75 replies to this topic

[jannerboyuk]

For those of you who don't viit the ghetto of the international ection here is the latest from the states
http://www.fightrugb...sa-rugby-league

[Rubber Schnib]

Thanks, janner - interesting stuff, there.

[fieldofclothofgold]

my wife's a philadelphian

[MidlandsRugbyLeague]

my wife's a philadelphian

Cheesy.

[jannerboyuk]

my wife's a philadelphian

So you've got a steak in all of this.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Was going to post about this when I read it on League Unlimited. Spinner seems to post on there a lot and has been keeping people posted.

It appears that the clubs formerly in the AMNRL were complaining that there wasn't a democracy, and that having one man run the whole show was holding the game back. Whilst Nui has been a legend in getting the game to where it is today, if over half the league (including the two Grand Finalists of last year) are that disillusioned that they have walked away, you know there is something wrong at the top.

You can't have one man making all the decisions. There has to be a vote to make it fair on all parties. It looks like this is the key aim of this new league. Jacksonville have said they will still allow any of their players to play for the AMNRL-led international team, but will the fall out mean that USARL players are overlooked? I hope not, as that would be extremely petty and seriously damage the game in the USA at a time they have a great chance to make the RLWC13.

What does this mean for expansion? There are rumoured to be loads of Western clubs joining the AMNRL. Will this still happen? Will they join the USARL instead? What of the Jamaican club looking to join in two years? What of the NRLUS?

So many questions. This could either be the catalyst for change for the better and acceleration of growth in the game, or the beginnings of the self destruction of the game over there and clubs folding.

[Maximus Decimus]

Was going to post about this when I read it on League Unlimited. Spinner seems to post on there a lot and has been keeping people posted.

It appears that the clubs formerly in the AMNRL were complaining that there wasn't a democracy, and that having one man run the whole show was holding the game back. Whilst Nui has been a legend in getting the game to where it is today, if over half the league (including the two Grand Finalists of last year) are that disillusioned that they have walked away, you know there is something wrong at the top.

You can't have one man making all the decisions. There has to be a vote to make it fair on all parties. It looks like this is the key aim of this new league. Jacksonville have said they will still allow any of their players to play for the AMNRL-led international team, but will the fall out mean that USARL players are overlooked? I hope not, as that would be extremely petty and seriously damage the game in the USA at a time they have a great chance to make the RLWC13.

What does this mean for expansion? There are rumoured to be loads of Western clubs joining the AMNRL. Will this still happen? Will they join the USARL instead? What of the Jamaican club looking to join in two years? What of the NRLUS?

So many questions. This could either be the catalyst for change for the better and acceleration of growth in the game, or the beginnings of the self destruction of the game over there and clubs folding.

Splits are rarely good news.

I follow Niu on Twitter and he doesn't seem particularly bitter about it but maybe he's keeping a brave face.

[HappyDave]

I'm guessing not many people visit the International forum but I guess this does belong in there.

Although I have to admit; Finally! The US is getting a semi-pro league. I honestly thought the NRL US or whatever it was going to be called was a pie-in-the-sky idea & was never going to happen. So this is what the US needed as it would take another 5 - 10 years before a pro RL league in the US.

[fieldofclothofgold]

Cheesy.

no but, she's the only Philadelphian I know that has heard of rugby league

[deluded pom?]

I'm guessing not many people visit the International forum but I guess this does belong in there.

Although I have to admit; Finally! The US is getting a semi-pro league. I honestly thought the NRL US or whatever it was going to be called was a pie-in-the-sky idea & was never going to happen. So this is what the US needed as it would take another 5 - 10 years before a pro RL league in the US.

I wouldn't hold your breath on the semi pro status Dave.

[jannerboyuk]

9s tourny up and running including a kiwi police team and a uk police team. Looks good.
http://www.facebook....9...3366&ref=mf

[HappyDave]

I wouldn't hold your breath on the semi pro status Dave.

Well that article claims they want it to be semi-pro.

[jannerboyuk]

Well that article claims they want it to be semi-pro.

I think the axemen and boston 13s call themselves semi-pro but what that means in reality who knows.

[Big Picture]

I think the axemen and boston 13s call themselves semi-pro but what that means in reality who knows.

Spinner Howland has said in various posts that the Axemen are semi-pro to the extent that it doesn't cost the players money to play. Their budget ($50,000 for the season a couple of years ago as far as I can recall) is covered by ticket sales, sponsorship and mechandise sales with any shortfall covered by Spinner and his partner.

[nadera78]

Spinner Howland has said in various posts that the Axemen are semi-pro to the extent that it doesn't cost the players money to play. Their budget ($50,000 for the season a couple of years ago as far as I can recall) is covered by ticket sales, sponsorship and mechandise sales with any shortfall covered by Spinner and his partner.

That's pretty much it. IIRC Spinner was aiming for the club to be self-financing around about next year or the one after. Philly have a similar approach to Jacksonville. When you think about it, the travel costs alone are huge in the USA for a tiny sport like RL, so to remove that cost from the players is significant.

[deluded pom?]

Spinner Howland has said in various posts that the Axemen are semi-pro to the extent that it doesn't cost the players money to play. Their budget ($50,000 for the season a couple of years ago as far as I can recall) is covered by ticket sales, sponsorship and mechandise sales with any shortfall covered by Spinner and his partner.

Spinner has said that playing for the Axemen doesn't cost the players a penny but he also states that they don't receive a penny for playing either. Not semi pro in my book.

Edited by deluded pom?, 13 January 2011 - 06:43 PM.

[HappyDave]

Spinner has said the playing for the Axemen doesn't cost the players a penny but he also states that they don't receive a penny for playing either. Not semi pro in my book.

Maybe the American definition of semi-pro State-side is different to the British definition over here in the UK? How can a team be semi-pro in an amateur comp where none of the players receive any money?

Plus if teams were actually semi-pro in an amateur comp wouldn't that invalidate the 'amateur' status of said comp & that team/teams would have a really unfair advantage over their competitors?? Or if it was classified as 'semi-pro' but only a few teams were actually 'semi-pro' then that would still seem really unfair.

[yanto]

Maybe the American definition of semi-pro State-side is different to the British definition over here in the UK? How can a team be semi-pro in an amateur comp where none of the players receive any money?

Plus if teams were actually semi-pro in an amateur comp wouldn't that invalidate the 'amateur' status of said comp & that team/teams would have a really unfair advantage over their competitors?? Or if it was classified as 'semi-pro' but only a few teams were actually 'semi-pro' then that would still seem really unfair.

As far as I am aware there is no "amateur" RL in the Uk,
BARLA used to be the amateur strong hold but despite the name is it not all "Community clubs" now.

[Celt]

As far as I am aware there is no "amateur" RL in the Uk,
BARLA used to be the amateur strong hold but despite the name is it not all "Community clubs" now.

You are ALMOST correct Yanto - Championship1 however remains fairly amateurish.... at least to anyone watching it.

[jannerboyuk]

USARL Chairman appointed http://www.jaxaxe.co...73/Default.aspx