Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

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Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by pussycat »

In the scheme of things, rugby league’s upcoming debut in Cleveland has come about in a reasonably short period of time. The newly formed Cleveland Rugby League is due to host USA Rugby League (USARL) club team the Northern Virginia (NOVA) Eagles this weekend.

The exhibition game is largely due to the tireless efforts of local player Monte Gaddis, whose rugby league background includes time in the UK and a stint with Red Star Belgrade in 2017.

After returning home to Cleveland, he was instrumental in forming a local squad that played a 9s match against the Chicago Stockyarders in 2018 as part of a series of exhibition games organised by the Midwest Rugby League (MWRL) in its efforts to eventually establish an expansion Midwest Conference to join USARL.

In the ensuing two years, Gaddis has been unbendingly focused on establishing the game in Cleveland with a long-term goal of becoming part of a new Midwest Conference.

While the global pandemic has forced an unwelcome suspension of the domestic rugby league season in the US this year, efforts to set up this weekend’s game between Cleveland and NOVA of the USARL’s North Conference have progressed reasonably smoothly despite the trying circumstances.

There have been ongoing trials for interested athletes in Cleveland resulting in Saturday’s squad being comprised of around 25 players, most of whom normally play rugby union.

“Few crossover athletes and players from the UK, Scotland, Philippines, North Carolina, New York, Cleveland and Columbus,” Gaddis told Rugby League Planet.

“Players coming from Notre Dame College are the majority on the team. I’ll be playing and coaching.”

Gaddis has been working with NOVA’s USA Hawks player Ryan Burroughs to make Saturday’s game happen.

As far as NOVA is concerned, Burroughs said with their roster not including any imports, he feels they would have had a pretty good shot at being a contender in the USARL this year.

“We’ve picked up some more talent since I’ve had a bit more time to be involved, my brother being one, as well as a few guys we’ve recruited from Mary Washington University who bring some versatility in the backline,” said Burroughs.

“We played a friendly against Delaware a few weeks ago and I was pretty happy with the results given we had to lend them 4/5 guys who ended up being their best players I thought.

“I know Cleveland doesn’t have much league experience. Dylan Seeley is going to be suiting up for them and he used to play for NOVA back in the day so he will be helping them out.”

Burroughs added that they will have a simple, yet effective game plan and he believes their experience will show.

Gaddis said as anyone who has set up a club will know, establishing a new club involves a whole lot of extra efforts on many fronts besides forming a player squad, and as such, he has had a lot of additional help along the way.

“I have three members in my executive office that are helping me with marketing, finances, security, logistics and nutrition. This game will be a trial for players for once the real thing is set in,” he said.

“We are still in our own league until we officially enter the USARL. Major thanks to Dave Lyons of the Cleveland Rovers who let us use his pitch and stay after for a social.”

Aside from organising this weekend’s game, Gaddis said he and his executive in Cleveland have been busy reaching out far and wide for more support.

“We also have a Championship club in the UK that wants to partner with us,” he added.

“We are coming as the hottest and fastest rugby league club in the USA. Building our own culture while still using the original format of league.”

The new team has a logo and is due to have a new website up and running in the near future.


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Re: Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by Quolls2019 »

Australian Rules USA site

https://usafl.com/clublist

Rugby USA site. Lots of flash, no substance so
https://usarl.org/

Wiki site
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Rugby_League

Both minor sports....I would say that Australian Rules is in front, but RL has more potential.
There are lies, damn lies and then there are ratings.
Rugby league, Australias most popular game in some of North Eastern Australia.
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Re: Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by leeroy*NRL* »

be interesting if you threw a few billion at it in America how far it would go.


Americans are so entrenched in American sports its not funny.
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Re: Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by Quolls2019 »

It would be interesting, soccer took a few attempts and a lot of money to get settled.
Rugby League could be appealing because it is similar to gridiron with far more actual game play time.
Infrastructure costs can be minimised because there are lots of the right sized stadiums over there and many are under-utilised
However there have been many attempts to introduce competitors to NFL itself with tweaked rules and they have all collapsed, most within a year,
Arena football is the most successful newer introduction and that goes from disaster to disaster, just clinging on from year to year.
So it would be hard and costly....unless it goes through the college system but their football is more popular than the pros.
There are lies, damn lies and then there are ratings.
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Re: Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by leeroy*NRL* »

you would have to start in a few states and build from there.

I would say it would be one of the hardest markets in the world to crack into.
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Re: Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by NRL&NFLweLaughATAFL2 »

Quolls2019 wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:04 pm
Australian Rules USA site

https://usafl.com/clublist

Rugby USA site. Lots of flash, no substance so
https://usarl.org/

Wiki site
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Rugby_League

Both minor sports....I would say that Australian Rules is in front, but RL has more potential.
Your having a laugh if you think AFL is in front. They don't even have proper AFL grounds in the USA. :lol:
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Re: Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by Quolls2019 »

NRL&NFLweLaughATAFL2 wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 11:15 am
Quolls2019 wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:04 pm
Australian Rules USA site

https://usafl.com/clublist

Rugby USA site. Lots of flash, no substance so
https://usarl.org/

Wiki site
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Rugby_League

Both minor sports....I would say that Australian Rules is in front, but RL has more potential.
Your having a laugh if you think AFL is in front. They don't even have proper AFL grounds in the USA. :lol:
Don’t really care....your second version is not an improvement on your first.
There are lies, damn lies and then there are ratings.
Rugby league, Australias most popular game in some of North Eastern Australia.
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Re: Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by NRL&NFLweLaughATAFL2 »

Quolls2019 wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 12:27 pm
NRL&NFLweLaughATAFL2 wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 11:15 am
Quolls2019 wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:04 pm
Australian Rules USA site

https://usafl.com/clublist

Rugby USA site. Lots of flash, no substance so
https://usarl.org/

Wiki site
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Rugby_League

Both minor sports....I would say that Australian Rules is in front, but RL has more potential.
Your having a laugh if you think AFL is in front. They don't even have proper AFL grounds in the USA. :lol:
Don’t really care....your second version is not an improvement on your first.
You don't care because you know it's true. There is no financial backing or plans what so ever for a professional AFL team anywhere in North America.

Canada has
Ottawa Aces & Toronto Wolfpack. AFL has nothing.

USA has plans for a team in New York in the pipeline.
Covid is the only thing stopping a franchise being set up there.
Plus America has had numerous independent Rugby League matches against Jamaica and Canada held.

All things AFL does not have in region.
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Re: Rugby League to debut in Cleveland USA

Post by Quolls2019 »

NRL&NFLweLaughATAFL2 wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:30 pm
Quolls2019 wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 12:27 pm
NRL&NFLweLaughATAFL2 wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 11:15 am


Your having a laugh if you think AFL is in front. They don't even have proper AFL grounds in the USA. :lol:
Don’t really care....your second version is not an improvement on your first.
You don't care because you know it's true. There is no financial backing or plans what so ever for a professional AFL team anywhere in North America.

Canada has
Ottawa Aces & Toronto Wolfpack. AFL has nothing.

USA has plans for a team in New York in the pipeline.
Covid is the only thing stopping a franchise being set up there.
Plus America has had numerous independent Rugby League matches against Jamaica and Canada held.

All things AFL does not have in region.
And your point is?
There are lies, damn lies and then there are ratings.
Rugby league, Australias most popular game in some of North Eastern Australia.
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