There is a rugby league revolution going on in North America right now – and it has nothing to do with Jarryd Hayne.
Starting next week the Canada Wolverines take on the USA Hawks and the Jamaica Reggae Warriors in qualifying matches for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Each team will play against the other sides between December 4 and 12 in Florida in the USA.
I am excited to see the games (which will be streamed live around the world for anyone with a smartphone to access) not because it is an emerging sport in some big countries, but because I have a personal connection to the Canada Rugby League.
Rugby league in Canada has been played only since 2010, when some of the league-loving guys in Toronto decided to start a competition. Cory Tukeli and Eric Perez, among others, established the Canada Rugby League in that year and their progress has been astonishing.
Toronto was the hub of rugby league in the early years and the competition now has four teams. International rugby league was a greater success, for with some savvy marketing and connection with key corporate partners the CRL has been able to attract crowds of 5000 to Lamport Stadium in Toronto for internationals against USA, Jamaica and England Lions.
Yet they didn’t have a nationwide footprint, in a nation that stretches over 5000 kilometres from east to west and comprises a territory almost 10 million kilometres squared. Not to mention a population of over 35 million.
Enter Paul O’Keefe.
As an Australian married to a Canadian who then moved to British Colombia (on Canada’s west coast) for work reasons, O’Keefe packed his love of rugby league with his check-in baggage. And on the west coast of Canada – a long way from Toronto – there wasn’t much of our game to be seen.
Fortuitously for rugby league, the arm of the Australian business that O’Keefe was meant to set up was met with some regulatory hurdles, so he had some time on his hands.
So what do you do in a foreign land when you’re waiting for red tape to be cleared? You set up a rugby league competition, of course!
O’Keefe established the British Colombia Bulldogs as a regional representative team in 2012 and has since made impressive progress with the local teams to create a viable competition.
I met O’Keefe in early 2013 when he came back to Australia (with a British Colombia Bulldogs jersey that I had bought from him). I invited O’Keefe out to an NRL referees training session on a Wednesday morning were he got an opportunity to see how we trained and the whole referee operation at Sydney Olympic Park.
He was in Australia to set up a program with the Parramatta Eels whereby two of his promising players could train with the full-time squad for a month of the 2014 pre-season and take those skills back to Canada.
It proved such a success that the following year four players were invited to travel to Australia and experience the same specialist coaching. Phil Cummings as general manager of the Parramatta Junior League was instrumental in making the arrangements and now that he is working at Penrith Panthers the partnership has been transferred farther west. Its continuation across NRL club rivalries illustrates the importance he sees in the game’s relationship between Canada and Australia.
Scrub high speed to February 2015 and Canada’s Australian-based players, as well as the four natives on their rugby league education program with the Eels, participated in the Cabra 9s knockout tournament, which this year was held at St Mary’s in Western Sydney.
Upon volunteering my expert services of holding a flag up straight, supplying a portable marquee, and cutting up watermelon into equal wedges, my application as part of the support staff for the tournament was accepted.
That was when I received a personal view of what Canada rugby league was all about.
The match results were not important. Coach Aaron Zimmerle, who is the current coach of the Queensland Cup team Tweed Heads Seagulls and Queensland Residents representative side, was player-coach for the tournament. He recognised the opportunity before him; with four Canada locals and the rest of the squad embracing their Canadian heritage, the genesis of a World Cup campaign was emerging.
Canada’s key playmaker, Souths Logan Magpies half Rhys Jacks, was injured against Helensburgh Tigers in the first game. He came off before half-time with an injured hand. As soon as I looked at it I knew the news wouldn’t be good.
“Your tournament is over, Rhys,” I said forlornly. “This is just a fun competition – there’s no money in this. You need to get right for the Queensland Cup.”
“Mate almost certainly fractured a bone there. It’s swollen already – get it checked by the qualified guys on the other side of the park but go and get an x-ray as soon as you can.
“Strap this bag [of ice] around your hand and give it back to me after you’ve been to the medical centre.”
Jacks, with trial games for his professional team only a week away, was somewhere between bemused and despondent. “So if it’s a fracture, like you said, that would mean I’d be out for a while?”
“Most broken bones will take six weeks to heal properly. Being the outside of your hand you might be lucky and be able to play in three or four weeks.”
Of course I offered the usual disclaimers – the information is from a former touch judge with a University Degree in Ancient History, so my advice is general in nature, and you should consult a medical professional.
Rhys went off to get an x-ray, the team got on with the competition and won that game 12-10 without their halfback. The next game was a defeat of a Philippines Youth team 16-14, which sent Canada to the top of their group. The finals against the top group teams was always going to be a challenge, but it was where I had the privilege to hear Zimmerle talk to his team in an environment where I had never previously been part.
I couldn’t do justice to his words by trying to write them down for you. I can’t remember exactly what he said because I was caught up in the moment of a pre-game pep talk that I have never heard.
