Canada national rugby league team

Infobox rugby league nation
Name = Canada
Badge = Canada rugby league
Nickname = Cougars
Association = Canada Rugby League Association
Region = The Americas
Coach = Phil Jackson (rugby league)
Captain = Marc Simon (rugby league)
rank = 39
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First game = Canada def. USA 23-10 (1987)
Largest win = Canada def. Japan 28-12 (2000)
Largest loss = France def. Canada 72-32 (1995)
Home Stadium = Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
Rugby league has been played in Canada in the past at an amateur level, but competitions have since disbanded and the sport is dormant. Rugby league has gained little recognition in face of the more popular sport of Rugby union.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a 4-team domestic competition, known as the 'Tri-Country Rugby League', was established with 3 Canadian clubs and one US club competing - Kingston, Ontario, Montreal (Ontario), Montreal, Quebec, and Adirondacks (USA). [1]

There were two regional nines tournaments as recently as 2003, one in Ontario and one in Manitoba.

The national rugby league team has won two games, against USA in 1987 and Japan in 2000. While the Canadian Rugby Football League who organized these tournaments has long since folded; a new organization called Rugby League in Canada has been founded with an aim of restoring competition.

The Canada rugby league team has been participating in international competition since 1987, and last played as a national team on April 7, 2001 when they were defeated 56-24 by the Glen Mills Bulls at Jack Pearson Oval, Glen Mills.

Canada has participated in the World Sevens (1995, 1996) and Emerging Nations World Cup (2000) competitions. However, rugby league remains a largely unknown code in Canada and the national team remains uncompetitive as a result. In fact, the word rugby is usually used without qualification in Canada and refers to rugby union.

While the Canadian Rugby Football League has folded and the game with it a new organization called Rugby League in Canada has founded with an aim to recreate the national team and the game in Canada

International Test Results (1987-2000)

*Canada def. Japan 28-12 (2000)
*Italy def. Canada 66-6 (15 November 2000)
*USA def. Canada 52-10 (13 November 2000)
*Japan def. Canada 14-0 (1999)
*USA def. Canada 68-0 (1999)
*USA def. Canada 32-6 (1998)
*USA def. Canada 50-10 (1997)
*France def. Canada 72-32 (1995)
*USA def. Canada 44-0 (1995)
*USA def. Canada 22-10 (1994)
*USA def. Canada 22-0 (1994)
*USA def. Canada 32-2 (1993)
*USA def. Canada 54-14 (1993)
*Canada def. USA 23-10 (1987)

Other Representative Match

Tri-County XIII def. 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

*United States def. Canada 68-0 Orlando, Florida United States
*Japan def. Canada 14-0 Orlando, Florida United States

Finals Tournament

*United States def. Canada 52-10 Oxford United Kingdom
**Tries: Whale, Van Der Hoek. Goal: De Snayer.

*Italy def. Canada 66-6 Keighley United Kingdom
**Try: Coussons. Goal: Weiler.

*Canada def. Japan 28-12 Wigan United Kingdom, 5th and 6th place playoff
**Tries: Demetriou 3, Whale, McKenzie. Goals: Weiler 2, De Snayer 2.

Players

2000 Emerging Nations Tournament Team

Andy Bradley Wigan St Patricks

Mike Brown (capt) S.W. Ontario

Steve Keith S.W. Ontario

Dave Knowles S.W. Ontario

Darrin Landoni S.W.Ontario

Andy Mina S.W. Ontario
Greg Swinford S.W. Ontario

Steve Weiler S.W. Ontario

Korb Whale S.W. Ontario

Phil Coussons S.W. Ontario

Jason Demetriou (rugby league) Widnes Vikings

Kevin De Snayer E. Ontario

Dan Gauthier E. Ontario

Dave McKenzie Quebec

Jeff Oliver E. Ontario

Marc Simon

Hemel Hempstead

Simon Tillyer

Ross Van der Hoek Glasgow Bulls
Rob Verrelli British Columbia

Kit Warren British Columbia
Devin Gomez E. Ontario

Adam Gordon E. Ontario

Christian Leblanc E. Ontario

Shaun Cushing S.W. Ontario

Ben Trevano S.W. Ontario

External links

* http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/canadianrl/2000EMERGINGNATIONS.html