United States national rugby league team

The United States national rugby league side represent the United States at Rugby League, and are nicknamed the Tomahawks.

History

The American All-Stars

One of the earliest attempts to introduce rugby league to the United States was in 1953, when Mike Dimitro, a wrestling promoter, was asked to organise a tour of Australasia by an American rugby league side.

The team was given a huge schedule that included 26 matches against Australian and New Zealand sides. None of the 22 American players had ever played rugby league prior to this tour, they presented themselves in gridiron like attire early on in the tournamenet. The side only won six games as well as drawing two.

Their second match of the tour, against a Sydney side, drew a crowd of 65,453 to the Sydney Cricket Ground. After a consistent lack of competition, crowds were good but never reached the great height that the match at the SCG did.

The tour did not in turn bring any benefits to American rugby league. Mike Dimitro did however, not give up, he was able to organise two exhibitions against Australia and New Zealand in California that did not turn out to be a big success.

The return of the United States

The United States played their first international in 1987 against Canada. They have participated in the World Sevens (1992-1997), Superleague World Nines (1996, 1997), Emerging Nations World Cup (2000) and Victory Cup (2003, 2004) competitions.

In 2001 as a response to the September 11 incident the AMNRL setup a rugby league match between local USA born players (USA All Stars) and AMNRL players who were born overseas (World Allies All Stars). The match was won by the USA All Stars 27-26. proceeds from the game were donated to the Red Cross to help with cleanup operations.

Since 2002, the Tomahawks have been playing regular international competition in the United States. In 2004 they shocked the Rugby League world by leading the World Cup and Tri-Nations champions Australia for most of the game. Australia rallied in the last quarter of the game and won 36-24.

Current USA Tomahawks team

For game against Italy "A" (Australian based Italian team)

Waters
Gibbs
O'Donoghue
Manners
Tulio
Duncan
Nicholas
Lanfranchi
Cassidy
Hughes
Kosbob
Mathers
Blake (c)
Rahui
Howland
Shannon
Fusco

Future Matches

See Also 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

In October 2006 Atlantic City will be hosting the Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

October 21: v Japan

October 25: v South Africa

October 28: v West Indies

The Winner of the pool will enter the Repechage round.

USA Representative Results

International Results

Italy "A" def. USA 38-6 (04 February 2006)
USA def. Japan 40-10 (26 January 2006)
Australia def. USA 36-24 (1 December 2004)
Russia def. USA 64-8 (12 May 2004)
Ireland def. USA 74-16 (10 May 2004)
USA def. Ireland A 41-10 (24 March 2004)
USA def. Japan 78-6 (27 June 2003)
Russia def. USA 44-14 (6 May 2003)
USA def. Ireland A 20-16 (15 March 2003)
New Zealand A def. USA 74-14 (6 October 2002)
Russia def. USA 54-10 (13 September 2002)
Tartarstan def. USA 30-24 (9 September 2002)
USA def. Japan 26-10 (1 June 2002)
USA def. Ireland A 24-22 (16 March 2002)
USA def. Morocco 50-10 (2000)
Italy def. USA 40-16 (17 November 2000)
USA def. Canada 52-10 (13 November 2000)
USA def. Ireland A 19-6 (18 March 2000)
England def. USA 110-0 (2000)
USA def. Japan 54-0 (1999)
USA def. Canada 68-0 (1999)
Lebanon def. USA 62-8 (1999)
USA def. Canada 32-6 (1998)
USA def. Canada 50-10 (1997)
Ireland A def. USA 26-6 (16 March 1996)
Russia def. USA 28-26 (20 October 1995)
Scotland def. USA 38-16 (18 October 1995)
Cook Islands def. USA 64-8 (16 October 1995)
Wales def. USA 66-10 (18 June 1995)
Wales def. USA 92-4 (11 June 1995)
Ireland A def. USA 24-22 (16 March 1995)
USA 44 def. Canada 0 (1995)
USA def. Canada 22-0 (1994)
USA def. Canada 22-10 (1994)
Russia def. USA 19-12 (1994)
USA def. Canada 32-2 (1993)
Canada def. USA 23-10 (1987)
France def USA 31-0 (1954)

World Nines Results

Tonga def. USA 26-4 (1997)
Fiji def. USA 18-8 (1997)
Cook Islands def. USA 24-6 (1997)
Papua New Guinea def. USA 38-8 (1997)
Western Samoa def. USA 30-10 (1997)
Australia def. USA 24-0 (1997)
Cook Islands def. USA 22-0 (1996)
USA def. Morocco 18-4 (1996)
Western Samoa def. USA 14-6 (1996)
Australia def. USA 30-16 (1996)
Scotland def. USA 12-6 (1996)

World Sevens results

Illawarra def. USA* 18-6 (1997) *unofficial team
USA* def. Japan 18-14 (1997) *unofficial team
Italy def. USA* 22-0 (1997) *unofficial team
Gold Coast def. USA* 40-8 (1996) *unofficial team
USA* def. Japan 20-8 (1996 *unofficial team
Melbourne def. USA* 18-14 (1996) *unofficial team
Australian Aboriginals def. USA* 28-0 (1996) *unofficial team
Tonga def. USA 20-4 (1995)
USA def. Russia 28-8 (1995)
USA def. Italy 22-4 (1995)
USA def. Russia 20-6 (1995)
Sydney Tigers def. USA 24-10 (1995)
South Africa def. USA 20-8 (1994)
New Zealand def. USA 20-12 (1994)
France def. USA 18-12 (1994)
Wainuiomata def. USA 34-8 (1993)
South Sydney def. USA 28-6 (1993)
Illawarra def. USA 28-4 (1993)
Fiji def. USA 30-10 (1992)
USA def. CIS Red Arrows 12-8 (1992)
South Sydney def. USA 12-0 (1992)
Newcastle def. USA 16-0 (1992)

Student Results

USA def. Japan 54-10 (1996)
Wales def. USA 22-18 (1996)
Western Samoa def. USA 82-8 (1996)
New Zealand def. USA 62-10 (1996)
USA def. Ireland 22-20 (1996)

USA U/21 Results

BARLA def. USA U21s 64-14 (2001)

Other Representative Results

USA All Stars def. World Allies All Stars 27-26 (2001) Sydney def. USA All Stars 52-25 (1953)

References

American All Stars RL Team - rl1908.com

External links

International rugby league teams | Rugby league in the Americas | National sports teams of the United States

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