Proud Tomahawks – RLWC2013

The USA Rugby League team – Tomahawks were defeated by the Australian Kangaroos in the Quarter Final of the Rugby League World Cup.  For Australians the match was expected but the result 62-0 was close to the bookies prediction of giving of 250/1 or with a 50ish+ start.

Appreciate most Americans do not know much about Rugby League as it is a game that has traditionally been played in the North East of USA.  Rugby League was very much a working class game until the 1990s when Australia started broadcasting payTV (cable) and Rupert Murdoch attempted to take over the game with an alternative competition.  American Rugby League is still an amateur code.

The expectation was for the Tomawhawks to be thrashed in all their Group games but instead lost only one with a respectable score.  It will be of interest if the USARL can garner additional support for the game to build homegrown talent.  There is a need for eligible US players to involve themselves in Rugby League in Australia.  Whilst their aspirations will be for NRL (elite) level reality is they maybe 2 or 3 levels lower in their first season.  With dedication and willingness to learn an unfamiliar game then the second season should be playing reserves of the elite level.  This is achievable if the NRL are serious about expanding the game internationally plus the trade agreements between USA and Australia for working visas.

South Africa would like to hold the next World Cup series and I hope they are successful as it would boost their game internally which they deserve for the hard yards promoting the game over the many years.

Australia vs USA – RLWC2013 Final

Congratulations to USA RL Tomahawks for making the Finals of the Rugby League World Cup .

Although they lost to Scotland their wins enabled them to make the finals.  It is the off season for Rugby League in Australia.  The media still reporting on the game are astonished at the US success.

Not sure if we will have the game played live to Australia as TV Guides show different programming.  Pretty sure Haha Sports would be worth a look at:

Albuquerque – Saturday 6am

London – Saturday 1pm

Sydney – Saturday/Sunday midnight

USA in Rugby League World Cup 2013 Final

Quick blog to congratulate the USA team on their two wins.  The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) says the team wasn’t expecting such success and had booked to return home on 9 November after the Group Rounds.

Next game is against Scotland:

Albuquerque – Thursday 1pm

London – Thursday 8pm

Sydney – Friday 7am

This game should be good to watch.  The US have made the Finals with two wins.  In their first game in the Finals is against Australia.  This would be a monumental upset if the US beat Australia.

Have you seen the song The Wiggles have created for the US team? Check my retweets on Twitter ( @sallyfromsydney ) for this and other stories regarding the US team.