History
They are one of the most successful teams in America both in on-field and off-field operations, making it to the finals in four of their five years of play. Their team for 2009 includes former National Rugby League player Sean Rutgerson and former international player Daryl Howland. They are also the first Rugby League team in the USA to stream all their home games live on the internet in an effort expose the sport in the USA to the rest of the world via the World Wide Web. They often appear on local television and radio shows and are supported by the local media community in Jacksonville.
The club was founded for the 2006 American National Rugby League season by Drew Slover and current American international Daryl Howland after the state of Florida (where both individuals resided) had no representation in the top level rugby league competition in the USA. After becoming the first AMNRL club to come from the southern state the Axemen had an impressive debut season finishing in the top six and qualifying for the playoffs; however they would eventually be knocked out by the New Jersey Sharks. The Axemen have made the playoffs in the AMNRL 4 of their five years of operations, with two trips to the title game and one national championship title.
The Jacksonville Axemen hosted the teams of the Australia Day Challenge, January 26, 2008 at the University of North Florida, Hodges Stadium. This event drew 12,500 fans from 40 states in the USA and 15 countries. They also hosted the "Rhinos Stampede to Florida" that saw the Leeds Rhinos and the Salford City Reds (both from the UK) visit Jacksonville for a 10 day training camp and game during early 2009 that saw 7000 fans visit Hodges Stadium. Later that year they Axemen also arranged and hosted the "HotelsofJacksonville.com Atlantic Cup" that saw the USA National Team play the Jamaican National team in a full international. A crowd of approximately 3500 attended the game.
The Axemen are believed to be the most recognizable Rugby League team in the USA. They hold the current record for most fans and supporters at home games with average crowds of 2500 and have merchandise sales that ship globally during the AMNRL Season.
In January 2011 the Axemen were one of seven AMNRL teams to announce they were departing to form the new USA Rugby League. They played their first game in the new league on June 4, 2011. The club managed to secure the inaugural minor premiership, however disappointingly were eliminated in the first week of the play-offs by the New Haven Warriors.
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