97-598: The American National Rugby League ( AMNRL ) was the national governing body for rugby league in the United States from 1997 to 2014. The organization was responsible for running the domestic club competitions and the United States national rugby league team in addition to other responsibilities during its time of operation The organization was founded by Australian former professional player David Niu and throughout its existence gained recognition from
194-613: A Western American National Rugby League and development in other areas had been announced at various times. The USA Rugby League was announced on January 12, 2011. It was formed by seven teams formerly in the AMNRL, and became a competitor m and competition to the AMNRL. It held its inaugural season during the Summer of 2011, and in 2014 became the sole competition in the US following AMRL's collapse. The North American Rugby League ( NARL )
291-702: A 5 year contract to host matches at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada every March. The inaugural 2024 season event saw a double-header with the Sydney Roosters facing Brisbane Broncos and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles taking on South Sydney Rabbitohs . Tracing its origins to 1997, the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) was the United States' oldest rugby league competition. Eleven teams competed in
388-405: A High School Competition. Also AYRLA has created coaching courses that are geared for Americans and American youth. The American Youth Rugby League Association is responsible for the first American in history to be brought through a rugby league youth development program to play for a first grade side. In 2012, the AMNRL reached a partnership agreement with Grand Prix Rugby to broadcast and finance
485-614: A big success. An American side also made a short tour of France in early 1954, including a match against the France national team in Paris. France beat the United States 31–0. Mike Dimitro was still optimistic of developing the game in the United States, but his bid to host a Rugby League World Cup in the 1960s failed. In the 1970s former American football player Mike Mayer founded the United States Rugby League with
582-476: A coastal city, Norwalk is home to a great many water sports, including competitive swimming , recreational boating and fishing , sailing , windsurfing , and kayaking . The Norwalk River and inner Norwalk Harbor host rowing events and organizations. Norwalk resident Daniel Walsh won a bronze medal in Beijing with the U.S. Olympic rowing team in the 2008 Summer Olympics . Three golf courses are in
679-583: A crowd of 17,773. In 1991 Rugby World TV promoter John F. Morgan of Lake Placid, NY was petitioned by Rugby League Australia to bring a U.S. team to the Sydney 7s and in 1993 Morgan created the American Patriots who became a novel hit at the event. Morgan also acquired the TV rights to ARL competitions and aired them on his Rugby World TV program from 1991 to 1995. He also attempted to launch League in
776-535: A four- to six-team competition for Hawaii in partnership with the Hawaii Rugby League; teams in the development were Kona, Maui, Harlequins, Spears, Islanders, and University of Hawaii . On June 10, 2011, the Utah Avalanche of Salt Lake City, Utah , announced they were joining the AMNRL as a developing team. To date, they have not yet aligned with the new USA Rugby League Other plans for
873-559: A fourth exhibition match following the three 1987 State of Origin series matches in Long Beach, California . The result of this match was not to be included in official statistics, but in recent years the New South Wales Rugby League and media organizations based in that state have added the win to their tally. Promoters claimed the match drew 10,000 spectators, but detractors said it drew only about 7,000 and
970-408: A lack of club input and stability in the administration of the AMNRL as the main reason for forming the new competition. The departing clubs were New Haven Warriors , Jacksonville Axemen , Philadelphia Fight , Boston Thirteens , Pittsburgh Sledgehammers , Washington DC Slayers and Fairfax Eagles . The New Jersey Turnpike Titans and Rhode Island Rebellion were new teams that came into being as
1067-796: A new league, the USA Rugby League (USARL). Officials cited the lack of club involvement in the AMNRL's decision-making as the reason for the split; the USA Rugby League implemented a constituency which involved member clubs in its administration. The departing teams were the Boston 13s, the D.C. Slayers, the Fairfax Eagles, the Jacksonville Axemen, the New Haven Warriors, the Philadelphia Fight, and
SECTION 10
