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34-634: The USARL Grand Final is the championship-deciding game of the USA's premier rugby league competition, the USARL . The first was held in 2011 . USA Rugby League#Domestic competition The USA Rugby League (formally the US Association of Rugby League, Inc. ) is the national governing body for rugby league in the United States . The organization is responsible for running the domestic club competitions and

68-509: A friendly against a touring New Zealand Police squad the following August, losing 6–62. A women's USA Pioneers side played in the Americas qualification tournament for the 2026 Women's Rugby League World Cup as a result of Brazil 's late withdrawal. Naturally, they were unable to take a qualification spot if victorious. They played Canada who received as semi-final bye as the highest ranked side, and Jamaica who lost there semi-final against

102-512: The 2007 season . The Sharks suspended operations and did not compete in the 2010 season , but rejoined in 2011 and remained in the league until it folded in 2014. Subsequently, they joined the USARL for the 2015 USARL season . The team was formed in 1997 by Fred Backhaus and Phil Shipos. The Sharks were one of the charter franchises of the AMNRL, competing in its inaugural season . Though they played under

136-679: The Jacksonville Axemen and Axewomen , Southwest FL Copperheads , Tampa Mayhem and Mischief , and the Atlanta Rhinos . In 2024, the USARL bid to host the 2029 Wheelchair and 2030 Men's Rugby League World Cup . Starting in 2024, the USARL competition was expanded following teams withdrawing for the NARL in the years previous. The competition would be structured into four regional leagues across an East and West Conference. Winners of each league advance to their respective conference final before

170-556: The Northern Virginia Eagles withdrew from the AMNRL and joined the USARL. To reduce operating costs, the competition was split into two conferences. Meanwhile, the AMNRL suspended its 2014 season. In 2015, three former AMNRL clubs joined the USARL; Bucks County Sharks , Connecticut Wildcats , and New York Knights . The Delaware Black Foxes also joined as an expansion squad. For 2016, the Connecticut Wildcats left

204-657: The Pittsburgh Vipers ; they were to be joined by two new teams, the New Jersey Turnpike Titans and Kodiak Rugby from New York City. Before the season Pittsburgh and Fairfax became "developmental" teams in the new league outside of the top-tiered competition; Fairfax subsequently suspended operations. The New York team was unable to find a suitable stadium in the city, and instead became the Rhode Island Rebellion . One additional team, Oneida FC , joined

238-647: The United States . The Pioneers lost 0–88 to Canada, and 12–48 to Jamaica, finishing last. The USARL established another team to play a second match against the New Zealand Police and to 'curtain-raise' the 2014 USARL National Championship between the Philadelphia Fight and the Jacksonville Axemen . This representative consisted of overseas-imports from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and France; similar to Super League 's Exiles . They were beaten by

272-503: The United States national rugby league team in addition to other responsibilities. The body was founded in 2011 by clubs that had broken from the established American National Rugby League (AMNRL), plus expansion franchises. The USARL began its inaugural competition season in 2011 with eight teams. The USARL was granted affiliate membership in November 2014 of the RLIF and RLEF , replacing

306-652: The 23-man roster that would make up the New England Immortal side that would represent their region against the British Royal Marines at Tucker Field in Cumberland, Rhode Island, at the end of the month. Despite the loss of the Connecticut, the expanded player pool from newly formed Oneida FC and the Rhode Island Rebellion saw a new breed Immortals, with only three returning veterans. The Immortals took to

340-544: The AMNRL which is now defunct. The formation of the USA Rugby League was announced on January 12, 2011. Seven teams that had previously competed in the American National Rugby League, the United States' established rugby league organization and recognized governing body for the sport, announced they were breaking with the AMNRL to form a new league. The stated reason for the split was dissatisfaction with

374-693: The Bucks County Sharks, reflecting that they played in Bucks County, Pennsylvania . As a result of internal factors the Sharks suspended operations following the 2009 season, and did not play in the 2010 domestic competition. They remained active outside of the competition; they played a replacement game against the New York Knights after their scheduled opponents, the Northern Raiders , forfeited before

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408-660: The Immortals joined the latter. Due to the regulations of the separation outlined by the RLIF , only players registered in the AMNRL competition qualified for selection to the USA Tomahawks . Under that same ruling, the Connecticut Wildcats (who opted to stay with the AMNRL) were dropped from selections to the Immortals. The Immortals was now the only representative rugby available to USARL players. In April 2012, Head Coach Robin Peers named

