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Toronto Wolfpack

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Toronto Wolfpack
Club information
Full nameToronto Wolfpack Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)The Pack
Short nameToronto Wolfpack
Colours Black and White
Founded2016; 8 years ago (2016)
Websitetorontowolfpack.com
Current details
Ground(s)
CoachPaul Rowley
CaptainCraig Hall
CompetitionLeague 1
Current season
Records
League 1 Champions1 (2017)
Challenge Cups0

Toronto Wolfpack R.L.F.C. is a Canadian professional rugby league club, based in Toronto, which began play in the 2017 League 1 season.[1] They are notable as being the first Canadian team to play in the Rugby Football League system, the first fully professional rugby league team in Canada and the world's first trans-Atlantic rugby league team[2][note 1] and the first trans-Atlantic professional sports team that trains both in the UK and North America and play competition matches against domestic competition in the UK.

History

The Toronto Wolfpack taking the field against the London Broncos in the Challenge Cup at the Trailfinders Sports Ground in Ealing in March 2017

2014–2016: Origins and foundation

The Rugby Football League first received an application from a Canadian consortium based in Toronto, led by the Chairman of the national governing body Canada Rugby League Eric Perez, in 2014 to compete in the United Kingdom's third tier of professional rugby league.[9] Perez was denied permission to join the first-tier Super League directly, and instead attempted to build the club up to the point where it can be promoted.[10][11] A press conference was held on 27 April 2016 at which details on the franchise, which began play in 2017, were revealed.[12][13] The team will be the first professional rugby league team to be based in Canada.[13] A group of 10 businessmen, including Canadians and Australian mining millionaire David Argyle, own the club,[14][15], having paid around $500,000 to be granted admission to the league.[16] A condition of the team joining the British rugby league system was that it would be responsible for covering the travel and accommodation expenses incurred for all visiting teams outside of the first division Super League.[16]

It was suggested that it was an attractive market due to Canada having the largest following of rugby league outside of Australia, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.[17][18] The club plans to play in blocks of four home matches, four away matches, and cover all expenses of visiting teams throughout the season.[19][20] All away games were expected to be broadcast locally according to Perez.[11] It was later confirmed that Game TV will broadcast all Toronto Wolfpack matches nationwide in Canada.[21]

The Wolfpack held tryouts in five cities across North America starting on September 24; Philadelphia, Tampa, Kingston, Vancouver, and Toronto itself. From these tryouts 18 athletes were selected to take part in a tour of England culminating in a victorious game against amateur club, Brighouse Rangers. Three players won professional contracts with the Wolfpack following the tour with another trial in Toronto is set to be held in the following months for the unsuccessful trialists.[22]

On 22 January 2017, The Wolfpack played their first professional game, a pre-season friendly against Hull at the KCOM Stadium. The final score was 26-20 in favour of Hull.[23]

On 25 February 2017, the club played its first competitive match, a 14−6 victory in the third round of the Challenge Cup against amateur NCL champions Siddal.[24]

On 4 March 2017, Toronto played its first League 1 match, away at London Skolars. They won the match 76–0.[25]

On 6 May 2017, Toronto played its first home match, defeating Oxford in front of 6,281 fans at Lamport Stadium.[26]

On 9 September 2017, the Wolfpack won promotion to the Championship by defeating Barrow Raiders 26-2 in front of a club record 7,972 spectators.

Stadium

Main article: Lamport Stadium
Lamport Stadium based in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto.

The team's home stadium is Lamport Stadium in Toronto, which is known as The Den for Toronto matches. The stadium seats 9,600.[13] The stadium was opened in 1975 and has an artificial field. In addition to rugby, it has also hosted soccer and lacrosse.[9] The team signed a three-year lease.[27]

Logistics

As most players on the rosters are not from Toronto, the team stays at the George Brown College residence in West Don Lands that is the former site of the 2015 Pan American Games Athletes' Village and trains at Lamport Stadium.[28] Away teams stay at York University residence and train on York University athletic facilities. Air Transat sponsors the travel and accommodation cost for all of the away teams.[29]

