Rugby League in the United States has crowned national champions since 1997.
The sport has gone through two separate competitions starting with the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) premiership from 1997 to 2014 with the Ferrainola Cup and the USA Rugby League has crowned national champions since 2014.
Champions of the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) Each year the clubs in the AMNRL domestic competition contest the C.D.Ferrainola Cup to determine the champion team of rugby league in America. Cosimo 'Sam' Ferrainola was one of the driving forces behind the development of the American National Rugby League.
The regular season title or Minor premiership was not awarded until the 2006 season. +AMNRL Championship Final HistoryYearChampionsFinal scoreRunners-upMinor Premiers1998 Glen Mills Bulls66-12 Philadelphia Bulldogs1999 Glen Mills Bulls28-10 New Jersey Sharks2000 Glen Mills Bulls38-26 Philadelphia Bulldogs2001 Glen Mills Bulls26-16 Media Mantarays2002 New York Knights18-12 Glen Mills Bulls2003 Connecticut Wildcats38-14 Glen Mills Bulls2004 Glen Mills Bulls32-24 Connecticut Wildcats2005 Glen Mills Bulls32-30 Connecticut Wildcats2006 Connecticut Wildcats36-28 Glen Mills Bulls Glen Mills Bulls2007 Connecticut Wildcats22-18 Aston DSC Bulls Connecticut Wildcats2008 New Haven Warriors50-18 Aston DSC Bulls Aston DSC Bulls2009 New York Knights32-12 Jacksonville Axemen Jacksonville Axemen2010 Jacksonville Axemen34-14 New Haven Warriors New Haven Warriors2011 New York Knights38-4 Connecticut Wildcats New York Knights2012 New York Knights60-40 Connecticut Wildcats New York Knights2013 Connecticut Wildcats42-10 New York Knights By 2011, Seven teams that had previously competed in the American National Rugby League, the United States' established rugby league organization and recognized governing body for the sport, announced they were breaking with the AMNRL to form a new league. The stated reason for the split was dissatisfaction with the governance of the AMNRL; the departing teams were unhappy with the lack of club involvement in the league's decision making, and the new league was founded with the principle of including its member clubs in its administration, thus creating the USA Rugby League after the 2011 season.
USA Rugby League Champions In 2014, the United States Association of Rugby League became to undisputed top-level national after the American National Rugby League folded and the Rugby League European Federation and the Rugby League International Federation gave the USA Rugby League member status. The league began its rivalry with the former by beginning its inaugural in 2011.
For the first three seasons, the USA Rugby League was a single-division competition. In 2014, the teams were split into two conferences and three divisions.
The competition is now structured into four regional leagues across the East and West Conferences. Winners of each league advance to their respective conference final before the winners of each facing each other in the Grand Final. +USA Rugby League Grand Final HistoryYearChampionsFinal scoreRunners-upMinor Premiers2011 Philadelphia Fight28–26 New Haven Warriors Jacksonville Axemen2012 Jacksonville Axemen28–22 Boston 13s Jacksonville Axemen2013 Philadelphia Fight28–22 Jacksonville Axemen Philadelphia Fight2014 Philadelphia Fight30–18 Jacksonville Axemen Philadelphia Fight2015 Boston 13s44–12 Atlanta Rhinos Philadelphia Fight2016 Philadelphia Fight42–20 Jacksonville Axemen Philadelphia Fight2017 Atlanta Rhinos32–18 New York Knights New York Knights2018 Jacksonville Axemen56–16 Brooklyn Kings Jacksonville Axemen2019 Brooklyn Kings12–6 Jacksonville Axemen Brooklyn Kings2020Not held due to COVID-192021 Tampa Mayhem60–10 Delaware Black Foxes Jacksonville Axemen2022 Jacksonville Axemen36–12 Tampa Mayhem Jacksonville Axemen2023 Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans20–16 Jacksonville AxemenNot awarded. Regional titles awarded instead2024 DC CavalryWalkover Provo Broncos2025 Brooklyn Kings34–18 Jacksonville Axemen2026 Tampa Mayhem30–26 Los Angeles Roosters
Overall Championship Title Count +ClubYears activeUSA Rugby League titlesAMNRL titlesTotal Number of Titles Glen Mills Bulls1998-20131998-2001, 2004, 20056 Jacksonville Axemen2006-2012, 2018, 202220104 Connecticut Wildcats2003-20152003, 2006, 2007, 20134 New York Knights1998-2002, 2009, 2011, 20124 Philadelphia Fight1998-20192011, 2013, 2014, 20164 Tampa Mayhem2014-2021, 20262 Brooklyn Kings2014-2019, 20252 DC Cavalry2021-20241 Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans2021-20231 Atlanta Rhinos2014-20171 Boston 13s2009-20151 The clubs in italics are no longer active in the league.
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