442-718: The Kiwis 16–46. L 32–38 [REDACTED] SOUTH Conference All-Stars October 22, 2016 W 38–32 [REDACTED] NORTH Conference All-Stars October 22, 2016 Bucks County Sharks Originally known as the New Jersey Sharks , the team was founded in 1997 and joined the now-defunct American National Rugby League (AMNRL) for its inaugural 1998 season. Despite the name, the team was based not in New Jersey but in nearby Levittown in Bucks County. They adopted their current name for

476-677: The National level. In 2014, the league established a touring developmental side, the USA Pioneers, to play friendly matches against foreign nations. They completed a two match tour in Jamaica in April 2014, winning their first game against a Jamaican domestic outfit, but fell short to the semi-professional Hurricanes Rugby League whilst still proving to be strong opposition for the Jamaicans. The Pioneers played

510-689: The USARL announced a new Regionalized structure to the national league. The Utah Rugby League Association would now operate as an independent entity distinct from the Pacific Coast Rugby League , managing its competition in accordance with USARL standards. At the end of the season, URLA and PCRL winners will play for the Western Championship, with the winner facing the Eastern Champions for the National Championship. Secondly,

544-429: The USARL clubs eventually pulled out. USARL commissioner Peter Illfield blamed apparent dysfunction and disorganization in the AMNRL organization for this decision. The USARL subsequently invited AMNRL clubs to join their ranks as full members and initiated a four-team expansion. In 2014, the USARL expanded to 10 teams, adding expansion squads Atlanta Rhinos , Central Florida Warriors , and Tampa Mayhem . In addition,

578-613: The USARL, playing in the South Division. Pacific Coast Rugby League (PCRL) joined USARL, operating on the West Coast. PCRL brought Los Angeles Mongrel , San Diego Barracudas , and Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans – all formerly part of California Rugby League – as well as the newly formerly Los Angeles Bandidos into USARL. Additionally, four Utah teams, Riverton Seagulls, Herriman Roosters, Glendale Storm and Provo Broncos began playing USARL sanctioned matches as affiliates of PCRL. In August 2023,

612-687: The Western Conference, while Carolina Valkyries, Tampa Mischief, Jacksonville Axewomen and New York State Queens to represent the Eastern Conference. The winner of each conference would face off to crown the National Women's Champion. In 2024, the governing body also announced the beginning of Youth Hawks, the Under 20 national team. This is first time since the late 1990s that a USA youth rugby league team will be put together. In late April of 2024,

646-475: The best regular season record. In the inaugural Grand Final on August 27, the Philadelphia Fight defeated the New Haven Warriors to win their first ever national championship. In 2013 the USARL and AMNRL increased their focus on reunification, particularly after the United States ' encouraging showing at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup . An independent commission assembled to lead negotiations, however

680-513: The club adopted the colors of blue, black and white but their uniforms were predominantly blue. Their uniforms are similar in style to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks of Australia's National Rugby League , with whom they have a team partnership association. For the 2006 season the club changed their home kit to include a darker blue strip with predominantly black socks and shorts. In 2010, the club, along with other AMNRL teams, adopted

714-637: The competition and were replaced by the White Plains Wombats. Before the 2017 season, the D.C. Slayers and Bucks County Sharks left the competition, and the USARL abolished the division structure within the North Conference. Before the 2018 season, the Central Florida Warriors left the competition and were replaced by Southwest Florida Copperheads and Danny Hanson was appointed the second league chairman. The Rhode Island Rebellion also left

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748-537: The competition. The New York Knights left the competition after the 2018 season. USARL membership has been in flux since the announcement of the North American Rugby League in spring 2021. Boston 13s and Philadelphia Fight left USARL to be founding members of the new competition. White Plains folded after NARL established the New York Freedom. Northern Virginia folded after most of its players joined

782-499: The field for their second match since their inception, and despite putting up a hard fight, they were out classed by the more experienced Marines, losing by a score of 68–12. As of 2014, due to budgetary cuts and restructuring of the USARL competition, the Immortals have not played a match since their loss to the Royal Marines. The following is a list of New England Immortals who have played representative rugby (league or union) at

