Newfoundland Rock
Encyclopedia
The Newfoundland Rock are a Canadian rugby union team based in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador. The team plays in the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship
(RCNJC) and draws most of its players from the Newfoundland Rugby Union
, one of fourteen Rugby Unions that have representative teams in the RCNJC.
The organization was originally a competitor at the senior men's level. However, with a 2009 restructuring of Canada's rugby competitions, their place has been taken by a successor organization, the Atlantic Rock, a regional team in the Americas Rugby Championship
.
The Rock play their home games at Swilers Rugby Park
in St. John's.
and the provincial unions agreed to form the Rugby Canada Super League (RCSL). Fourteen unions and sub-unions were invited to compete in the new semi-professional league.
The Rock were significantly successful in the RCSL, winning the Eastern Division to advance to the National Final match five of the league's eleven seasons.
During the eighth season of the Super League (2005), the Rock became the first team from the East to win the league Championship defeating the Saskatchewan Prairie Fire
(26-13) and again the following season (28-14). The Rock lost the Eastern Final to the Niagara Thunder
the following year, but returned in 2008 to beat the Calgary Mavericks
for a third title, and the final one of the RCSL's history.
In 2009, Rugby Canada and the IRB decided to expand the NA4 competition to become the Americas Rugby Championship
. In this new competition, there would be four Canadian teams, with one to represent Canada's five easternmost provinces, based from St. John's. Additionally, the RCSL was disbanded, to be replaced with a new Under-20 league called the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship. The Rock was chosen as one of the remaining RCSL clubs to enter the newly formed league.
Rugby Canada National Junior Championship
The Rugby Canada National Junior Championship is a new amateur rugby union competition in Canada. The league was created when Rugby Canada decided to disband the Rugby Canada Super League and replace it with a new under-20 league. The league consists of 13 teams, and are broken up into 4...
(RCNJC) and draws most of its players from the Newfoundland Rugby Union
Newfoundland Rugby Union
The Newfoundland Rugby Union is the provincial administrative body for rugby union in Newfoundland....
, one of fourteen Rugby Unions that have representative teams in the RCNJC.
The organization was originally a competitor at the senior men's level. However, with a 2009 restructuring of Canada's rugby competitions, their place has been taken by a successor organization, the Atlantic Rock, a regional team in the Americas Rugby Championship
Americas Rugby Championship
The Americas Rugby Championship is a rugby union competition contested by national and regional teams from North and South America. The league has replaced the IRB's previous North American competition, the North America 4....
.
The Rock play their home games at Swilers Rugby Park
Swilers Rugby Park
Swilers Rugby Park is a Rugby union stadium in St. John's, Newfoundland....
in St. John's.
History
In 1998, Rugby CanadaRugby Canada
Rugby Canada, is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Canada was incorporated in 1974, and stems from the Canadian Rugby Football Union, a body established in 1884 that now governs amateur Canadian football as Football Canada; and the now-defunct Rugby Union of...
and the provincial unions agreed to form the Rugby Canada Super League (RCSL). Fourteen unions and sub-unions were invited to compete in the new semi-professional league.
The Rock were significantly successful in the RCSL, winning the Eastern Division to advance to the National Final match five of the league's eleven seasons.
During the eighth season of the Super League (2005), the Rock became the first team from the East to win the league Championship defeating the Saskatchewan Prairie Fire
Saskatchewan Prairie Fire
The Prairie Fire are a Canadian Rugby Union team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The team plays in the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship and draws very few of its players from the Saskatchewan Rugby Union, one of fourteen Rugby Unions that have rep teams in the RCSL.The Prairie Fire play...
(26-13) and again the following season (28-14). The Rock lost the Eastern Final to the Niagara Thunder
Niagara Thunder
The Niagara Lightning are a Canadian rugby union team based in southern Ontario. The team plays in the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship and draws most of its players from the Niagara Rugby Union....
the following year, but returned in 2008 to beat the Calgary Mavericks
Calgary Mavericks
The Calgary Mavericks are a Canadian rugby union team based in Calgary, Alberta. The team plays in the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship and draws most of its players from the Calgary Rugby Union, one of fourteen Rugby Unions that have rep teams in the RCSL.The Mavericks play their "home"...
for a third title, and the final one of the RCSL's history.
In 2009, Rugby Canada and the IRB decided to expand the NA4 competition to become the Americas Rugby Championship
Americas Rugby Championship
The Americas Rugby Championship is a rugby union competition contested by national and regional teams from North and South America. The league has replaced the IRB's previous North American competition, the North America 4....
. In this new competition, there would be four Canadian teams, with one to represent Canada's five easternmost provinces, based from St. John's. Additionally, the RCSL was disbanded, to be replaced with a new Under-20 league called the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship. The Rock was chosen as one of the remaining RCSL clubs to enter the newly formed league.