Americas Rugby League Championship Explained

Americas Rugby League Championship
Inaugural:2016
Countrytag:Region
Country:North America
Gov Body:ARL
Champion: (1st title)
Most Champs: (2 titles)
Related Comps:Colonial Cup

The Americas Rugby League Championship is an international rugby league football tournament contested by Americas national rugby league teams. The tournament was created to follow the success of the Americas region of the 2015 Americas qualification tournament for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[1]

The tournament is both a stand alone competition and a qualification tournament for the Rugby League World Cup depending on the year.

History

Background

Previously, the only regular international competitions in North America were the Colonial Cup between the USA and Canada and the Caribbean Carnival Cup between Jamaica and Canada. A predecessor competition, the Atlantic Cup, was held in 2009 and 2010.[2]

2015–present

The Americas Rugby League Championship was in created in 2016 follow the success of the Americas region of the 2015 Americas qualification tournament for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Initially held annually, the tournament switched to every two years following the 2018 event, however the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] The tournament restared in 2023[4] and saw a women's event added for the first time, men's event did not occur for unknown reasons. In 2024, the women's tournament doubled as part of the 2026 World Cup qualification process.[5] Brazil withdrew from the tournament and their fixtures were replaced with friendlies against the USA Pioneers.[6]

Results

Men's

Year 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref.
2016
2017
2018
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic:,,
,
2023Cancelled; reason unknown:
,,
,

Women's

Year 1st 2nd 3rd Ref.
2023[7]
2024[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Americas Championship .
  2. Web site: Americas Championship Men .
  3. News: 2020 Americas Championship postponed . 2 January 2021 . Love Rugby League . 12 June 2020.
  4. Web site: ‘Best ever’ South American Championships ends in Brazil win . https://web.archive.org/web/20221128014219/https://www.intrl.sport/news/best-ever-south-american-championships-ends-in-brazil-win/ . 2022-11-28 . www.intrl.sport.
  5. Web site: Women Hawks qualify for Americas Final . USARL . 7 November 2024 . 11 November 2024.
  6. Web site: Americas RLWCQ draw revised after removal of Brazil . Eurpoean Rugby League . 18 July 2024 . 11 November 2024.
  7. Web site: Canada Win Inaugural Women's Americas North Championship .
  8. Web site: United States 44 0 Jamaica . European Rugby League . 6 November 2024 . 11 November 2024.
  9. Web site: Canada 40 8 United States . European Rugby League . 9 November 2024 . 11 November 2024.