RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Information on this page was updated - 19/12/2011

Foundation Year - 1987

International Team - Canadian Rugby League

Highest finish in World Cup - One win Emerging Nations World Cup (2000)

Top level domestic competition - There is currently four teams (Toronto City Saints, Niagara Bobcats, Scarborough Centurions, York Region Reds).

History - Rugby League started up in Canada in the late 1980's. Mainly based around Ontario at one stage Canada had three teams in a competition known as the Tri-Country Rugby League. The competition included one team from the United States. By the mid 90's leading into the 2000 emerging nations, there was an eight team competition based around Ontario.

In 2000 Canada took part in the Emerging Nations World Cup.The ENWC was played along side the main World Cup competition. Canada were handed heavy defeats by the United States and Italy. They only managed to win one game against Japan and returned home needing to improve the development of the sport in Canada.

Besides a few one off 9's and 7's competitions, rugby league had struggled to maintain a permanent foothold in Canada since the 2000 ENWC.

In early 2010 expats living in Toronto Ontario have been in contact with the AMNRL and have started a facebook group to gauge Canadian interest in the start-up of rugby league in Canada again. In April 2010 Canada Rugby League launched their new website. In early September Canada rugby league were granted official observer status by the RLEF. Canada now have four domestic rugby league teams Toronto City Saints, Niagara Bobcats, Scarborough Centurions, York Region Reds.

In another boost for rugby league in Canada the Canadian's entered the Atlantic Cup in 2010. They played games against the Untied States and Jamaica in tri-series format. The Canadian's finished the tournament with out a win but had shown what might be possible if the game continues to grow in Canada.

2011 was another big year for the Canadian's when they recorded their first win over the United States in the two game Colonial Cup Series. They also played internationals against Jamaica and South Africa.

Canada are not eligable to play in the 2013 World Cup qualifiers but if their growth continues we might see a Canadian team running around in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Dear Readers, If you have first hand knowledge of the current Rugby League situation in Canada we would love to hear from you. Please email us at: webmaster@rugbyleagueplanet.com or join our international rugby league Forums at http://forums.rugbyleagueplanet.com and let us all know what's going on in your part of the world.

Oct 9th Canada 22 - South Africa 36

Sep 18th Canada 18 - United States 16 (Colonial Cup)

Aug 27th United States 18 - Canada 2 (Colonial Cup)

Jul 31st Canada 40 - Jamaica 10 (Caribbean Carnival Cup)