Zimmerle described overhearing people who had said: “They’ve topped their group – Canada!” and “They can’t be Canadians – they were too good.” At which point he refocused his players on the task at hand. This was about their heritage, their personal pride today, and forging a path for Canada rugby league to follow.
I can’t remember any of the specific words Zimmerle spoke. All I remember is that I was ready to run through a concrete wall. And I was only holding a water bottle!
The team lost that next game to Asquith, who had also topped their group. “The offloads killed us,” one player said to me. “They just got their arms out all the time – they were like octopuses.”
So that was the end of the section for Canada, but not the end of the story. There was a prearranged party for all the Canada crew that Saturday night, and it was going to be a roaring, fun party no matter how far the team progressed.
Jacks had already arrived back at the ground. His hand was bandaged and gave me the news: “You were right – it’s fractured. Going to take at least a month to heal.”
Phone calls were already being made to the airline to change the flight back to Queensland from Sunday morning to Saturday night. Rhys had made the decision himself to go home early and get an extra day recovery rather than have a drink with the boys that Saturday night.
A rugby league player forgoing a party to help his body repair? What is this, some weird Gen Y dude?
No, it’s Rhys Jacks, a professional in all respects. And alongside his brother Ryley he will be doing his best to get Canada to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. One per cent of his determination in each player will help Canada qualify.
2017 RLWC Qualifiers
December 4: USA vs Jamaica at Hodges Stadium, University of North Florida, Jacksonville
December 8: Jamaica vs Canada at Spec Martin Stadium, Deland, Florida
December 12: USA vs Canada at Hodges Stadium, University of North Florida, Jacksonville
Emride
Roar Rookie
Fair points, but you must admit it sounds semi pro not professional... Posting on Facebook for Coaches and Players to apply, playing in 3,000 seat park in San Francisco. Announcing cities, but saying they'll name the teams during the season etc. My understanding is that Canada declined to be involved as they wanted to see how it all went. I suspect the central ownership model may have been a concern. The biggest concern is that it's all relying on one person's finances, as USA Rugby don't appear to have the finances to launch themselves. A plan financed and supported by World Rugby in partnership with business or high net wealth individuals would be a more solid foundation. I hope it works, but in a market like the USA you need a professional approach like soccer has taken.
onside
Guest
Enjoy the ideas and comments above,which is why I like this site. I can have a bit of a chat, and maybe rethink things. Good stuff. Its like being in a good school at the pub with a few mates.Cheers
Justthetip
Guest
That is an absolute ridiculous comment. Set piece format like Unions line outs, scrims and rucks. It's a lot more similar to leagues ruck. Unions rule book is merely a set of guidelines that are wide open to interpretation. The yanks will never watch rugby in great numbers. The thing rugby and NFL have most in common is there too often boring. Also NFL only overtook basketball as the premier code around 2000. It took a concerted team effort orchestrated in the early 70's to get them there. There is actually some great documentaries on this.
lucky leo
Guest
Happy with deal $100 weekcool. Mates come around to watch footy (Saturday) bring beer, treats , kids after footy & we have a BBQ & make a day of it for the side. Kids play with my dogs (10 border collies) ride bikes & motorbikes . Sorry for all the pettiness but I don' the care. I have never watched afl. When Brisbane won it's tthree titles in afl I got free corporate box access for favours in Electro Magnetic Compatiblity (EMC) requirements to come to market,for me & friend. We watched the league game on TV & drank free beer. Cheers re supporters
lucky leo
Guest
I never have
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The News mob stated they are going to promote the rugby league code in the USA and globally via their platforms,as an inducement to clinch the current Tv deal.Will await this happening,but do not underestimate the reach and influence at times of News/Fox cable news in the USA . I do understand from comments made by the guy who started up rl in Florida,Spinner Howland via the Jacksonville Axemen,the code is more attune with American football with the similarity of downs,the simplicity to follow the game and indeed for those who have tried it for the first time able to grasp it far more quickly than union.The tackling bears a similarity in terms of volume and impact to the local version. There is not the general antipathy by union players toward rugby league in the USA.In fact quite a few have tried it,and some indeed prefer the openness and involvement offered.Similarly the same situation is occurring in Canada. Jamaica now has the code in clubs/schools and unis. In effect having ru in a country can be a plus,or it can be a negative with negative admins as Morocco and `the UAE have shown of late. Of course NFL and college football,it's them and daylight a galaxy away 2nd.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
WCR makes some good points. I think most of us on this board would be aware that the NFL (and college football for that matter) absolutely dwarfs everything else. The other American sports remain sizeable of course, and soccer has a bit of a niche following, and then you have the rest. I have always wondered whether Rugby League is well placed to appeal to Americans, given there are aspects that they would "get", and I think many would be attracted to the physicality of the game, plus it is a game well suited to TV - so in one sense, there is no real reason why Rugby League could not get a bit of a niche following (as long as we all accept that anything greater than that is an impossibility). But then you have rugby with already a bit of a presence across North America, and I'm not sure if that helps or hinders Rugby League. Personally, to expect that even a semi-pro comp could survive is probably expecting a bit too much - but to sell NRL games to cable TV, well, I don't think that is too far fetched.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Don't watch a lot of American Football do you? This misconception that League's simplicity will appeal to Americans is flawed. American Football is the biggest game in town and revolves around a structured set piece platform. It's a very technical game on top of that. And it's dwarfs all others. Think about that. You also have to take into account that in terms of growth in participation, interest and commercial viability Unionhas been growing at a rapid rate.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Well, 6 teams in its first year. It's likely to go to 8 or 9 in its second season when both Canada and possibly Houston come online. They wanted at least 1 Canadian team but Rugby Canada chose to wait until 2017 and they couldn't find a place at BVAA Compass Stadium as the venue is booked solid for next year. There's talk that when Canada comes online they'll likely do so with two teams. One from Toronto and the other Vancouver. In terms of payment. The contracts will be full time for a four month period. So while not entirely professional it will provide players the ability to supplement their incomes and focus more on Rugby. The other thing is where else in either game in Nth America is offering $25,000 to play? Any Rugby player (including League players in that) worth their salt if not already playing D1 club or College will be participating in the combines that will be announced soon.
