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| Rugby league in the United States | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Governing body | American National Rugby League (1997–2014) USA Rugby League (2014–present) |
| National team(s) | United States |
| Nickname(s) | Hawks |
| Registered players | 700[1] |
| Clubs | 18 |
National competitions | |
Audience records | |
| Single match | 40,746 (March 2, 2024) Manly Warringah Sea Eagles  36-24  South Sydney RabbitohsSydney Roosters  20-10  Brisbane BroncosNRL Round 1 double header |
While rugby league has been played in the United States since 1954, with Australia and New Zealand playing games there on their return from the Rugby League World Cup in France, serious attempts to start the sport in the United States began only in the late 1970s. The establishment of a national team and a domestic competition in the late 20th century has seen more recent progress.
The United States national rugby league team has participated in international competition since 1987. In 1998, the country's first domestic competition, the AMNRL, was launched as a semi-professional league, predominantly based in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, and affiliated to the Rugby League International Federation, the sport's world governing body.[2] In 2011, a new domestic competition, the USARL, began.
- ^ Tomazin, Farrah (April 30, 2022). "'It's been a struggle': Trying to grow rugby league in the US". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- ^ AMNRL (July 2, 2009). "The American National Rugby League Vision". American National Rugby League. Archived from the original on April 24, 2001. Retrieved April 18, 2010.