Wikipedia

Toronto Wolfpack

Toronto Wolfpack RLFCis a Canadian professionalrugby leagueclub based inToronto,Ontario.The club is the first and only professional rugby league club in North America, and as of 2023 competes in the self sponsored Canada Cup, an invitational league for North American teams organised by Toronto Wolfpack.

Toronto Wolfpack
Full nameToronto Wolfpack Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Wolfpack
The Pack
Emblem(s)
Founded2016
LocationToronto,Ontario,Canada
Ground(s)Lamport Stadium(Capacity: 9,600)
Coach(es)Robin Legault[1]
Teamkit
Official website
www.torontowolfpack

The club originally competed in theBritish rugby league systembut withdrew in the2020 Super League seasondue to "overwhelming financial challenges" caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[2]

The club is the first and only North American team to play in theRugby Football League system,making it the first transatlantic rugby league team.[3][4][5][6][note 1]

History

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2014–2016: Origins and foundation

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TheRugby Football Leaguefirst received an application from a Canadian consortium based in Toronto, led by the chairman of the national governing bodyCanada Rugby LeagueEric Perez in 2014 to compete in theUnited Kingdom's third tier of professional rugby league.[13]Perez was denied permission to join the first-tierSuper Leaguedirectly, and instead attempted to build the club up to the point where it can be promoted.[14][15]A press conference was held on 27 April 2016 at which details on the franchise, which began to play in 2017, were revealed.[16][17]The team will be the first professional rugby league team to be based in Canada.[17]A group of 10 businessmen, consisting of mostly Canadians and Australian mining millionaire David Argyle, own the club,[18][19]having paid around $500,000 to be granted admission to the rugby league.[20]A condition for the team to join the British rugby league system was that they would be responsible for covering travel and accommodation expenses incurred for all visiting teams outside of the first divisionSuper League.[20]

It was suggested that it was an attractive market as Canada has the largest amount of rugby league followers outside of Australia, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.[21][22]The club plans to play in blocks of four home matches, four away matches, and cover all expenses for visiting teams throughout the season.[23]

The Wolfpack held tryouts in five cities acrossNorth Americastarting 24 September; those were:Philadelphia,Tampa,Kingston (Jamaica),Vancouver,and Toronto itself. From these tryouts 18 athletes were selected to take part in a tour in England, culminating in a victorious game against an amateur club, theBrighouse Rangers.Three players won professional contracts with the Wolfpack Rugby League Team following the tour, with another round of tryouts to be held in Toronto in the following few months for the unsuccessful trialists.[24]

The Toronto Wolfpack Rugby League Team owns rights to all broadcasts of their matches. In Canada, games are broadcast on CBC Live and onGame TV,[citation needed]in the USA games are broadcast on Eleven Sports, and in the UK and Ireland Premier Sports broadcasts through the Sky Network.

2017–2020: Seasons in the British leagues

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The Toronto Wolfpack taking the field against theLondon Broncosin theChallenge Cupat theTrailfinders Sports GroundinEalingin March 2017

On 22 January 2017, the Wolfpack played their first professional game, a pre-season friendly againstHull F.C.at theKCOM Stadium.The final score was 26–20 in favour of Hull.[25]The club played its first competitive match on February 25, 2017, resulting in a 14–6 victory in the third round of theChallenge Cupagainst the amateurNCLchampions:Siddal.[26]

On 4 March, Toronto played its first League 1 match, away atLondon Skolars.They won the match 76–0.[27]Their first home match was played on May 6, where they defeatedOxfordin front of 6,281 fans atLamport Stadium.[28]

The Wolfpack would go on to have a successful campaign, winning all fifteen of their regular season matches and five out of seven playoff games. The Wolfpack finished the season with 41 points from 22 games and points difference of +921.

Promotion to theChampionship,and the Kingston Press League 1 Title, was secured on 9 September 2017 with the Wolfpack defeatingBarrow Raiders26–2 in front of 7,972 spectators. They closed with a win againstDoncasterin front of a record attendance of 8,456.