#17327872425371164-470: A result of the USA Rugby League's formation and served as founding clubs to the new competition. In retribution, the AMNRL used its position as the RLIF sanctioned U.S. body to overlook any USARL affiliated players from selection for U.S. national representative football. This enticed several players to abandon their local USARL club in the hope of representing the national team, such as Apple Pope . 2011 saw
1261-823: Is U.S. Route 7 , which is an expressway throughout most of the route in the city. The expressway section ends at Grist Mill Road in Norwalk from where Route 7 resumes northbound along Main Ave. Other state routes include Routes 53 , 123 , and 136 . Public transport bus service within Norwalk is provided by Norwalk Transit District . Norwalk Transit District operates fixed-route public bus service in Norwalk and Westport with evening and Sunday shuttles (serving South Norwalk, Main Avenue, and Connecticut Avenue) and commuter shuttles. Access to other cities through bus services Milford , Danbury , and Stamford. All fixed-route buses meet at
1358-650: Is a rugby league long discussed competition in the Midwest United States . In 2009 an organization named Midwest Rugby League was formed to promote rugby league in the Midwestern United States , and to operate the Stockyarders team from 2010 onwards. There has been significant difficulty establishing clubs close enough to Chicago to operate regular matches. According to estimates in 2022, there were 700 rugby league players in
1455-572: Is an unsanctioned rugby league club competition in North America . At launch, the league announced fourteen teams; twelve from United States and two from Canada. An inaugural season was planned for 2021 but was deferred until 2022 due to increased health and safety needs regarding COVID-19 and insurance and travel costs. The league will now launch with six foundation teams, five from the United States and former professional Super League member club Toronto Wolfpack from Canada. The first season
1552-618: Is dominated by its coastline along Long Island Sound, the Norwalk River and its eastern and western banks, and the Norwalk Islands . The highest elevation is 315 feet (96 m) above sea level on the fairway of the 16th hole of the Silvermine Golf Course, and the low elevation is sea level on Long Island Sound. As of the census of 2010, 85,603 people, 35,415 households, and 21,630 families resided in
1649-901: Is on the Danbury Branch. Metro-North provides commuter service for all four stations. The structure at 47 Wall Street was formerly the Wall Street station of the Danbury Branch, which operated from 1896 to 1936. The city's trolley system barn also operated on Wall Street. Norwalk is within reasonable distance of 11 airports - four general aviation, two regional, and five international. Electric power and natural gas in most of Norwalk are provided by Eversource Energy . The districts purchase wholesale power and arrange for its delivery to, and distribution within, their respective districts. Power lines and meters in East Norwalk , South Norwalk , and parts of Rowayton are maintained by
1746-629: Is represented in the United States Congress by one congressional representative (Democrat Jim Himes ) in the United States House of Representatives , and along with the rest of Connecticut, by two U.S. Senators (Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy ) in the United States Senate . Norwalk Public Schools operates public schools, while the community also has various private schools. Norwalk
1843-662: Is the law-writing body of the City of Norwalk. Norwalk's common council consists of fifteen council members, five elected at-large and ten elected by district , two from each district. Norwalk is represented in the Connecticut General Assembly by five House representatives corresponding to five Connecticut legislative districts and one senator from one Connecticut Senate district. Norwalk, which lies within Connecticut's 4th congressional district ,
1940-504: The 2010 AMNRL season , with seven departing after the season to form the USA Rugby League , currently the only domestic rugby league competition in the United States. Before the split and decline of the AMNRL, it had announced various plans for expansion. The Chicago Stockyarders team had announced it would be embarking on a full exhibition schedule for 2011, and had future plans to join the AMNRL. The AMNRL had also planned
2037-854: The 2011 season . Four of these teams, the Aston Bulls, the Connecticut Wildcats , the New York Knights , and the New York Raiders , played in the AMNRL the previous season. The Bucks County Sharks , who did not compete in the 2010 season, also rejoined the league in 2011. A sixth team, the Delaware Vipers, were announced in April 2011 and played during the season. Ostensibly based in Wilmington, Delaware ,
SECTION 20
