American USAFL AR is greater than USARL rl.

[NSWAFL]

This thread is another win for AFL.

[ParraEelsNRL]

http://www.amnrl.com/news/state-development-managers

STATE DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS
Date: 01.24.12
Source: AMNRL

Continuing to focus on Rugby League at the grassroots level, a team of volunteer AMNRL Development Officers have been assembled with the intent of expanding and promoting the game in the USA particularly at the collegiate level.

The State Development Officers will not only be responsible for promoting the game to colleges in their area, but will also be asked to report on player statistics and upcoming events, while continuously identifying players for an emerging Tomahawks program.

Creating and developing relationships between collegiate and club programs will also be a task for the Officers.

Their strategic appointment is not an uncommon trend in Rugby League communities across the globe. Established programs typically have full-time Development Officers who are responsible for the education and development of Rugby League programs in their area. While funding these positions in the short term may not be a viable option for the AMNRL, if funding does become available in the future the organizational structure will already be in place.

More importantly though, the Officers have requested to take on these roles because they have a vested interest in the game and are intrinsically motivated to be involved in Rugby League.

Teddy Grabowski, newly appointed Development Officer for New York City, explains to WeAreRugby; “Rugby League is fun, fast, exciting and requires fitness and skill; and the great thing is anyone can learn how to play.

“While the physical benefits of Rugby League are well documented, it’s the transferrable skills that make it an attractive option for college students.

“Rugby League teaches discipline, it teaches players to work together to achieve a positive outcome and it also requires people to think. All of these skills can be transferred into everyday life.”

Among the appointments are current and former AMNRL players, collegiate Rugby Union coaches and players, along with an international contingency from Australia and England who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience in the education and development of Rugby League programs.

Included in the latter is Mike Brogan, a coach from the UK who has worked closely with the RFL and St Helens RLFC and also has experience with the England U/19’s college student’s team.

Anyone interested in participating in Rugby League programs, particularly at the collegiate level, should contact the Development Officer in your state.

Arkansas - Mike Brogan
Hawaii - Sean Strickland
Illinois - Mike Featherstone
Iowa - Brad Fuhrman
Massachusetts - Joe Sanchez
Montana - Martin Fairhurst
New York City - Teddy Grabowski
Pennsylvania - John Blythe
Tennessee/Georgia - Luke Collins
Virginia - Christian Seaman

Don’t see your state? Interested in becoming involved? Email AMNRL Collegiate Development Manager Damian Flint at dflint@brockport.edu to learn more.

Development Officers getting in there will see the game explode in participation numbers in the next few years.

[ParraEelsNRL]

Proud Aussie spreading the aussie charm and RL around New York.

http://www.amnrl.com/news/australian

THE AUSTRALIAN
Date: 01.20.12
Source: David Martin

One day last summer in New York City the Australian was closed. But inside, bar workers were busy doing some set ups. Turns out, they were awaiting the arrival of the Australian Prime Minster.

The Prime Minister was in New York City and hosting an event to thank donors to flood victims.
You see if you’re Australian, a rugby league player, or even a fan of international rugby, the place to go in New York City is The Australian. Owned by Matt Astill, a native of Sydney, Australia, the bar is home to a wide range of friends and is the home bar of the New York Knights, AMNRL. Matt played in the Knights first Championship winning team and represented the USA Tomahawks in a dozen internationals. He is currently on the AMNRL Executive Board helping guide the game in the USA.

“We represent everything that is Australian,” Astill said. “Rugby is just a part of it. We would never classify ourselves as a rugby bar, but we encompass everything that is Australian.”

Maybe it’s the old ads for Toohey’s beers on the wall, or the Australian meat pies on the menu or it could be the kangaroo filets on the dinner menu, but as the ad goes, “How do you speak Australian?” Well just head to the Australian. The bar is located on West 38th Street. It’s a few blocks from Times Square in Midtown Manhattan. In addition to a full menu featuring Aussie favorites, they have a wine list that showcases some of the best of Australian vineyards.

Astill got to New York City to help start the Knights. Back home, Astill was a prop for Manly Sea Eagles when he was recruited by the AMNRL to come to the US and play league rugby. He also played for the Newtown Jets, the oldest league team in Australia.

Asking him to compare rugby league to rugby union, Astill said he can’t do it. He started playing rugby league at nine years old. He played two games of rugby union when he came to New York and took the field for Old Blue, a top New York City club. He said he felt a bit like a fish out of water. Luckily, he got the Knights going quickly.



“I grew up with rugby league, that’s what I know,” he said. “A lot of people are natural at both, but not me. Rugby league is more one on one tackling and taking hits.” The lifelong forward added, “Backs can go back and forth a whole lot easier.”