Liam Kaywith the Wolfpack during a match in February 2018

The following season saw continued success by the Wolfpack; winning the league leaders shield in the championship competition. Following a round 4 defeat toLondon Broncosthey put together an 18-game winning streak from March 2018[29]which was eventually broken with a home defeat toFeatherstone Roversin late July. They performed creditably in the Super 8s with five wins from seven games, defeating Super League sidesWidnes VikingsandLeeds Rhinos.However, they fell short of automatic promotion on points difference and London Broncos beat the Wolfpack 4–2 at Lamport Stadium in theMillion Pound Game,condemning the Wolfpack to another season in the Championship.

On October 5, 2019, the Wolfpack were promoted toSuper Leaguefor the first time in club history after their 24–6 victory overFeatherstone Roversin the 2019Million Pound Game.

In November 2019, the Wolfpack made international headlines when they signed dual-code internationalSonny Bill Williamson a two-year deal. The signing came in the wake of Williams' third appearance in a Rugby World Cup and saw him return to Rugby League, the sport where his career began.

2020-2022: RFL expulsion and revival into the NARL

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In July 2020, Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from the2020 Super Leaguedue to financial difficulties and new logistics needed for international travel caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[30]

The club was given a chance to resubmit a bid for a place in the 2021 Super League season but the bid for readmission was rejected on 2 November 2020 resulting in the team's removal from the league. Subsequently, the Wolfpack made an announcement that they would cease operations.[31][32][33]Following the vote, a consortium of potential new owners led by Carlo LiVolsi backed out of a deal to purchase the Wolfpack from financially struggling owner David Argyle. Consequently, it was announced in November 2020 that the team would cease operations.[34]

On 31 March 2021, it was announced that a private investor group had purchased the Wolfpack and that they would be resuming play in the newly formedNorth American Rugby League.[35]

2023-present: TWP Canada Cup

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On 20 June 2023, Wolfpack announced they would be withdrawing from the NARL to start their own competition, the self sponsoredCanada Cup,after no NARL seasons had actually occurred.[36]

As the only professional club in North America, the TWP Canada Cup, is fully organised and ran by Toronto Wolfpack, and is an invitational league.[37]Games originally scheduled againstSouthwest Florida Copperheads,Canada All Stars,Washington DC CavalryandJacksonville Axemenwere cancelled.[38]

2023 season

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Source:[39]

Wolfpack players pose with Brooklyn Kings players after their match on September 16, 2023
Date Club Score v Toronto (A-F)
August 12 Whistler Wolves 6–60
August 19 Atlanta Rhinos 4–88
September 2 Boston Thirteens[a] 10–66
September 16 Brooklyn Kings 26–30
September 23 Tampa Mayhem 12–50
October 7 Jamaica Hurricanes 6–50

Stadium

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Lamport Stadiumbased in theLiberty Villageneighbourhood of Toronto.

The team's home stadium isLamport StadiuminTorontoand known as The Den for Wolfpack matches. The stadium seats 9,600.[17]The stadium was opened in 1975 and has an artificial field. In addition to the two rugby codes, it has hosted soccer and lacrosse.[13]The team signed a three-year lease to play at the stadium.[40]The Toronto Wolfpack supporters group can be found in Section 35.

Lamport Stadium has been used by the team for nearly all their home games in Canada. However, during their 2018 season the Wolfpack relocated one of their home games toFletcher's FieldsinMarkham,as Lamport Stadium was undergoing field resurfacing work.[41]The team explored options to improve the home stadium, including holding preliminary discussions about moving their home games toBMO Field,renovating Lamport Stadium or building a new stadium.[42]

In addition to home games played inGreater Toronto Area,the team played a "home game" atNew River StadiuminLondonfor the 2018, and 2019 seasons. The Wolfpack played at these venues in an effort to boost the popularity of the team, and sport in London.[43][44]Additionally, in their debut Super League campaign in 2020 the Wolfpack hosted scheduled "home" games on the road at neutral venues, due to the weather conditions not being suitable in Eastern Canada for rugby league until April. Toronto played scheduled "home" games at:Headingley Stadium,Leedsas a double header withLeeds Rhinos;theHalliwell Jones Stadium,Warrington;andBootham Crescent,Yorkas a double header withYork City Knights.The York game was originally scheduled to be at the newYork Community Stadium,as the grounds' inaugural game, however the stadium was not ready in time.

