USA Season : 2011

Things were really happening around this time in US RL. Clubs dissatisfied with governance of the incumbent AMNRL formed a new competition that year, the USARL. Many of the clubs that were part of the existing setup joined the new venture.

The clubs that made the switch over were the Boston 13s, Jacksonville Axemen, New Haven Warriors (Connecticut), Philadelphia Fight, and Washington DC Slayers. New teams were Oneida FC (Massachusetts), the New Jersey Titans and the Rhode Island Rebellion.

The AMNRL continued but the reduced number of teams it had was putting pressure on its attempt to continue operating as a viable competition. The balance of power had swung in favour of the new rival.

USARL

Table: Jacksonville took the league from DC although both finished on 14 points. Philadelphia and New Haven were close behind. It came as no surprise that three of the bottom four places were the new teams.

Playoffs: In the semi finals, New Haven defeated Jacksonville 13-4 and the Fight overcame the DC Slayers 32-18. The grand final was a closely fought affair, with Philadelphia taking the match 28-26 at the expense of New Haven. It was interesting that 3rd and 4th in the league were the finalists, showing some depth in the competition.

2011
Table			Playoffs
1	Jacksonville Axeman	14
2	Washington DC Slayers	14	P1	New Haven Warriors	13
3	Philadelphia Fight	12		Jacksonville Axemen	4
4	New Haven Warriors	10
5	Rhode Island Rebelion	6	P2	Philadelphia Fight	32
6	Boston 13s	4		Washington DC Slayers	18
7	New Jersey Titans	2
8	Oneida FC	2	Grand Final
				Philadelphia Fight	28
				New Haven Warriors	26

AMNRL

The 14th season of this competition featured the Aston Bulls and Bucks County Sharks (both Pennsylvania), Connecticut Wildcats, Delaware Vipers, New York Knights, and New York Raiders. I don't have more information, other than the New York Knights won the league title and then defeated the Connecticut Wildcats 38-4 in the final to prove they were the best in that competition.

For the 2012 season, please click here.
For the 2010 AMNRL season, please click here.

USA RL Modern History

The annual North South game. Pic: http://www.usarl.org/

The American National Rugby League (AMNRL) organised a rugby league competition in the United States from 1998 to 2013. The AMNRL was also involved with organising the United States national rugby league team, the Tomahawks. I would like to write about that annual domestic competition and may do so yet, but getting enough information would be a challenge. If anyone can help there, just send an email to rdc1234@gmail.com.

Throughout the life of the AMNRL, not a lot of progress took place. Distances are an issue and funding another. Then in 2011, a new body was set up to run another domestic competition, the USARL. It eventually prevailed and had an objective to take the game forward.

Has it achieved that goal? Partially but not as much as it hoped for, you would think. Taking a sport beyond some enthusiastic individuals running some regional clubs to taking it further and further until it has national coverage and is getting increasing media attention is a huge step up.

In reality, the USARL is a slightly larger version of its predecessor, but essentially it hasn't gone to another level. That's not a criticism, but a reality check. Today it takes money and astute backers to move a game forward. In addition, a pro team playing in the UK would be a great way to lift the profile of RL in the US.

I will run a series from 2011 forward each year as we look at what has happened in US RL since the start of the USARL.

NZ National Comp 2018 : Zone Results

The country is divided into zones that represents areas strong enough to part of the system. There are four main regions that compete at the Premiership level (see the 2018 results by clicking here). Below them are three zones and the team that comes out on top of this group plays the fourth place elite zone team to see if it can progress to the top level.

The second tier zonal competition has been concluded. Let's see what teams are there and how they fared.

Northern Zone. Only two sides but both strong candidates to win the second tier for a crack at the top spot. The Northern Swords are from the top of NZ and have progressed well recently. They are paired with the Bay of Plenty Lakers, a region to the south and east of Auckland.

Progressed: Northern Swords.

Central Zone. Three teams competed. Wellington from the capital city, the Manawatu Mustangs around the Palmerston North area and Taranaki Sharks based in New Plymouth.

Progressed: Wellington Orcas.

Southern Zone. This encompasses the whole of the South Island and for the population it does well. The Tasman Titans covers the top of the Island, based in Nelson. The West Coast Charges are on that coast of the Island, around Greymouth.

The Aoraki Eels are from South and Mid Canterbury and North Otago, based in Timaru. Further south there is the Otago Whalers centred on Dunedin. The last side is the Southland Rams, the city of Invercargill being the major city from the region.

Progressed: Otago Whalers.

Below are the results. I have yet to ascertain who progresses to the play off match to attempt to enter the highest level competition, the Premiership.

	Northern Zone
	Round One
	Bay of Plenty	Lakers	30	Northern	Swords	26
	Round Two
	Northern	Swords	24	Bay of Plenty	Lakers	18
	Central Zone
	Round One
	Manawatu	Mustangs	26	Wellington	Orcas	26
	Round Two
	Taranaki	Sharks	26	Manawatu	Mustangs	30
	Round Three
	Wellington	Orcas	50	Taranaki	Sharks	22
	Southern Zone
	Round One
	Southland	Rams	22	Otago	Whalers	26
	Tasman	Titans	16	West Coast	Chargers	48
	Round Two
	West Coast	Chargers	18	Southland	Rams	24
	Aoraki	Eels	42	Tasman	Titans	16
	Round Three
	Otago	Whalers	22	West Coast	Chargers	6
	Aoraki	Eels	24	Southland	Rams	24
	Round Four
	Southland	Rams	62	Tasman	Titans	12
	Otago	Whalers	18	Aoraki	Eels	16
	Round Five
	Tasman	Titans	18	Otago	Whalers	44
	West Coast	Chargers	29	Aoraki	Eels	14
	Final standings
	Northern Zone			Central Zone
	Northern	Swords	2*	Otago	Whalers	8
	Bay of Plenty	Lakers	2	Southland	Rams	5
	Central Zone			West Coast	Chargers	4
	Wellington	Orcas	4	Aoraki	Eels	3
	Manawatu	Mustangs	2	Tasman	Titans	0
	Taranaki	Sharks	0	*Northern progressed
	Playoffs
	Round One
	Northern	Swords	16	Wellington	Orcas	14
	Round Two
	Wellington	Orcas	36	Otago	Whalers	38
	Round Three
	Otago	Whalers	26	Northern	Swords	26