Canadian team to join British rugby league competition
A CANADIAN team is to join rugby league’s British competition next season.
Toronto Wolfpack will enter the third tier of the competition, Kingstone Press League 1, and the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup in 2017.
Nigel Wood, chief executive of Leeds-based Rugby Football League, said: “We have worked closely with the Canadian club’s officials and investors in the last few years and have no doubts that Toronto Wolfpack will enhance a competition which has already established a reputation for welcoming new clubs.
“Rugby League has always had a pioneering philosophy throughout its history and this initiative offers further evidence of the sport’s wide appeal and readiness to embrace innovation.”
Toronto Wolfpack will play home and away fixtures in four or five-match blocks. and flying out other teams at their expense for home matches at Lamport Stadium in the Liberty Village area of downtown Toronto.
Toronto has recruited a backroom and administrative team which includes former Great Britain coach Brian Noble, former Leigh coach Paul Rowley and Adam Fogerty, the former St Helens and Halifax player – and film star – who has been appointed as director.
The Wolfpack will commence an ambitious player recruitment campaign over the summer months when their drive to sign talent from sports clubs across North America will be the subject of a reality television series called Last Tackle.
Wolfpack Chief Executive Eric Perez said: “Sports fans have long waited for a trans-Atlantic major league team and we’re proud to be the first with the launch of our club, the Toronto Wolfpack.
“With 220m global participants across all codes of rugby playing the sport, the RFL’s decision to expand its competition across the pond becomes obvious and it makes me very proud as a born and raised Torontonian that the RFL has selected our city as the beach head in North America.”
* Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield also announced his retirement from rugby yesterday. He is one of two guest speakers, alongside Robbie Hunter-Paul, at the next TheBusinessDesk.com Connect lunch.
The networking event will be hosted by Rugby AM’s Alex Simmons & Jamie Jones-Buchanan, and attendees can expect a lively lunch at Bibis Italianissimo on 13 May.
The event, starting at 12pm, is being sponsored by Nuffield Health, in partnership with Rugby AM and TheBusinessDesk.com Connect.
Book your tickets here.
