75 replies to this topic

[jannerboyuk]

New USARL team alert: Rhode Island Rebellion http://www.facebook....203424913005022

[jannerboyuk]

Blimey another USARL team alert! Oneida FC (out of Boston!) http://www.facebook....200003110025418

[jannerboyuk]

Now it's going crazy. New USARL team NJ Turnpike Titans http://www.facebook....142145585847857

[jannerboyuk]

The USARL fb page mentions a Utah Avalanche as well.

[deluded pom?]

Maybe someone can confirm but i'm sure the tomahawks had non-amnrl players for the tri-series in florida?

There were at least two players from Hawaii in the 2010 AC squad that had never even played a competitive game of RL before let alone be affiliated to an AMNRL team but then again that suited David Niu's agenda. Does this mean they (the AMNRL) won't be including any pros based in the UK or Australia for the WC qualifiers as they obviously don't fit the new criteria?

Edited by deluded pom?, 16 February 2011 - 05:14 PM.

[HappyDave]

The USARL posted a Status Update on Facebook earlier about 'Rugby' being the fastest growing sport in the US & posted a URL to an article on Philadelphia Fight's website that gave lots of facts about RU, classified as 'Rugby'. Surely that's damaging towards RL's profile in the US if they keep mixing RU up with RL?

[yanto]

The USARL posted a Status Update on Facebook earlier about 'Rugby' being the fastest growing sport in the US & posted a URL to an article on Philadelphia Fight's website that gave lots of facts about RU, classified as 'Rugby'. Surely that's damaging towards RL's profile in the US if they keep mixing RU up with RL?

I think you will find cross code harmony is very much alive in the USA.
That is until the IRB put their oar in.

[HappyDave]

I think you will find cross code harmony is very much alive in the USA.
That is until the IRB put their oar in.

Ah! Fair enough. Stay away demon IRB! Hah.

Seeing as there seems to be a good amount of money being invested into amateur RL in the States, yeah, I know they claim some of the teams are 'semi-pro' but unless you're paying players a wage then it's not. Therefore to build the profile in the US I don't see why BARLA couldn't organise a mini-comp for the top 2 NCL/Pennines League (?) teams flying out to the US for 2 - 3 weeks to play a mini-comp against the top 2 teams in the USARL after their season is over? (it would only 4 games)

Or what about the losers of the SL/NRL play-off quarter finals being flown out to the US to have a mini-tournament before the 4 Nations?

[Number 16]

Don't worry folks... RL in the US of A is still getting some things right!!!

Top stuff!

[HappyDave]

Don't worry folks... RL in the US of A is still getting some things right!!!

Top stuff!

What you trying to say? They get attractive Cheerleaders over there and... Sexist pig!

[Big Picture]

Ah! Fair enough. Stay away demon IRB! Hah.

Seeing as there seems to be a good amount of money being invested into amateur RL in the States, yeah, I know they claim some of the teams are 'semi-pro' but unless you're paying players a wage then it's not.

You have to put that in context. Teams like Jacksonville are semi-pro to the extent that it costs the players nothing to play for them, all expenses are covered by the club. This is in contrast to amateur sports in North America that usually involve the players paying a fee to be part of the team they play for, and also to grassroot level leagues in other sports that claim to be semi-pro but have member clubs charging players tryout fees and dues. No doubt part of the Axemen's plan is to bring in modest player payments when they can manage that.

Therefore to build the profile in the US I don't see why BARLA couldn't organise a mini-comp for the top 2 NCL/Pennines League (?) teams flying out to the US for 2 - 3 weeks to play a mini-comp against the top 2 teams in the USARL after their season is over? (it would only 4 games)

There's no opening in the calendar for such a tour. The season in the US is squeezed in between the end of RU season in late spring and the start of American football season at beginning of September. After their RL season ends American football's in full swing even if you book a venue you'd get no coverage of any kind because that sport is so huge.

Or what about the losers of the SL/NRL play-off quarter finals being flown out to the US to have a mini-tournament before the 4 Nations?

The same comments apply to this idea too. During American football season you can't expect to get any exposure for RL in the US, it's that simple.

[Big Picture]

The USARL posted a Status Update on Facebook earlier about 'Rugby' being the fastest growing sport in the US & posted a URL to an article on Philadelphia Fight's website that gave lots of facts about RU, classified as 'Rugby'. Surely that's damaging towards RL's profile in the US if they keep mixing RU up with RL?

Not necessarily. First, RL's profile in the US is very modest. Second, so it RU's profile in the US: hardly any Americans know a thing about either game. It's conceivable that in time rugby could mean RL to Americans, not RU. That being said, I think what the USARL and AMNRL need to do is bill RL as internatonal football, play up the parallels with American football and recruit guys who've played football and don't play RU. That's the way to attract Americans to the sport.

[thirteenthman]

Don't worry folks... RL in the US of A is still getting some things right!!!

Top stuff!

Now this is the kind of post I like to see

[HappyDave]

I think I am starting to see the bigger picture...

I still think their definition of 'semi-pro' is still wrong though.

Edited by HappyDave, 17 February 2011 - 10:16 PM.

[jannerboyuk]

I think I am starting to see the bigger picture...

I still think their definition of 'semi-pro' is still wrong though.

More decent and interesting developments. Looks lik the USARL are adopting the revolutionary approach of promising what they can deliver. Also it seems dallas, orange county and seattle storm are in the orbit of the USARL as developmental teams even if not formally affiliated. http://forums.league...ad.php?t=377167 I make that 15 teams in the USARL world.

Edited by jannerboyuk, 18 February 2011 - 11:07 AM.

[mick wilson]

Texas getting RL HURRAH