816-448: The first ever coast to coast National Champion was crowned with Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans defeating defending champions Jacksonville Axemen, 20–16. In late December of 2023, the USARL announced the introduction of Women's National Competition or the Women's Championship for 2024. 6 clubs from both coasts, Los Angeles Mongrel, San Diego Barracudas, and Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans joined to represent

850-935: The first three seasons of the league, clubs were only present in the North East thus only one geographic group was required. The top four teams advanced to the playoffs ending with the Grand Final. As part of the 2011 season, a former AMNRL team, the Pittsburgh Sledgehammers , participated as a "developmental team", playing a more limited schedule while developing the club for future seasons. The New England Immortals are an inactive representative rugby league football team selected from American players born in New England or those who play for clubs in New England. The New England Immortals were founded in 2010 and consisted of

884-594: The governance of the AMNRL; the departing teams were unhappy with the lack of club involvement in the league's decision making, and the new league was founded with the principle of including its member clubs in its administration. The departing AMNRL teams were the Boston Thirteens , the Washington, D.C. Slayers , the Fairfax Eagles , the Jacksonville Axemen , the New Haven Warriors , the Philadelphia Fight , and

918-498: The match. In December 2010, the Sharks announced they intended to return for the 2011 season. On January 31, 2011, they announced they would be committing to the AMNRL, rather than the upstart USA Rugby League . The Sharks competed in the AMNRL until it folded in 2014. The following year they joined the USA Rugby League , along with two other surviving AMNRL clubs. For their inaugural American National Rugby League season

952-453: The name New Jersey Sharks, they were actually based across state lines in nearby Levittown, Pennsylvania , a suburb of Philadelphia . Many players were drawn from the local Hibernian Rugby Football Club, or "Hibos". Throughout their early years the Sharks were consistent playoff contenders, advancing to the Grand Final in 1999 and winning a minor premiership in 2002, though never winning a championship title. In 2007 they changed their name to

986-852: The newly established DC Cavalry in NARL. Lakeland Renegades suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 USARL season was contested by six teams. Philadelphia and Delaware in the North; Tampa, Jacksonville, Southwest Florida Copperheads, and South Florida Speed in the South. USARL South Championships Tampa Mayhem defeated North winners Delaware Black Foxes in the championship. The North Division has been unable to play in 2022. Multiple forfeits by South Florida Speed in July 2022 have put their future with USARL in doubt. 2023 has seen significant expansion. Atlanta Rhinos rejoined

1020-631: The six states that make up New England, while the red white and blue symbolize not only the national colors of the U.S., but also hardiness, valour, vigilance, and perseverance. They played their inaugural match against the Canadian National Team at the 2010 AMNRL "War at the Shore" , on July 31, 2010, defeating the Canadians 12-8 in a tightly contested match. After the AMNRL/ USARL split in 2011,

1054-628: The top players from the New England–based teams of the AMNRL – the Boston Thirteens , Connecticut Wildcats and the New Haven Warriors . Their logo is based on the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial located on Boston Common at the corner of Beacon and Park Street in Boston, MA. Colonel Shaw commanded the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment during the civil war. There are six stars which represent

USARL Grand Final - Misplaced Pages Continue

1088-476: The top-tiered competition for the 2011 season. On January 13, 2011, the USARL announced that Peter Illfield, chairman of the Philadelphia Fight , would be the league's first chairman. The league's first event was a rugby league nines tournament in the Philadelphia area on May 28–29, 2011. Round 1 of the regular season championship kicked off on June 4; the Jacksonville Axemen won the minor premiership with

1122-698: The unification effort on the East Coast of the United States sees the return of Boston 13s , Brooklyn Kings RLFC , and Delaware Black Foxes with Washington DC Cavalry joining as the Rugby League United competition becomes the Northeastern conference of USARL. Lastly, the USARL South would now become the Florida Rugby League, the rebranding affects both men's and women's teams in the region, including

1156-429: The winners of each facing each other in the Grand Final. Between 2014 and 2023 the USARL competition was split a Northern and Southern Conference with the top four teams advancing to their conference semi-final. Winners of each conference final would contest the Grand Final. California Rugby League (now Pacific Coast Rugby League) was established in 2018 but was not integrated into the USARL competition until 2024. In

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