Canada national rugby league team

Canada
Nickname Wolverines
Governing body Canada Rugby League
Region The Americas
Head coach Stuart Donlan
Captain Jamie Lester
Home stadium Lamport Stadium
RLIF ranking 14th
Colours
First international
 Canada 23–10 United States 
(1987)
Biggest win
 Canada 52-14 United States 
(2014)
Biggest defeat
England Lions 68–4 Canada 
(2012)

The Canada national rugby league team represents Canada in international rugby league football tournaments.

For more Canadian stats, news, team results and more visit Canada RL Page and click on 'Wolverines' for the national team.

History

Further information: Rugby league in Canada

1987-2000

Rugby league was re-introduced to Canada at an amateur level in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when a short-lived 4-team domestic competition, known as the Tri-Counties Rugby League, was established. Four teams competed in its first year, three in Canada one in the U.S., the New York-based Adirondacks club.[1]

The Canada rugby league team first participated in international competition in 1987. Canada participated in the World Sevens (1995, 1996) and Emerging Nations World Cup (2000) competitions, and competed in regular international matches until 2000, when the Canadian Rugby League Federation folded. As a result, the national team, which was nicknamed the "Cougars", was disbanded and the sport remained dormant for 10 years.

2010 onwards

The briefly used "Mounties" 2010 logo

In 2010, a new governing body, known as Canada Rugby League, was formed with the aim of redeveloping the sport amongst the resurgent international rugby league scene. The national team was re-established and briefly nicknamed the 'Mounties', Jamie Lester, the Acting President of Canada Rugby League said, "Like the Kiwis, Kangaroos and Kumuls being identifiable with the New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea rugby league teams, the Mounties nickname has been chosen to create the same effect for the Canadian team".[2] Rugby League Review, one of the leading rugby league magazines in the world, became the main shirt sponsor of the team.[3] The Mounties competed at the American National Rugby League's 2010 War at the Shore tournament.[4] There, Canada played New England Immortals, a New England representative team, and the New York Knights AMNRL club team, losing both games.[5] The team's nickname was changed to 'Wolverines' before the return of international rugby league to Canada in September 2010 with the inaugural Colonial Cup.[6] Later that year the Wolverines competed in the Rugby League Atlantic Cup in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Canadian Wolverines played the Jamaican national team on Sunday 31 July 2011 defeating the Jamaicans to secure Canada's first international victory of the revival era. They collected their second win in September, upsetting the USA in the second game of the Colonial Cup. However, due to an earlier loss to the Tomahawks and the resulting aggregate scores, the Wolverines were unable to capture the cup. Canada's international season finished up with a defeat against South Africa, who were in the Northern Hemisphere for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers.

In 2014, the Wolverines named former Super League player, Stuart Donlan, as their new head coach.[7] Stuart's first game was the only game of the 2014 Colonial Cup. He led Canada to a famous victory which made them the Colonial Cup champions for the very first time.[8]

Overall record

Official Rankings as of December 2014[9]
RankChangeTeamPoints
1 Steady  Australia 984.00
2  New Zealand884.00
3  England 485.00
4 Increase  Samoa 316.00
5 Decrease  France 215.00
6  Fiji 184.00
7 Increase  Ireland 154.00
8  Scotland 123.00
9 Decrease  Wales 122.00
10  United States 119.00
11  Papua New Guinea 112.00
12 Steady  Italy 79.00
13 Increase  Serbia 49.00
14  Canada 49.00
15 Decrease  Russia 45.00
16  Tonga 32.00
17  Cook Islands 31.00
18 Steady  Germany 27.00
19  Norway 22.00
20  Ukraine 21.00
21  Lebanon 19.00
22  Belgium 19.00
23 Increase Greece 19.00
24 Decrease  Malta 18.00
25 Steady  Netherlands 14.00
26 Increase  Denmark 13.00
27 Decrease  Jamaica 11.00
28 Steady  Spain 9.00
29 Increase  Czech Republic 7.00
30  Sweden 7.00
31 Decrease  South Africa 4.00
32 Increase  Hungary 2.00
33 Decrease  Latvia 0.00
34 Steady Morocco 0.00
Against Played Won Lost Drawn % Won
 France 1 0 1 0 0%
 Italy 1 0 1 0 0%
 Jamaica 5 4 1 0 80%
 Japan 2 1 1 0 50%
 United States 21 4 17 0 19%
 South Africa 1 0 1 0 0%
 Lebanon 1 1 0 0 100%
 England Lionhearts 2 0 2 0 0%
 Royal Air Force 2 0 2 0 0%
Total 36 10 26 0 28%

