The 2017 Rugby League World Cup Americas qualification was a rugby league tournament that was held in December 2015 to decide the American qualifier for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. It consisted of a round-robin tournament involving three teams, Canada, Jamaica and the United States, at two venues in Florida in the United States.
The United States won the tournament and qualified for the World Cup.
Overview On 3 October 2014, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying competition was announced. Seven of the eight teams who made the knockout-stages of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup were announced as automatic qualifiers.QUALIFICATION DETAILS FOR 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP ANNOUNCED , rlef.eu.com, 3 August 2014
USA, who were quarter-finalists in 2013, were denied automatic qualification due to an internal governance dispute which saw the nation's Rugby League International Federation membership temporarily suspended. Once the issue was resolved, USA was allowed to enter the qualification process. In August 2015, the qualifiers were announced to be held in Florida in December 2015.Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers Awarded to Jacksonville & Deland, FL , usarl.com, 13 August 2015
Squads
Canada The Canada squad as of 26 November 2015 was as follows:WOLVERINES NAME SQUAD FOR RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS , rlef.com, 27 November 2015
Coach: Aaron Zimmerle Club Team Players Bradford Dudley Hill Chad Bain Brantford Broncos Billy Gemmell, Christian Miller, Steve Piatek Capilano Cougars Alex Boyd Easts Tigers Tom Dempsey Jamberoo Superoos Steve Bouchard London Skolars Louis Robinson Souths Logan Magpies Rhys Jacks Sunshine Coast Falcons Ryley Jacks Surrey Beavers Jamie Kelly Toronto Centurions Jonathan Cregg, Robin Legault, Matt Wyles Toronto City Saints Eddie Bilborough, Antoine Blanc, Enoch Wamalwa Valley Warriors Daniel Blasco-Morris, Rick Schouten, Adam Timler
Jamaica The Jamaica squad as of 25 November 2015 was as follows:CORE OF REGGAE WARRIORS FROM UK COMPETITION rlef.com, 25 November 2015
Coach: Romeo Monteith Club Team Players Batley Bulldogs Alex Brown, Wayne Reittie Bradford Bulls Omari Caro Dewsbury Rams Joel Farrell Duhaney Park Red Sharks Jermaine Pinnock, Renaldo Wade GC Foster College Ryan Grant Keighley Cougars Hamish Barnes, Ross Peltier Hunslet Hawks Daniel Thomas, Mo Agoro, Richie Barnett Mico University College Antonio Baker RC Lescure-Arthes XIII Lamont Bryan Newcastle Thunder Joe Brown Sheffield Eagles Corey Hanson University of Technology Nathan Campbell, Marvin Thompson Vauxhall Rugby Club Tyronie Rowe Unattached Brian Hutchinson
United States The USA squad as of 25 November 2015 was as follows:
On 2 December the US team suffered a setback after Tui Samoa pulled out of the squad for personal reasons. He was replaced by Corey Makelim.Setback for USA Hawks with RLWC Qualifiers set to start.
Coach: Brian McDermott Club Team Players Atlanta Rhinos Nick Newlin Central Florida Warriors Taylor Alley Connecticut Wildcats Matt Walsh Chicago Stockyarders Taylor Howden Delaware Black Foxes Kevin Wiggins Jacksonville Axemen Jon Purnell London Broncos Mark Offerdahl Wests Panthers Kristian Freed, Luke Barron New York Knights Abe Cohen Norths Devils Sam Carson Northern Virginia Eagles Ryan Burroughs Philadelphia Fight Casey Clark, Rich Henson, Andrew Kneisly, Roman Lowery, Mike Timpano Wentworthville Magpies Danny Howard, Steve Howard, Corey Makelim
Standings
Key to colours in tableQualified for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup
Fixtures
United States vs Jamaica
FB 1 Corey MakelimRW 22 Taylor HowdenRC 3 Taylor AlleyLC 4 Daniel HowardLW 5 Mike TimpanoFE 6 Rich HensonHB 7 Matt WalshPR 8 Steve HowardHK 2 Kristian FreedPR 9 Mark Offerdahl (c)SR 11 Abe CohenSR 12 Casey ClarkLF 13 Jon PurnellSubstitutes:IC 14 Ryan BurroughsIC 15 Andrew KneislyIC 16 Nick NewlinIC 17 Sam Carson Coach: Brian McDermott FB 1 Wayne ReittieRW 2 Alex BrownRC 3 Richie BarnettLC 4 Renaldo Wade LW 5 Omari Caro FE 6 Joel FarrellHB 7 Daniel ThomasPR 8 Antonio BakerHK 9 Marvin ThompsonPR 10 Ross Peltier SR 11 Nathan CampbellSR 12 Corey Hanson (c)LK 13} Lamont BryanSubstitutes:IC 14 Joe BrownIC 15 Tyronie RoweIC 16 Ryan GrantIC 17 Mo AgoroCoach: Romeo Monteith
Canada vs Jamaica
FB 1 Robin LegaultRW 2 Billy GemmellRC 3 Jonathan CreggLC 4 Rick SchoutenLW 5 Adam TimlerFE 6 Ryley JacksHB 7 Steve PiatekPR 8 Louis RobinsonHK 9 Rhys JacksPR 10 Tom DempseySR 11 Christian MillerSR 12 Steve BouchardLF 13 Jamie KellySubstitutes:IC 14 Matt WylesIC 15 Enoch WamalwaIC 16 Antoine BlancIC 17 Alex BoydCoach: Aaron Zimmerle FB 1 Wayne ReittieRW 2 Alex BrownRC 3 Richie BarnettLC 4 Hamish Barnes LW 5 Omari Caro FE 6 Joel FarrellHB 7 Corey HansonPR 8 Nathan CampbellHK 9 Marvin ThompsonPR 10 Ross Peltier SR 11 Jermaine PinnockSR 12 Mo AgoroLK 13 Lamont BryanSubstitutes:IC 14 Joe BrownIC 15 Tyronie Rowe IC 16 Renaldo WadeIC 17 Brian HutchinsonCoach: Romeo Monteith
United States vs Canada This match was also the third and final game of the 2015 Colonial Cup series.
FB 1 Corey Makelim RW 23 Taylor HowdenRC 4 Taylor AlleyLC 3 Ryan BurroughsLW 5 Roman LoweryFE 6 Rich HensonHB 7 Matt WalshPR 8 Nick NewlinHK 2 Kristian FreedPR 9 Mark Offerdahl (c)SR 11 Daniel HowardSR 12 Casey ClarkLF 21 Steve HowardSubstitutes:IC 17 Jon PurnellIC 16 Sam Carson IC 15 Andrew KneislyIC 14 Luke Barron Coach: Brian McDermott FB 1 Robin LegaultRW 2 Billy GemmellRC 3 Jonathan CreggLC 4 Rick SchoutenLW 5 Adam TimlerFE 6 Ryley JacksHB 7 Steve PiatekPR 8 Tom Dempsey HK 9 Rhys JacksPR 10 Louis RobinsonSR 11 Christian MillerSR 12 Steve BouchardLF 13 Jamie KellySubstitutes:IC 14 Matt WylesIC 15 Enoch WamalwaIC 16 Daniel Blasco-MorrisIC 17 Alex BoydCoach: Aaron Zimmerle
References