Toronto have signed an agreement with Brighouse Rangers to share their training ground for pre-seasons and while the Wolfpack are in the UK for away fixtures.[30]

Media

Toronto Wolfpack games are carried by the Canadian specialty channel GameTV. On March 16, 2017, it was announced that CBC Sports had acquired digital rights to the team, with games streaming on the CBC Sports website.[31][32] All games are broadcast live in the UK on Premier Sports.[33] Matches are also archived on the Toronto Wolfpack YouTube Channel

Kit sponsors and manufacturers

Year Kit Manufacturer Main Shirt Sponsor
2017–2019 Kappa Air Transat

2017 squad

Template:Toronto Wolfpack current squad

Founding players

Gains
Player Previous club Signing announced
England Craig Hall Wakefield Trinity July 2016[34]
England Liam Kay Leigh July 2016[34]
England James Laithwaite Warrington July 2016[35]
England Gary Wheeler Warrington July 2016[35]
Canada Rhys Jacks Sheffield Eagles August 2016[36]
Australia Blake Wallace Illawarra Cutters August 2016[36]
Wales Dan Fleming Bradford August 2016[37]
England Reece Dean Hull August 2016[38]
England Andrew Dixon Leigh August 2016[39]
England Jonny Pownall Leigh August 2016[39]
England Jack Bussey London Broncos September 2016[40]
Ireland Bob Beswick Leigh September 2016[39]
England Greg Worthington Leigh September 2016[39]
United States Ryan Burroughs Wentworthville Magpies October 2016[41]
England Richard Whiting Leigh November 2016[42]
England Steve Crossley Bradford November 2016[43]
Samoa Quentin Laulu-Togaga'e Sheffield Eagles November 2016[44]
Wales Jacob Emmitt Swinton November 2016[45]
Tonga Fuifui Moimoi Leigh November 2016[46]
Jamaica Nathan Campbell Duhaney Park Red Sharks December 2016[47]
Canada Quinn Ngawati B.C. Bulldogs December 2016[47]
United States Joe Eichner Jacksonville Axemen December 2016[48]
England Shaun Pick Featherstone Rovers January 2017[49]
Canada Tom Dempsey Easts Tigers January 2017[50]
England Luke Menzies Salford January 2017[51]
England Adam Sidlow Bradford January 2017[52]
Canada Chad Bain Brantford Broncos January 2017[53]

Staff

Coaching staff

Position Staff
Head coach England Paul Rowley
Assistant coach Ireland Simon Finnigan
Assistant coach Ireland Kurt Haggerty
Head of strength and conditioning Ireland Bob Beswick

Club officials

Toronto Wolfpack owner Australia David Argyle (majority owner), Canada Eric Perez, et al.
CEO Canada Eric Perez
Director of rugby England Brian Noble
Director England Adam Fogerty