Justthetip
Guest
Great comment
onside
Guest
The old adage; Union is the players game and League is the spectators game, is once again born out. Much as I enjoy my Union (and the Broncos, and Brisbane Roar, come on guys, too much sport is not enough) the scale of what is doable in League USA is simply beyond Union. Why? union rules are too complicated for a majority TV audience to understand. League is KISS, keep it simple stupid, a game played by professional athletes , who do simple things well (also the key to soccer's International success). This is not about being for one, or against another, but rather when considering both codes as consumer products, which is easier to sell on television.It's a no brainer of course , I am stating the obvious, because Mr Murdoch has just tipped in the big bucks.
Karlos
Guest
Good read mate.
Bud eh
Guest
I think league has more in common with ice hockey than with NFL. Obviously not in the actions used to play the game but the spirit of the game is similar. Both games are highly aggressive and fast with constant pressure built until the defence cracks. Ice hockey fans love the contact that players make and they call it cross checking and our hits in league have the same full body contact. I can see the Canadians preferring league to union because the aggressive nature of both codes set them apart from all other professional codes.
Dan Eastwood
Expert
I don't dispute the game has been played earlier than 2010 - I was only using the guys who have progressed the game to this point. My article intended to show the progress Canada has had in the past 5 years. Others have described it as a 'feel good' story. I am comfortable with that label. 9s may be the answer. Developing nations seem to thrive in that environment
Dan Eastwood
Expert
I don't dispute the game has been played earlier than 2010 - I was only using the guys who have progressed the game to this point. My article intended to show the progress Canada has had in the past 5 years. Others have described it as a 'feel good' story. I am comfortable with that label.
aussie abroad
Guest
League has been played longer than 2010. I was an assistant coach back in 1992 till 1996 with the USA league team. We played Canada on a regular basis.
Bakkies
Guest
' however 7s is a lot more similar to league than union. ' Not really. Plenty of rucks, mauls, contested scrums and dog legs in defence. Kicking in general play is rare but more tactical not due to it being the 5th phase/tackle.
Dan Eastwood
Expert
Thanks for your responses guys. I am optimistic about the International game and in the connected age we live in it is much easier to gain worldwide support. And yes, I do cut a mean watermelon!
Bearfax
Guest
Feel good story. Rugby League should do well in the North American world because Grid Iron has some similarities..only some though. A foot in is all thats needed and sounds like the Canadians are taking the lead. Lets hope it grows into yet another top line Rugby League stronghold
emride
Guest
In relation to the USA launching a "professional" competition, I suppose it depends how you classify professional. I'm not sure I'd classify a six team (2 teams announced) competition played over ten weeks, with players earning possibly $20-40,000 as professional. Pretty sure that classifies as semi pro at best in America. It's not being launched by World Rugby, it's sanctioned by them and owned by one person, who is also the CEO, with franchises centrally owned by the same person... So let's see how it unfolds. I'm not saying League is anywhere near the level of Union in North America, but lets face it neither is anywhere near the level of even lacrosse in America! In relation to Canada, their international matches have drawn crowds of over 7,000, which is comparable to the union internationals there. In addition there is presently an application from a Toronto group to join the lower divisions of the RFL http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/07/toronto-rugby-league-team-talks-join-england-league-1-canada I'm not saying it will or should happen, sounds crazy to me, but it's certainly on the level of semi pro... So Will just let this article be what it is, a great article about people doing a great thing for a sport they love and leave it at that.