the scoring team. This variation of the kick-off has previously and briefly been used in Australasia
and Europe
.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
competition to be based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The league was first announced in 2009, with an intended kickoff date of 2010. By 2010, however, the league had not gotten off the ground; officials expressed hope that play might begin in 2011.
History
The league was originally announced in 2009, and expected a kickoff for 2010. However, little progress was made. In January 2010, officials confirmed that the league would kick off in early 2011, and released details about the competitions structure. Another announcement would have given a launch date, and the league's promotional activities were planned to begin on July 4, 2010 with a launch event and an international match featuring the United StatesUnited 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...
team. In February 2010, however, 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...
, the league's proposed commissioner, announced that plans would be held off until 2011, citing the late-2000s recession as a factor in the league's lack of progress.
Organization
Initially, the NRL USA is intended to be a "Single Entity League". The owners will invest in a financial stake in the league, not just their individual team. Many areas such as stadium rental and player compensation will be handled centrally. The League and team operators plan to work together to spread best practice throughout the NRL USA.It has been reported that NRL USA are in talks with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and SpikeTV about broadcasting the NRL US games but no other networks have been named officially. The price to see rugby league games in the United States will be about $15(US). It is understood that someone has offered to broadcast the games but no decision has been made yet.
Teams
The competition will include eight teams from across the United States, including Philadelphia, New YorkNew 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...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Denver, Jacksonville
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...
and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Two more teams are to be named later. One current American National Rugby League
American National Rugby League
The American National Rugby League is a rugby league football competition for semi-professional clubs in the United States. It is the country's first domestic rugby league competition...
(AMNRL) team, 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...
, have been invited to operate the Jacksonville franchise and are currently reviewing this.
Player recruitments
Each team will have a twenty-two man playing roster made up of professional players taken from open tryouts. David NiuDavid Niu
David Niumataiwalu, better known as David Niu , is an Australian-American rugby league and rugby union administrator, coach, and former player...
, the commissioner, has suggested that teams would attempt to lure over a few big name players from other countries, even "players who have maybe been internationals." It has been suggested that the league would "target" Australian players such as Nathan Hindmarsh
Nathan Hindmarsh
Nathan William Hindmarsh is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League and the Australian Prime Minister's XIII...
, Anthony Minichiello
Anthony Minichiello
Anthony Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who, to date, has played his entire career for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. He plays at fullback and on the Wing. Minichiello has represented New South Wales and Australia...
, Petero Civoniceva
Petero Civoniceva
Petero Civoniceva is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League...
and Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and...
. However, Niu has made it clear that "it's exciting to be linked with people like Brett Kimmorley
Brett Kimmorley
Brett "Noddy" Kimmorley was an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the NRL. He has previously played for five other clubs and has also represented his country and state on several occasions...
but the reality is that we can't compete with the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
and the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
... So it's not like we're going to go out and recruit players actively." Players that would be targeted are professional players from Australia and Europe who would be out of form recovering from injury and coaches would be up and coming or out of favour professional coaches from Australia or Europe. Private negotiations mean that unannounced overseas coaches and players are available to join the enterprise once the final decisions on timings are taken.
David Niu named former Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
utility and Australian international Daniel Wagon
Daniel Wagon
Daniel Wagon is an Australian professional rugby league player and coach, who currently coaches Limoux Grizzlies in the Elite One Championship and plays for the Aston DSC Bulls in the AMNRL...
and former New Zealand international
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
and New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
halfback Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
as two possible recruits to the new league, though did not state whether their involvement would be as players or in coaching roles.
Season structure
Originally it had been planned for the regular season to be 14 rounds starting 12 March until 4 July, with each team hosting seven home games and playing in seven away games. Post-season competition would include two weeks of playoffs and a championship final.In January 2010 it was revealed that a "carnival"-type schedule would be employed. For six weeks, the teams would move to a new city where they would play a whole round of fixtures at a single venue. Private negotiations mean that unannounced overseas coaches and players are available to join the enterprise once the final decisions on timings are taken.
Rules variations
Games will be played in quarters, use American footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
goalposts and the kick-off to re-start play after a team scores will be made by the scoring team. This variation of the kick-off has previously and briefly been used in Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.