See also

Notes

  1. ^ While they have been described as the world's first trans-Atlantic professional sports team,[3][4][5] there are earlier examples of teams participating in trans-Atlantic competitions such as the World League of American Football,[6] and Super Rugby.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ Bower, Aaron (27 April 2016). "Toronto Wolfpack to enter League One next season, RFL announces". Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Toronto Wolfpack: Meet the first transatlantic rugby league team". BBC. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  3. ^ "About the Team". Toronto Wolfpack. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Meet the Toronto Wolfpack, Canada's first professional rugby team". CBC. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Trans-Atlantic rugby league trailblazers Toronto Wolfpack seek beauty in the Halifax beast". The Telegraph. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  6. ^ Stellino, Vito (7 April 1991). "WLAF attendance surpassing early hopes in Europe and Canada". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  7. ^ "¡Bienvenidos a Super Rugby Jaguares" (Press release). SANZAR. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017. {{cite press release}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Jaguares start with historic win". SANZAAR. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Canadians seek to join League One in 2016 - Rugby League News, Forum & Features". 13 October 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Canadian team to join English rugby league setup". ESPN. 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  11. ^ a b Proszenko, Adrian (2016-04-21). "Canadian team to play in UK next year as part of Super League bid". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  12. ^ "TORONTO ANNOUNCED AS HOME TO WORLD'S FIRST TRANSATLANTIC PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM". Toronto Wolfpack. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  13. ^ a b c "Rugby Football League officials joined by Mayor John Tory to unveil team brand and league information". 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  14. ^ "New Toronto Wolfpack rugby league team won't divulge its ownership". Winnipeg Free Press. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  15. ^ Mohdin, Aamna (28 August 2017). "The future of sport is this Canadian rugby team that flies 3,500 miles to play in England". Quartz (publication). Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  16. ^ a b Dixon, Ryan. "Running with the Wolves". Sportsnet.
  17. ^ Bower, Aaron (7 May 2015). "Toronto-based rugby league team in talks to join England's League 1". Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  18. ^ "Canadians confident of being competitive in League One - Rugby League News, Forum & Features". 16 October 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  19. ^ Bower, Aaron (2016-04-27). "Toronto Wolfpack to enter League One next season, RFL announces". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  20. ^ "Barrie McDermott: Canadian team would boost League One". Sky Sports. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  21. ^ Toronto Wolfpack sign TV deals in Canada and UK
  22. ^ "Tryouts". Toronto Wolfpack. 8 January 2017.
  23. ^ Toronto Wolfpack impress in pre-season loss to Hull FC
  24. ^ Toronto Wolfpack win Challenge Cup tie at Siddal in first-ever match
  25. ^ Wolfpack dominate in their first league match
  26. ^ Toronto Wolfpack win ill-tempered home debut
  27. ^ Yuen, Jenny (2016-04-27). "Toronto to be first transatlantic team in Rugby Football League". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  28. ^ "Toronto Wolfpack cross the Atlantic for rugby league home opener". The Canadian Press. 2017-05-03.
  29. ^ Davidson, Neil (2017-05-06). "Toronto Wolfpack win ill-tempered home debut". The Canadian Press.
  30. ^ Rangers welcome Wolfpack
  31. ^ "Wolfpack Secure Canadian Broadcast Partner". Toronto Wolfpack. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  32. ^ "CBC Sports, Toronto Wolfpack announce broadcast agreement". CBC Sports. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  33. ^ Premier Sports To Broadcast The Wolfpack In The UK
  34. ^ a b "Toronto make double signing". Sporting Life. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  35. ^ a b "Warrington's James Laithwaite and Gary Wheeler joining Toronto Wolfpack". Sky Sports. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  36. ^ a b "Toronto Wolfpack sign Canada captain Rhys Jacks and Blake Wallace". Sky Sports. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  37. ^ "Bulls prop Dan Fleming confirms move to newly-formed Toronto Wolfpack". Telegraph & Argus. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  38. ^ "Toronto Wolfpack sign Hull FC's Reece Dean". Sky Sports. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  39. ^ a b c d "Toronto Wolfpack sign Greg Worthington from Leigh Centurions". Sky Sports. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  40. ^ "Toronto sign London forward Bussey". Total Rugby League. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  41. ^ "Ryan Burroughs ready to run with the Wolfpack". USA Rugby League. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  42. ^ Richard Whiting Will Run With The Pack
  43. ^ "Crossley leaves Bradford Bulls to join Toronto Wolfpack". Telegraph & Argus. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  44. ^ "Sheffield Eagles talent drain continues as QLT joins Toronto Wolpack". The Star. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  45. ^ "Emmitt joins Wolfpack". Love Rugby League. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  46. ^ "Toronto Wolfpack sign former Kiwi star Fuifui Moimo". Sky Sports. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  47. ^ a b Toronto Wolfpack see Canadian teenager Quinn Ngawati as one to watch
  48. ^ West Palm Beach man part of history-making pro sports franchise
  49. ^ Shaun Pick: Toronto Wolfpack sign back-rower after doping ban
  50. ^ Tom Dempsey
  51. ^ Menzies Strengthens Wolfpack Forward Line
  52. ^ "Sidlow move to Toronto confirmed as Bradford hope for RFL announcement on new owner". Telegraph & Argus. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  53. ^ Chad Bain becomes first Ontario player to sign with Toronto Wolfpack
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