Logistics

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The team stays at theGeorge Brown Collegeresidence inWest Don Landsthat is the former site of the2015 Pan American Games Athletes' Villageand trains at Lamport Stadium. Away teams stay atYork Universityresidence[45]and train on York University athletic facilities. Through a sponsorship deal withAir Transat,the team covers the travel and accommodation cost for all of the away teams.[46]Toronto Wolfpack continued to cover expenses for the visiting teams in the 2018 season.[47]

Toronto signed an agreement withBrighouse Rangersto share their training ground for pre-seasons and while the Wolfpack are in the UK for away fixtures for 2017.[48]At the end of the 2017 season the Wolfpack confirmed their intention to switch to a base in Manchester, UK, during the 2018 season, and in 2018 announced the deepening of their partnership withManchester Metropolitan Universityand its community.[49]Until 2020, Manchester served as the Wolfpack's home in the United Kingdom, with the club training at Hopwood Hall College.

Media and promotion

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Toronto Wolfpack games were broadcast on Canadian specialty channelGameTV,with further digital rights extended toCBC Sportswith games streamed on the CBC Sports website. Matches are also archived on the Toronto WolfpackYouTubeChannel.

All Toronto Wolfpack games were broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports - Arena which reaches 11 million homes across the Sky Network. In the USA Eleven Sports send broadcasts into 50 million homes.

All 2023 Canada Games were available on Wolfpacks own channel Howl TV.

Kit sponsors and manufacturers

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Year Kit Manufacturer Main Shirt Sponsor
2017–2018 Kappa Air Transat
2019 ISC
2020 BLK Rugby Strength
2023 Macron Canada TIXR

2023 Squad

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Toronto Wolfpack 2023 Squad
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 3 March 2023
Source(s):[1]

Records

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Main article:Toronto Wolfpack records and statistics

Individual

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  • Most tries in a match:
  • 5:
Liam Kayv.York City Knights(1 July 2017)
  • Most goals in a match:
  • 13:
Craig Hallv.Doncaster(9 April 2017)
  • Most points in a match:
  • 38:
Craig Hallv.Hemel Stags(15 July 2017)
  • Most drop goals in a season:
  • 2 (2 players):
Ryan BrierleyandGareth O'Brien(2018 Championship)
  • Most goals in a season:
  • 170:
Craig Hall(2017 League 1)
  • Most tries in a season:
  • 27 (2 players):
Liam Kay(2017 League 1)andMatty Russell(2019 Championship)
  • Most points in a season:
  • 436:
Craig Hall(2017 League 1)

Team records

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  • Biggest win:
88-4v.Atlanta Rhinos(Aug 19, 2023)
82–6v.Doncaster(April 9, 2017)
  • Biggest loss:
66-10v.Warrington Wolves(May 13, 2018)

Attendance records

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  • Highest home attendance:
9,974v.Featherstone Rovers(atLamport Stadium,5 October 2019)

Seasons

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British rugby league system
Season League Play-offs Challenge Cup Name Tries Name Points
Division P W D L F A Dif Pts Pos Top try scorer Top point scorer
2017 League 1 22 20 1 1 1164 243 +921 41 1st None[b] R5 Liam Kay 27 Craig Hall 436
2018 Championship 23 20 1 2 866 374 +492 41 1st Lost inFinal R6 Liam Kay 26 Ryan Brierley 214
2019 Championship 27 26 0 1 1010 356 +654 52 1st Won inFinal Did not participate Matty Russell 27 Gareth O'Brien 278
2020 Super League Withdrew from competition; all results expunged.[c] R6 Three players[d] 2 Gareth O'Brien 18
North American Rugby League
Season League Play-offs Canada Cup Name Tries Name Points
Division P W D L F A Dif Pts Pos Top try scorer Top point scorer
2021 Eastern Conference League abandoned due to theCOVID-19 pandemic W Blake Mahovic 2 Nathan Roberts 8
2022 Eastern Conference Competition did not occur for unknown reasons N/A
Toronto Wolfpack Canada Cup[50]
Season Result Name Tries Name Points
Top try scorer Top point scorer
2023 W Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown

Honours

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RFL
Winners(2):2018,2019
Million Pound Game
Winners(1):2019
Runners-up(1):2018
RFL Championship Leaders' Shield
Winners(2):2018,2019
Winners(1):2017
NARL
  • Canada Cup
Winners(1): 2021[51]
TWP Canada Cup
Winners(1): 2023

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Not an original invitee
  2. ^Teams do not enter League 1 playoffs if league leaders
  3. ^On 20 July 2020, Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from the2020 Super Leaguedue to financial difficulties and new logistics needed for international travel due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.TheRFLannounced there would be no relegation from the competition.[30]
  4. ^Matty Russell,Ricky Leutele,andGary Wheeler
  1. ^While they have been described as the world's first trans-Atlantic professional sports team,[7][8][9]there are earlier examples of teams participating in trans-Atlantic competitions such as theWorld League of American Football,[10]andSuper Rugby.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^Pattison, Cam (July 18, 2023)."Toronto Wolfpack finally on the bring of stunning comeback after major development".Serious About Rugby League.Archivedfrom the original on August 9, 2023.RetrievedAugust 9,2023.
  2. ^"Toronto Wolfpack withdraws from Super League due to" overwhelming financial challenges "that caused their players to be unpaid for two months".9 Wide World of Sports. July 20, 2020.
  3. ^"Toronto Wolfpack: Meet the first transatlantic rugby league team".BBC Sport.February 24, 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
  4. ^"Toronto Wolfpack cross the Atlantic for rugby league home opener".CBC Sports. May 7, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 30,2017.
  5. ^"New boys Toronto Wolfpack are in for the long term".Yorkshire Evening Post.December 21, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 30,2017.
  6. ^"Can Toronto's English rugby league club teach NFL to cross Atlantic?".ESPN. April 27, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 30,2017.
  7. ^"About the Team".Toronto Wolfpack.Archivedfrom the original on March 13, 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
  8. ^"Meet the Toronto Wolfpack, Canada's first professional rugby team".CBC.February 25, 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
  9. ^"Trans-Atlantic rugby league trailblazers Toronto Wolfpack seek beauty in the Halifax beast".The Telegraph.February 24, 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
  10. ^Stellino, Vito (April 7, 1991)."WLAF attendance surpassing early hopes in Europe and Canada".Baltimore Sun.RetrievedMay 26,2014.
  11. ^"¡Bienvenidos a Super Rugby Jaguares"(Press release). SANZAR. December 17, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on March 13, 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
  12. ^"Jaguares start with historic win".SANZAAR.February 27, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 27,2016.
  13. ^ab"Canadians seek to join League One in 2016".October 13, 2014.RetrievedJuly 21,2016.
  14. ^"Canadian team to join English rugby league setup".ESPN.April 24, 2016.RetrievedApril 26,2016.
  15. ^Proszenko, Adrian (April 21, 2016)."Canadian team to play in UK next year as part of Super League bid".The Sydney Morning Herald.RetrievedApril 26,2016.
  16. ^"TORONTO ANNOUNCED AS HOME TO WORLD'S FIRST TRANSATLANTIC PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM".Toronto Wolfpack. April 27, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon May 2, 2016.RetrievedApril 27,2016.
  17. ^abc"Rugby Football League officials joined by Mayor John Tory to unveil team brand and league information".April 25, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon April 26, 2016.RetrievedApril 25,2016.
