USA Rugby League
Official governing body for rugby league in the United States
Current season or competition: 2023 USARL season | |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2011 |
| Inaugural season | 2011 |
| Chairmen | Peter Illfield (INC Chairman) Danny Hanson (Domestic Chairman) |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Country |  United States |
| Champions |  Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans (1st title) (2023) |
| Most titles |  Philadelphia Fight (4 titles) |
| Website | usarl.com usarl.us (domestic competition) |
The USA Rugby League (formally the US Association of Rugby League, Inc.) is the national governing body for rugby league, a code of rugby football, in the United States.
The organization also runs the national amateur competition for club teams in the United States. The league consists of six teams located in east coast states whose season ends in the USARL Grand Final. The regular season is played between May and September.
The league was founded in 2011 by clubs that had broken with the established American National Rugby League (AMNRL), plus expansion franchises. The USARL began its inaugural season in 2011 with eight teams. The USARL was granted affiliate membership in November 2014 of the RLIF and RLEF, replacing the AMNRL which is now defunct.[1]
History
2011–2012: Foundation
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 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.[2][3][4]
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 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.[5] The New York team was unable to find a suitable stadium in the city, and instead became the Rhode Island Rebellion.[6] One additional team, Oneida FC, joined the top-tiered competition for the 2011 season.[7]
On January 13, 2011, the USARL announced that Peter Illfield, chairman of the Philadelphia Fight, would be the league's first chairman.[8][9] 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 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.[10]
2013–2014: Expansion
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 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.[11]
In 2014, the USARL expanded to 10 teams, adding expansion squads Atlanta Rhinos, Central Florida Warriors, and Tampa Mayhem. In addition, the Northern Virginia Eagles withdrew from the AMNRL and joined the USARL.[12] To reduce operating costs, the competition was split into two conferences.[13] Meanwhile, the AMNRL suspended its 2014 season.
2015–2020: AMNRL folds
In 2015, the AMNRL folded, leaving the USARL as the undisputed top-level rugby league competition in the United States. 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 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 the competition. The New York Knights left the competition after the 2018 season.[14]
2021–2022: NARL era
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 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: Playing on both Coasts
2023 has seen significant expansion. Atlanta Rhinos rejoined 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, the first ever coast to coast National Champion was crowned with Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans defeating defending champions Jacksonville Axemen, 20–16.
Structure
Since 2022, the season has started with the Naples 9s rugby league nines tournament. The tournament is hosted by Southwest Florida Copperheads at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex. The 2022 men's champion was a USARL Exiles team. In 2023, the Jamaica national team won the men's and women's competitions.
Regular season
The USARL is split into two conferences, South and Pacific Coast. In the South Conference, teams play a double round-robin schedule of 8 games. In the Pacific, the ran by the Pacific Coast Rugby League is split into two Conferences, known by their respective state in Utah and California. Both conferences play a double round-robin schedule of 6 games. Teams qualify for the playoffs based on point differential, with a win counting for 2 points, a draw for 1, a loss for 0, and a forfeit for −2. The regular season runs through May and July.
Play-offs
In the South Conference, the top four teams make the playoffs. The teams with the best and worst records, and the second- and third-best records, play each other in the South Conference semi-finals. The winners meet in the South Conference finals. In the Pacific Coast Conference, the top two teams in the each state will play-off to be their respective conference champion. Afterwards, the Utah and California champions meet to crown the overall champion. The winners of the South Conference finals meet the winners of the Pacific Coast Conference finals in the USARL Grand Final, held in late August or early September.
Teams
PCRL Division
South Division
