Chicago Stockyarders
 | |
| Full name | Chicago Stockyarders Rugby League Football Club |
|---|---|
| Website | Chicago Stockyarders Website |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Ground |
Jorndt Field stadium/Winnemac Park, Chicago |
| Key people |
Mike Featherstone (Coach) James Anderson (Captain) |
| League | American National Rugby League |
The Chicago Stockyarders are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are currently planned to join the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) in the future. The team was established in 2010, and played two exhibition rugby league sevens games while preparing for a fuller exhibition schedule for the 2011 AMNRL season.
History
In May 2006, a successful beach Rugby League 9's exhibition game was held at North Avenue Beach, Chicago between the Chicago Saints and the touring UK team Ormskirk Heelers.[1] The Saints would be the front-runner to a planned Chicago based AMNRL team that would eventually be named the Chicago Stockyarders. In 2009 an organization named Midwest Rugby League was formed to promote rugby league in the Midwestern United States, and to operate the Stockyarders team from 2010 onwards.[2]
The Stockyarders made their first on-field appearance on July 31, 2010 at the American National Rugby League (AMNRL)'s annual War at the Shore tournament. They played an exhibition rugby league sevens game against the Northern Raiders, which ended with a 18-10 loss for the Stockyarders.[3][4] Dan Hoskin scored their first ever points with a debut try in a Man of the Match (MVP) performance. They played a second exhibition sevens game as a curtain raiser to the AMNRL Grand Final at A. A. Garthwaite Stadium in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Visiting Australian Kangaroo player Daniel Wagon guested for the Stockyarders in a game against the Philadelphia Fight. The Fight won the game 24-16.[5]
In October 2010 the Stockyarders signed their first sponsor, and announced their intention to play a full exhibition schedule in the 2011 season.[6][7][8]
Current roster
- James Anderson
- Mike Featherstone
- Dan Grace
- Neil Gibson
- Dan Hoskin
- Jean Jourdain
- Drew Koennecke
- David Kim
- Chris MacColl
- Jack Chambers
- Nick Letitza
- TJ Loger
- Ryan Nelson
- Gregg Swinburn
- Ian Rose
- Arkad Yousif
2011
A 2011 exhibition season of events involving the Stockyarders will be announced before the June start to the 2011 AMNRL season. This program is expected to include the AMNRL's War at the Shore event and both home and away fixtures. The Stockyarders are working with the Chicago Park District on creating a Rugby League specific field at Winnemac Park, Chicago for the 2011 season. It is hoped that upon entry to the AMNRL competition proper, the Stockyarders will use Jorndt Field Stadium which is also housed within Winnemac Park. The Stockyarders will play in the proposed AMNRL midwest development conference in 2012 alongside new teams Iowa City Crash and Western Storm to further the expansion of Rugby League in the region.
References
- ↑ http://forums.rleague.com/archive/index.php/t-17812.html
- ↑ "Rugby League in the Midwest". American Rugby News. October 16, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ↑ "War at the Shore". American Rugby News. July 27, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ Brian Lowe (August 1, 2010). "War at the Shore Success". American Rugby News. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ "AMNRL Grand Final XIII". American Rugby News. August 23, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ "Chicago Stockyarders Sign First Sponsor". wearerugby.com. October 13, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ Brian Lowe (November 1, 2010). "USA Strategic Plan". wearerugby.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ Brian Lowe (January 8, 2011). "Sharks To Rejoin AMNRL". wearerugby.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.