Results

Year Date Result Venue City Crowd
20149 August Canada def. USA 52-14 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario 7,356 2014 Colonial Cup[10]
201419 July Canada def. Jamaica 24-20 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario 3,129 Caribbean Carnival Cup [11]
20145 July England Lions def. Canada 36-12Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario5,710Friendly [12]
201421 June Royal Air Force def. Canada 40-18 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario 7,356 Friendly [13]
201324 September USA def. Canada 30-22 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario5,176 2013 Colonial Cup[14]
20137 September USA def. Canada 28-20 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario3,128 2013 Colonial Cup[15]
201324 August USA def. Canada 44-16 Garthwaite StadiumPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1752013 Colonial Cup[16]
201320 July Canada def. Jamaica 38-14 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario5,700Caribbean Carnival Cup[17]
20136 July Canada def. USA 36-20 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario7,2002013 Colonial Cup[18]
20126 October England Lions def. Canada 68-4Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario5,012Friendly
201211 August Canada def. Lebanon 36-18 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario2,400Friendly[19]
201221 July Canada def. Jamaica 18-12 Lamport StadiumToronto, Ontario4,630Caribbean Carnival Cup[20]
201217 June Royal Air Force def. Canada 22-16 Fletcher's FieldsMarkham, OntarioNot KnownFriendly
20119 October South Africa def. Canada 36-22 Fletcher's FieldsMarkham, OntarioNot known Friendly[21]
201118 September Canada def. USA 18-16 Fletcher's FieldsMarkham, OntarioNot known Colonial Cup[21]
201127 August USA def. Canada 18-2 -PhiladelphiaNot known Colonial Cup[22]
201131 July Canada def. Jamaica 40-10 Fletcher's FieldsMarkham, Ontario1,500 Caribbean Carnival Cup[23]
201020 November USA def. Canada 46-12 Hodges FieldJacksonville28002010 Atlantic Cup[24]
201018 November Jamaica def. Canada 32-12 Hodges FieldJacksonville8002010 Atlantic Cup[25]
201019 September USA def. Canada 22-16 Richardson StadiumOntarioNot known Colonial Cup
200020 November Canada def. Japan 28-12 Robin Park ArenaWigan5002000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament
200015 November Italy def. Canada 66-6 Cougar ParkKeighley1,0282000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament
200013 November USA def. Canada 52-10 Court Place FarmOxford500

2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament

199911 November Japan def. Canada 14-0 Disney's Wide World Of SportsOrlandoNot known2000 RLWC Qualifier
199915 November USA def. Canada 68-0 Disney's Wide World Of SportsOrlandoNot known2000 RLWC Qualifier
1998- USA def. Canada 32-6 TBCGlen MillsNot known
1997- USA def. Canada 50-10 TBCPhiladelphiaNot known
1995- France def. Canada 72-32 TBCMontrealNot known
1995- USA def. Canada 44-0 TBCBaltimoreNot known
19941 October USA def. Canada 22-10 TBCSt. CatherinesNot known
199419 June USA def. Canada 22-0 John Boyd StadiumAtlantic CityNot known
199317 October USA def. Canada 32-2 TBCOttawaNot known
199322 August USA def. Canada 54-14 TBCLake PlacidNot known
1987- Canada def. USA 23-10 TBCPittsburghNot known

Other Representative Match

Tri-County XIII defeated Maracaibo Oilers Sports Club (Venezuela) 24-16 at Montreal (1986) (Maracaibo Oilers Sports Club were Venezuelan Rugby Union side on tour to Canada in 1986, and included a Rugby League 13-a-side match on their tour itinerary. The Tri-County XIII was a representative team made up mainly of Canadians and some Americans from the 4-team Tri-County competition that was played at the time).

