Americas
Rugby league is a growing sport in the Americas, having first started with All Star exhibition matches in the 1950s. It has been played at an organised semi-professional level in North America since it was first introduced as a competition sport in the 1990s. There are currently domestic leagues operating in Jamaica, Canada and the United States. Many players of Caribbean heritage live and play in the European Super League and have brought their skills back to the islands to foster the development of thousands of new players. The game is also played at a lower amateur level across the Americas by ex-patriates although only recognised national organisations are listed here for brevity.
Canada currently has two domesitic competitions, Ontario and British Columbia, with British Columbia being the premier competition with also the most teams. British Columbia Rugby League (BCRL) also has a provincial team known as the BC Bulldogs. In 2012, the BC Bulldogs competed against Utah Avalanche from Salt Lake who currently play in the AMNRL. The game was contested over two legs, home and away, with BC taking both games. The BC Bulldogs also made an appearance at the Las Vegas Remembrance Cup and come third. Coogee Bay Dolphins from Australia took out the competition for the second time in a row.
In 2013, BCRL will be made up of 6 teams, namely Bayside Sharks, Kelowna Crows, Richmond Bears, Sea to Sky Eagles, Surrey Beavers and Vancouver Dragons.
Countries that meet current World Cup qualification criteria:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | Rugby league in Jamaica | Nomads | Affiliate | Jamaica Rugby League Association | Jamaican Championship | Atlantic Cup - Runner Up |
| United States | Rugby league in the United States | Tomahawks | Affiliate | AMNRL | American National Rugby League | Atlantic Cup - Champion |
Other countries with a history of the game:
| Country | Overview | National team | Status | Governing Body | Main league competition(s) | Best International Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Rugby league in Argentina | Penguins | Non-Affiliate | Rugby League Argentina | In Development | Argentine 9's - Runner Up |
| Canada | Rugby league in Canada | Wolverines | Affiliate | Canada Rugby League | Canada Rugby League | Emerging Nations - Pool Round |
| Cuba | Rugby league in Cuba | Observer | In Development | In Development | ||
| Mexico | Rugby league in Mexico | Observer | In Development | In Development | ||
| Panama | Rugby league in Panama | Observer | In Development | In Development | ||
| West Indies | Rugby league in the West Indies | The Wahoos | Non-Affiliate | West Indies Rugby League Federation | Jamaican Championship | York 9's - Champion |
Read more about this topic: Rugby League Around The World
Famous quotes containing the word americas:
“The only history is a mere question of one’s struggle inside oneself. But that is the joy of it. One need neither discover Americas nor conquer nations, and yet one has as great a work as Columbus or Alexander, to do.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)