The New York team name comes from the Newcastle Knights, a popular Australian team. Astill says the Knights helped supply the New York Knights with balls and jerseys and sort of adopted the upstarts.

One of the first players with the Knights was Glen Treacher, a converted union player from the New York Rugby Club. Treacher eventually hired Astill at his bar, Ship of Fools, which at the time was the home of the New York Club. Together they eventually opened the Australian. Plans are in the works for another midtown Manhattan bar.

Astill says his playing days are behind him now and he has retired to be a, “purely fat bar owner.” A ruptured bicep left his arm in a sling for a good part of last summer. He says even if he is not done, his wife, Nicole says he is. So now his attention is back to the bar.

While they are the host bar for the New York Knights, they also host other teams. They host the New York Rugby Club’s annual awards banquet. They are the home of the University of California Berkeley football supporters in New York. But they also get crowds for games from alumni from Villanova, Kansas State and Illinois.

They show a lot of live sports action. For the recent Rugby World Cup they were packed no matter what the hour was. They show live cricket and almost always have on a rugby league match.

“Always helps to have an association with a sporting team,” Astill said. “They bring in other players.”

If you ask Astill he will tell you that rugby league is growing in popularity. Being in America for over 10 years now he sees league as a closer cousin of American football. He points to the kicking game in both sports as being similar. “Rugby league is a great TV product,” he says.

But mostly, Astill provides a great product and it’s called The Australian. Part sports bar, part rugby league home in New York and part Australian refuge. Just make sure you get there early, if you want a good seat for an international match.

[ParraEelsNRL]

http://www.amnrl.com/news/amnrl-west

AMNRL WEST
Date: 01.16.12
Source: We Are Rugby

Two more expansion teams are being established in the western United States and expect to start competing this year in the American National Rugby League.

The clubs are based in Las Vegas and Denver and will become part of the AMNRL’s new Western Conference.

The Vegas team, to be called the Warriors, is being headed up by former USA rugby international Vaha Esikia and will come under the umbrella of the Las Vegas Rugby Academy.

The team is expected to be functional by March and will open up with some Rugby League Sevens competitions.

“I saw it as a business opportunity and another avenue for players in the LVRA other then rugby union,” Esikia told WeAreRugby. “I have a few family members who play and it’s a sport I always wanted to try.

“I know it will be a challenge at first but if we stay with it, it will be worthwhile.”

Esikia says response to the team’s formation has been very encouraging.

“We are getting some good reply,” he said. “We have a good amount of former football players and some former rugby league players. I think this will be a great opportunity for Las Vegas to have both a union and league team.”

It’s a similar story in Denver with the new club looking to start off by playing Rugby League Nines.

One of the driving forces behind the new team is Shawn Kelly, a long-time rugby man. He says he too sees an opportunity to introduce the 13-man code to an area with roots in rugby.

“I watched a league match on TV with some buddies and I fell in love with it after playing union for 20 years,” Kelly told us. “Since there weren't league clubs in the area I figured why not start one up.”

And as with the encouraging response to Rugby League in Vegas, there is interest in Denver.

“There are kind of mixed feelings towards league, but most of the people I have come in contact with about league in our area are pretty positive,” Kelly added.

The club has yet to finalize a name, but Colorado Blizzards and Denver Wolverines are among those being considered.

[cos789]

did you say anything important ?

[NSWAFL]

He didn't because that expansion is planned only, and even then they're still behind in club numbers.

[cos789]

So that's 36 AFCs and 38 state teams hub parafeel for atotal of 74 AFCs.
You concur ?

[ParraEelsNRL]

Nope.

[NSWAFL]

You'd better! Even with your expansion teams, the number of clubs playing AFL still doubles that of RL at least! (half of 74 is 37 and you haven't even got to 30 RL clubs unless I missed a couple)

[ParraEelsNRL]

74 AFL clubs?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[ParraEelsNRL]

RL is already being played in schools over there, all AFL has are a bunch of weekend warriors and expats playing kick n giggle.

A side like the axemen regularly get over 2,500 to their matches and they're semi pro only and 6 years old.

I've seen the pics for AFL over there being played on cow paddocks and public parks in between the slippery dip and see-saw.

[NSWAFL]

74 AFL clubs?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

That's right, 74. Way more than your precious RL, Debbie!

[ParraEelsNRL]

No there isn't, I looked for myself.

[cos789]

No there isn't, I looked for myself.

So you can't read and you can't add up.

[NSWAFL]

What do you expect from Debbie, Cos?