Emerging Nations tournament

In 2000 the Canada Cougars took part in the Emerging Nations Rugby League Championship which was held in the United Kingdom. The Canadians qualified for this tournament by finishing third in Group B of the Emerging Nations qualifying tournament which was held in the United States. The Canadians put up some credible performances against group rivals the United States and Japan, but lost to both nations which earned them a third place finish. In the Emerging Nations tournament the Canadians again put up some credible performances, against the United States and another newcomer to the competition Italy, but again finished on the losing side, this earned them another third place finish and a wooden spoon play-off against Japan. The Canadians tipped to finish last in the tournament proved everyone wrong by beating Japan in the match 28-12 at Wigan.

Qualifying tournament

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1  United States 22001220+1224
2  Japan 21011454-302
3  Canada 2002082-820

Finals tournament

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1  Italy 220010622+844
2  United States 21016850+182
3  Canada 200216118-1020

2011 squad

Canada Wolverines Squad
First team squad Interchange Coaching staff
  • 1 Robin Legault - FB
  • 2 Tony Felix - WG
  • 3 Geoff Bylund - CE
  • 4 Christian Miller (c) - CE
  • 5 Danny Tupou - WG
  • 6 Jamie Lester - FE
  • 7 Matthew Wyles - HB
  • 8 Steve Conlon - PR
  • 9 Chris Diamond - HK
  • 10 Louis Robinson - PR
  • 11 Cameron Grace - SR
  • 12 Henry Miers - SR
  • 13 Tyler Allen - LF
  • 14 Graham Dobbs - HK
  • 15 Dale Fitzgerald - PR
  • 16 Mike Reid - SR
  • 17 Steve Lamb - PR
  • 18 John Felix - SO
  • 19 Rob Autogavia - PR
  • 20 Dave Burton - SR
  • 21 Patrick Farrell - CE
  • 22 Shane Farrell - LF
  • 23 Sam Nady - WG
  • 33 Enoch Walmawa - SR



Legend:
  • (c) Captain
  • (vc) Vice captain

Updated: 28 June 2011
Source(s): European Shield 2011

References

  1. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/history/index.php?pageid=100001
  2. ↑ O'Neill, Matthew (25 April 2010). [http://www.webcitation.org /query?id=1284834693297265 "Canada's national team to be known as 'Mounties'"]. rleague.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  3. ↑ CRL (2010). "Rugby League Review come on as major sponsor". Canada Rugby League. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  4. ↑ Lester, Jamie (5 April 2010). "Canadian team to play in AMNRL 'War at the Shore'". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  5. ↑ CRL (2010). "National Team Fixtures - 2010 / 2011". Canada Rugby League. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  6. ↑ O'Neill, Matthew (16 August 2010). "Canada to host USA in inaugural Colonial Cup". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  7. ↑ Stuart Donlan named head coach of Canada Wolverines
  8. ↑ http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/rugby-league-nations/91-rugby-league-test-match-or-international-game/1853-canada-52-smack-usa-14-in-rugby-league-international
  9. ↑ ; RLIF Rankings
  10. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10276
  11. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10273
  12. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10270
  13. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10267
  14. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10243
  15. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10239
  16. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10236
  17. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10232
  18. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10228
  19. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10189
  20. ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10186
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 http://www.rlef.eu.com/other/report?RLE00000205
  22. ↑ http://www.rlef.eu.com/other/report?RLE00000207
  23. ↑ http://www.rlef.eu.com/other/report?RLE00000204
  24. ↑ http://www.rlef.eu.com/atlantic_cup/report?RLE00000085
  25. ↑ http://www.rlef.eu.com/atlantic_cup/report?RLE00000087

External links