Rugby league in the Americas

Rugby league is a minority sport in the Americas. The United States, Canada and Jamaica have organizations recognized by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF), the sport's international governing body. Both have recognized national teams that represent the countries in international competition. Additionally, Canada and the West Indies have organized teams in international competitions, and the sport has been played in Argentina as well. There is currently a domestic competition for semi-professional and amateur clubs in the United States, the American National Rugby League (AMNRL), with another, the USA Rugby League, scheduled to begin play in 2011. In 2013 a small inter-city competition comprising three sides began in Esporito Santo, Brazil. A combined Central and South American team, known as the Latin Heat rugby league, made their debut at the Wests Mitchelton RLFC Nines, Brisbane, Australia, on September 21, 2013. Since then they have played the Philippines national rugby league team twice and the Thailand national rugby league team in full 13-a-side matches as well as various nines tournaments. As planned, both Chile and El Salvador have played their own teams in the Cabramatta International Nines tournament.

Argentina

Main article: Rugby league in Argentina

The Argentina national rugby league team represents Argentina in the sport of rugby league and are an affiliated member of the International Rugby League Federation.

The Argentina representative side played its first matches in March 2005 when they hosted the Australian Police Rugby League team for two matches.

Official Results of Test-matches:

• 1st. Match: Australian Police 40 - Argentina 4
• 2nd. Match: Australian Police 50 - Argentina 6

The most famous Argentinian rugby league player is Pablo Bouza, who used to play for Harlequins RL. He now plays rugby union for Argentina.

There are currently plans by the Rugby League International Federation to create a summer rugby league for the nation's existing rugby talent.

Canada

Main article: Rugby league in Canada

Rugby league has been played in Canada in the past at an amateur level, but earlier competitions were disbanded and the sport was dormant between the year 2003 and 2010.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a four-team domestic competition, known as the 'Tri-Country Rugby League', was established with three Canadian clubs and one U.S. club competing - Kingston, Ontario, Montreal, Quebec, and Adirondacks (USA).

There were two regional nines tournaments as recently as 2003, one in Ontario and one in Manitoba.

The national rugby league team has won two games, against the USA in 1987 and Japan in 2000. While the Canadian Rugby Football League who organized these tournaments has long since folded; a new organization called Rugby League in Canada has been founded with an aim of restoring competition. Since the reformation of the national rugby league team under the CRL, Canada has won further matches against USA and Jamaica.

The Canada national rugby league team' has been participating in international competition since 1987, and last played as a national team on April 7, 2001 when they were defeated 56-24 by the Glen Mills Bulls at Jack Pearson Oval, Glen Mills.

Canada has participated in the World Sevens (1995, 1996) and Emerging Nations World Cup (2000) competitions. However, rugby league remains a largely unknown code in Canada and the national team remains uncompetitive as a result

While the Canadian Rugby Football League has folded and the game with it a new organization called Rugby League in Canada has been founded with an aim to recreate the national team and the game in Canada.

International Test Results (1987-2000)

• Canada def. Japan 28-12 (2000)
• Italy def. Canada 66-6 (15 November 2000)
• USA def. Canada 52-10 (13 November 2000)
• Japan def. Canada 14-0 (1999)
• USA def. Canada 68-0 (1999)
• USA def. Canada 32-6 (1998)
• USA def. Canada 50-10 (1997)
• France def. Canada 72-32 (1995)
• USA def. Canada 44-0 (1995)
• USA def. Canada 22-10 (1994)
• USA def. Canada 22-0 (1994)
• USA def. Canada 32-2 (1993)
• USA def. Canada 54-14 (1993)
• Canada def. USA 23-10 (1987)

OTHER REPRESENTATIVE MATCH:

• Tri-County XIII def. Maracaibo Oilers Sports Club (Venezuela) 24-16 at Montreal (1986)

(Maracaibo Oilers Sports Club were a Venezuelan rugby union side on tour to Canada in 1986, and included a rugby league 13-a-side match on their tour itinerary. The Tri-County XIII was a representative team made up mainly of Canadians and some Americans from the 4-team Tri-County competition that was played at the time).

Canada re-launches rugby league in 2010

The Canadian national rugby league team is set to re launch with the team taking part in the 2010 AMNRL's War at the Shore Tournament where they will face some of the biggest clubs in Americas rugby league competition they are also a possible inclusion in the 2010 Atlantic Cup. European Super League teams St. Helens and Salford City Reds have also formed partnerships with Canadian rugby league and Rugby League Review one of the leading rugby league magazines around the world came on board as a sponsor of Canadian rugby league and to top off all that Setanta Sports will broadcast rugby league matches in Canada.

Results 2010 - lost to Jamaica 32 - 12 (2010 Atlantic Cup) 2010 - lost to USA 46 - 12 (2010 Atlantic Cup) 2010 - lost to USA 20 - 16 (Colonial Cup) 2011 - defeated Jamaica 40 - 12 2011 - lost to USA 18 - 2 (Colonial Cup) 2011 - defeated USA 18 - 16 (Colonial Cup)

Chile

Although there has been no Rugby league played in Chile there is a Chilean rugby league team based in Australia. All players meet the Rugby League International Federation eligibility guidelines.

El Salvador

Although there has been no Rugby league played in El Salvador there is a Salvadoran rugby league team based in Australia. All players meet the Rugby League International Federation eligibility guidelines.

Jamaica

Main article: Rugby league in Jamaica

Rugby league has been played in Jamaica since 2005 and has so far grown rapidly over 5 years with the game now being played in universities, when the Jamaica Rugby League Association, a five team competition was formed. The national team had debuted in 2004.

During 2005 the first local rugby league competition in the Caribbean took place in Jamaica, which is being hailed as a huge success for the WIRLF. The competition comprises the Vauxhall Vultures, Duhaney Park Sharks, Olympic Angels and the Jamaica Defence Force Warriors.

The JRLA National Premiership currently (2006) is co-ordinated by the Jamaica Rugby League Association and consists of five teams:

• The Duhaney Park Sharks[2]
• The Vaxhaull Vultures
• The Olympic Garden Angels
• The Army (Jamaica Defence Force) Warriors
• The Jamaica Constabulary Knights

Each team currently has a team playing in the Open Division competition.

All the teams (Sharks, Angels, Warriors, Knights and Vultures) are based within the nation’s capital of Kingston. There are many players who are from adjoining parishes such as St Catherine and St Andrew.

• 2005 Grand Final - Vauxhall Vultures defeated the Duhaney Park Sharks 32 - 20

United States

Main article: Rugby league in the United States

West Indies

Further information: West Indies national rugby league team

The West Indies were first introduced to Rugby League with the formation of the West Indies Rugby League Federation in 2003. One of the first things the WIRLF did was to find and invite league players from England who had a Caribbean back ground to join the West Indies team in future representative competitions.

The first games to be played by the West Indies team was the Middlesex Nines in 2004. Later in 2004 and 2005 they would also compete in the York Nines competition. The first thirteen-a-side game the West Indies played was against the South African Wild Dogs in London, September 24, 2004. The sport is expanding fast in the Caribbean with the help from the Leeds Rhinos and English people of Caribbean descent helping the team grow.