New York Knights (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
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
(AMNRL). They play their home games at Pier 40 in Hudson River Park
.
Originally known as the New York Broncos, the team was founded in 1997 and joined the league now known as the AMNRL for its inaugural 1998 season. They adopted their current name in 2001 after forming a team partnership with the Newcastle Knights
of Australia
's National Rugby League
, who sent them jerseys. Since their inception the team have made a number of playoff appearances, and won the AMNRL Grand Final in 2002 and 2009. To date they have provided nine players to the United States national rugby league team
and one to Japan
.
, for its inaugural 1998 season. In 2001 the Knights and other teams in the competition departed to form the AMNRL. All teams formed a partnership with teams in Australia
's National Rugby League
. New York formed a partnership with the Newcastle Knights
, who sent them Knights jerseys; the team subsequently changed their name to the New York Knights.
The Knights advanced to the AMNRL Grand Final in 2002. A serious thunderstorm
interrupted the game, and the Knights, who were leading perennial champions the Glen Mills Bulls 18-12, were declared winners. This was the first time any team besides the Bulls had taken the Grand Final. The Knights made several other playoff appearances, and defeated the Jacksonville Axemen
to win the 2009 AMNRL Grand Final
. The Knights have provided a total of nine players to the United States national rugby league team
to date, as well as one to Japan
.
of the NRL, due to their team partnership. Following Newcastle their colors are white, red and blue, and the uniforms are predominately blue. For the 2006 and 2007 seasons the clubs major jersey sponsor was Guinness
.
as their home ground. The stadium is sometimes referred to as The Castle because of the architecture and surrounding river, give the park a Castle like appearance. The Stadium currently seats several thousand, and over the 2005 off-season underwent renovation work to update the ground including the installation of artificial turf
, making it the only AMNRL venue with this type of turf.
News sites
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...
. The team currently plays in the 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). They play their home games at Pier 40 in 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...
.
Originally known as the New York Broncos, the team was founded in 1997 and joined the league now known as the AMNRL for its inaugural 1998 season. They adopted their current name in 2001 after forming a team partnership with the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's National Rugby League
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...
, who sent them jerseys. Since their inception the team have made a number of playoff appearances, and won the AMNRL Grand Final in 2002 and 2009. To date they have provided nine players to 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...
and one to Japan
Japan national rugby league team
The Japan national rugby league team represents Japan in rugby league football. Japan has been playing international competition since 1994. A regular domestic amateur competition has been held in Japan for several years .-History:Rugby league was founded in Japan in 1993 by former Australian first...
.
History
The team was founded in 1997. Originally known as the New York Broncos, they joined Super League America, the predecessor to the modern American National Rugby LeagueAmerican 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...
, for its inaugural 1998 season. In 2001 the Knights and other teams in the competition departed to form the AMNRL. All teams formed a partnership with teams in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's National Rugby League
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...
. New York formed a partnership with the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, who sent them Knights jerseys; the team subsequently changed their name to the New York Knights.
The Knights advanced to the AMNRL Grand Final in 2002. A serious thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
interrupted the game, and the Knights, who were leading perennial champions the Glen Mills Bulls 18-12, were declared winners. This was the first time any team besides the Bulls had taken the Grand Final. The Knights made several other playoff appearances, and defeated 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...
to win the 2009 AMNRL Grand Final
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...
. The Knights have provided a total of nine players to 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...
to date, as well as one to Japan
Japan national rugby league team
The Japan national rugby league team represents Japan in rugby league football. Japan has been playing international competition since 1994. A regular domestic amateur competition has been held in Japan for several years .-History:Rugby league was founded in Japan in 1993 by former Australian first...
.
Uniform and colors
Since 2001 the Knights have based their uniforms and team colors on those of the Newcastle KnightsNewcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
of the NRL, due to their team partnership. Following Newcastle their colors are white, red and blue, and the uniforms are predominately blue. For the 2006 and 2007 seasons the clubs major jersey sponsor was Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
.
Stadium
The Knights currently use the Pier 40, Hudson River Park Stadium in Hudson River ParkHudson 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...
as their home ground. The stadium is sometimes referred to as The Castle because of the architecture and surrounding river, give the park a Castle like appearance. The Stadium currently seats several thousand, and over the 2005 off-season underwent renovation work to update the ground including the installation of artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
, making it the only AMNRL venue with this type of turf.
Current roster
- Luke Hume
- Gareth Baxendale
- Xavier Lozinguez
- Chris Doyle
- Michael Cartwright
- Sean Taylor
- Regan Hyde
- CJ Cortalano
- Kirk Miller
- Abraham Cohen
- Calder Orr
- Angel Rodriguez
- Fitzjames Adams
- James Carder
- John Dykeman
- Justin Ripley
- Shane O'Driscoll
- John Meoli
- Col Manners
- Luca Loguercio
- Mario Leonel
- Nick Mastrogeorgio
Honors
- AMNRL Championship titlesAmerican National Rugby LeagueThe 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...
: 2
-
- 2002, 2009
- Mother's Day SevensRugby league sevensRugby 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...
: 1
- Mother's Day Sevens
- 2001
- 2002, 2009
External links
Official websitesNews sites