  18. ^"New Toronto Wolfpack rugby league team won't divulge its ownership".Winnipeg Free Press.April 28, 2016.RetrievedApril 30,2016.
  19. ^Mohdin, Aamna (August 28, 2017)."The future of sport is this Canadian rugby league team that flies 3,500 miles to play in England".Quartz (publication).RetrievedAugust 28,2017.
  20. ^abDixon, Ryan."Running with the Wolves".Sportsnet.
  21. ^Bower, Aaron (May 7, 2015)."Toronto-based rugby league team in talks to join England's Rugby League 1".The Guardian.RetrievedJuly 21,2016.
  22. ^"Canadians confident of being competitive in League One".October 16, 2014.RetrievedJuly 21,2016.
  23. ^"Barrie McDermott: Canadian team would boost Rugby League One".Sky Sports.May 6, 2015.RetrievedDecember 9,2016.
  24. ^"Tryouts".Toronto Wolfpack.January 8, 2017.
  25. ^Toronto Wolfpack impress in pre-season loss to Hull FC
  26. ^Toronto Wolfpack win Challenge Cup tie at Siddal in first-ever match
  27. ^Wolfpack dominate in their first league match
  28. ^Toronto Wolfpack win ill-tempered home debut
  29. ^"Toronto Wolfpack thump Rochdale Hornets 52-10 to earn 18th straight win".timescolonist.Archived fromthe originalon July 22, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  30. ^ab"Toronto Wolfpack pull out of Super League season as relegation is cancelled | Toronto Wolfpack | the Guardian".
  31. ^"Toronto Wolfpack Thank Fans for Incredible Journey".Toronto Wolfpack.November 24, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 12,2021.
  32. ^"Toronto Wolfpack fail in bid for re-admission to Super League".Sky Sports. November 3, 2020.
  33. ^"Initial Toronto bid" disappointing "says Elstone as Wolfpack given more time to convince Super League".Love Rugby League. September 25, 2020.
  34. ^Wood, Mike Meehall."We Need To Stop Talking About Toronto Wolfpack".Forbes.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  35. ^"PACK IS BACK".Toronto Wolfpack RLFC.March 31, 2021.RetrievedMarch 31,2021.
  36. ^"Toronto Wolfpack confirm 2023 return with nine fixtures announced at Lamport Stadium".June 20, 2023.
  37. ^"Toronto Wolfpack - to Our Wolfpack Family".
  38. ^"Ex-Super League side Toronto Wolfpack cancel opening game" to keep practicing "".July 20, 2023.
  39. ^"Fixtures & Results | Toronto Wolfpack RLFC".
  40. ^Yuen, Jenny (April 27, 2016)."Toronto to be first transatlantic team in Rugby Football League".Toronto Sun.RetrievedApril 27,2016.
  41. ^Blum, Benjamin (April 9, 2018)."Toronto Wolfpack relocate home opener north of the city".CBC Sports.Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.RetrievedFebruary 10,2020.
  42. ^Davidson, Neil (May 1, 2017)."Toronto Wolfpack cross the Atlantic for rugby league home opener this weekend".The Globe and Mail.RetrievedMay 1,2017.
  43. ^"Toronto Wolfpack return to capital".skolarsrl.London Skolars. February 15, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 10,2020.
  44. ^Davidson, Neil (April 5, 2019)."Toronto Wolfpack hosting 'home' game in London, looking to showcase transatlantic team".The Globe and Mail.The Woodbridge Company.RetrievedFebruary 10,2020.
  45. ^Davidson, Neil (July 9, 2017)."Toronto Wolfpack foes enjoying free trips to Canada, but rugby league journeys taking their toll".Toronto Star.
  46. ^Davidson, Neil (May 6, 2017)."Toronto Wolfpack win ill-tempered home debut".The Canadian Press.
  47. ^Campbell, Morgan (June 8, 2018)."Wolfpack have eyes on promotion to Super League as home season begins".Toronto Star.
  48. ^Rangers welcome Wolfpack
  49. ^"Aspiring rugby league talent nurtured by new Toronto Wolfpack player development system"..mmu.ac.uk.RetrievedJanuary 17,2019.
  50. ^"Toronto Wolfpack confirm 2023 return with nine fixtures announced at Lamport Stadium".June 20, 2023.
  51. ^"Canada Cup 2021: Toronto Wolfpack 42 – DC Cavalry 6".September 23, 2021.
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