2022 in United States rugby league saw an eventful season, featuring developments in the governance of the sport within the United States, the split between the United States Association of Rugby League (USARL) and the North American Rugby League (NARL) in regards to the national competition, and the conduction of multiple regional leagues below these.

Governance Reforms

In 2022, the International Rugby League officially established the Commission for Rugby League in the United States (USARLC) as the governing body for rugby league in the United States. This will see control of the international game transferred from the USARL to the new commission, while the domestic scene will see major changes with the AMNRL to return as the domestic competition in the northern states, the USARL to remain as the legal domestic competition in the southern states, and the Championship Rugby League to become the western national-level competition. The North American Rugby League will remain unsanctioned.[1]

2022 USARL Season

Clubs

Although seven teams were scheduled to participate in the 2022 season, from four states, the entire North Conference was cancelled, leaving only four teams, all from Florida, to compete in the season.

North Conference
Colors Club Founded City (MSA) State Stadium Titles

(Last)

Boston Thirteens 2009 Boston  Massachusetts Eastern Boston Stadium 1 (2015)
Brooklyn Kings 2014 Brooklyn  New York Randalls Island Field 10 0 (N/A)
Delaware Black Foxes 2015 Wilmington  Delaware Eden Park Stadium 0 (N/A)
South Conference
Colors Club Founded City (MSA) State Stadium Titles

(Last)

Jacksonville Axemen 2006 Jacksonville  Florida UNF Rugby Field 2 (2018)
South Florida Speed 2022 Miami  Florida North Dade Optimist Park 0 (N/A)
Southwest Florida Copperheads 2018 Buckingham (Fort Myers)  Florida Lehigh Senior High School 0 (N/A)
Tampa Mayhem 2014 Tampa Bay  Florida Tampa Catholic High School 0 (N/A)

Results

Round 1

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
Southwest Florida Copperheads 88–4 South Florida Speed Saturday June 11 Paradise Coast Sports Complex

Round 2

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
Tampa Mayhem 24–12 Southwest Florida Copperheads Saturday June 18 Leto Falcons Field
South Florida Speed 0–80 Jacksonville Axemen Saturday June 18 Ives Estates Park

Round 3

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
Southwest Florida Copperheads 6–20 Tampa Mayhem Saturday June 25 Paradise Coast Sports Complex
Jacksonville Axemen 30–0 South Florida Speed Saturday June 25 UNF Rugby Field

Round 4

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
Tampa Mayhem 8–16 Jacksonville Axemen Saturday July 9 Leto Falcons Field

Round 5

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
South Florida Speed 0–30 Tampa Mayhem Saturday July 16 Ives Estates Park
Jacksonville Axemen 70–16 Southwest Florida Copperheads Saturday July 16 UNF Rugby Field

Round 6

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
South Florida Speed 0–30 Southwest Florida Copperheads Saturday July 23 Ives Estates Park
Jacksonville Axemen 36–26 Tampa Mayhem Saturday July 23 UNF Rugby Field

Round 7

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
Tampa Mayhem 30–0 South Florida Speed Saturday July 30 Leto Falcons Field
Southwest Florida Copperheads 16–30 Jacksonville Axemen Saturday July 30 Paradise Coast Sports Complex

Source:[2]

Ladder

Standings Pld W T L Game Points Pts
Jacksonville Axemen 6 6 0 0 262 – 66 12
Tampa Mayhem 6 4 0 2 138 – 70 8
Southwest Florida Copperheads 6 2 0 4 168 – 148 4
South Florida Speed 6 0 0 6 4 – 288 0

Source:[3]

Grand Final

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
Jacksonville Axemen 36–12 Tampa Mayhem Saturday August 14 UNF Rugby Field

Source:[4][5]

North Conference Exhibition Matches

Following the abandonment of the North Conference season, the USARL organised a series of exhibition matches between the three North Conference sides and independent former NARL side New York Freedom.

Home Team Score Away Team Date Venue
Brooklyn Kings 50–16 Boston Thirteens Bushwick Inlet Park Saturday July 23
New York Freedom 30–36 Delaware Black Foxes

Source:[6]

2022 NARL Season

The North American Rugby League aimed to kick-off its inaugural season in 2022. However, the loss of the Brooklyn and Cleveland clubs along with the confirmation of Ottawa's move to Cornwall and the collapse of broadcast partner SportsFlick saw the season abandoned. The future of the competition is unclear, as only the DC Cavalry and Atlanta Rhinos remain affiliated with the NARL organisation.

Clubs

Regional Leagues

Championship Rugby League

Teams

Championship final

Sacramento Immortals 16–20 Laie Rhinos

Source:[7]

Lonestar Rugby League

The 2022 Lonestar Rugby League (LRL) season was a rugby league competition planned in Texas.

Midwest Rugby League

The Midwest Rugby League (MWRL) was dormant in 2022

References

  1. ^ "IRL reform concludes with the unification of Rugby League in the USA. - Championship Rugby League". Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "USA Rugby League | USARL | XIIIs SOUTH Conference". www.usarl.org. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "USA Rugby League | USARL | XIIIs Competition StandingsUSARL Standings". www.usarl.org. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  4. ^ Jacksonville Axemen vs Tampa Mayhem Rugby League 2022-08-13, retrieved November 24, 2022
  5. ^ "Jacksonville Wins 2022 USARL Championship". www.usarl.org. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Past National Champs Win Big in NYC". www.usarl.org. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Laie Rhinos, The Pride of Hawaii - Championship Rugby League". November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
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