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It was an amazing thing for the rugby league world when the Americans qualified alongside Italy for their debut World Cup. The Yanks were, had been, and still are very excited.
So why then are the USA Tomahawks halving their potential?
In a similar position to the National Rugby League, in regards to Australia and their English-based players, the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) has decided to disallow players from the USA Rugby League (USARL) competition from playing in the 2013 World Cup.
I think this has a lot to do with the bitterness of the split and the fact that AMNRL boss David Niu runs both.
Australia can afford to halve their talent across the two competitions, but America simply can’t.
They are almost shooting themselves in the foot. Some of their best players could be playing in the USARL competition right now, but they will always be overlooked.
What confuses me and upsets me most is that players in Australia are eligible, but some of their home-grown and American-born talent are not.
The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) had this to say about their organisation on their website:
“The RLIF is responsible for the laws of the game, the development, organisation and governance of rugby league internationally, and for the sport’s major international tournament, the rugby league World Cup.”
So if this board is in place to help develop, organise and govern international rugby league, why is it refusing to step in?
It is completely unfair and unjust for an international squad to be picked from one American competition, and even Australia, but not another because of politics.
We want to build our game and make it one of the dominant forces in the sporting world and let it not fall into the laughing-stock category.
In such a commercial age this should not be happening. It is not a good look.
The 2013 Rugby League World Cup is going to be spectacular and exciting; the English are going to throw one hell of a party.
Too bad America won’t be there, but at least the AMNRL Tomahawks will be.
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