#17327872425372134-645: The Brooklyn Kings RLFC joined the Northeastern conference. Meanwhile, the AMNRL competition failed to materialize in 2014 and, following the end of David Niu's long association with the sport, the AMNRL ceded their RLIF membership and folded as an organization, with the USARL being accepted as the sole governing body for the sport in November 2014 and the few remaining AMNRL teams being accepted into
2231-675: The Bucks County Sharks , suspended operations in 2010, while the Pittsburgh Vipers were added. In 2009, a new professional rugby league competition, the National Rugby League USA (NRLUS), was announced. The new league was to include administrators and talent from the AMNRL, and was intended to begin play in 2010. However, as of 2010 the league had not gotten off the ground, and officials announced their hopes that play would begin in 2011, citing
2328-733: The Financial Accounting Standards Board are also based in Norwalk. Norwalk has voted Democratic for president since 1992 , when the city voted for Bill Clinton . However, between 1928 and 1992, the city only voted Democratic twice: 1936 and 1964 . The City of Norwalk currently has six taxing districts. The First, Second, Third, and Sixth taxing districts are political entities with their respective voters electing officers, holding annual business meetings, approving budgets, and considering other matters, as specified in each of their charters. Election of Taxing District Commissioners and Treasurers by voters from
2425-676: The Long Island Sound . Norwalk lies within both the New York metropolitan area and the Bridgeport metropolitan area . Norwalk was originally settled in 1649, and is the sixth-most populous city in Connecticut . According to the 2020 United States Census , it has a population of 91,184. Roger Ludlow purchased the areas east of the Norwalk River from Chief Mahackemo of the Norwaake (or Naramauke) Indians in 1640. Norwalk
2522-729: The National Football League . However, Mayer was unable to find sufficient financial backing, and the league never got off the ground. In the 1980s interest in amateur rugby league began to grow. In 1986 a new competition, the Tri-Counties Rugby League, was established with three teams in Canada and one from the United States, the New York state -based Adirondacks club. In 1987 the Australian state teams of Queensland and New South Wales played
2619-503: The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) as the governing body for the sport in the United States. The domestic competition began with six teams competing and grew to eleven teams by 2010, with plans for westward expansion. On January 12, 2011, a schism occurred with seven teams departing the AMNRL to form the USA Rugby League (USARL), a rival governing body. In the years that followed,
2716-641: The Rugby League World Cup qualification process for the first time, as they participated unsuccessfully in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup qualifying tournament. However, a dispute involving the British Rugby Football League led to financial difficulties and internal strife within the USRL. Florida has hosted rugby league games in the past, the state was the host to 1999 North Pacific Qualification Tournament, where
2813-521: The football , basketball, soccer , and field hockey teams in the fall, as well as lacrosse , baseball , and softball teams in the spring. Brien McMahon High School's football team won the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference and Class M State Football championship in 1994. McMahon High School's boys' lacrosse team won the state division 2 lacrosse championship in 2000. Norwalk
2910-520: The late 2000s recession as a factor in the league's lack of progress. In November 2010 the U.S. announced a strategic plan to grow the sport in the country with grass roots development, expansion and world cup qualification in sight. The start of 2011 saw a schism in American rugby league, with seven sides leaving the AMNRL to form a new competition, the USA Rugby League . The departing clubs cited
3007-485: The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th districts take place in odd-numbered years. The Fourth and Fifth districts are not counted as separate governments, as they constitute the city proper. Each taxing district has its own property tax rate reflecting the mix of services each receives from the city. Secondly, municipal elections of mayor, common council, board of education, and other positions are also held in odd-numbered years at 13 polling places within five voting districts around
American National Rugby League - Misplaced Pages Continue
3104-646: The 2006 competition. A Chicago team is also going through various stages of development with possible inclusion in the USARL in the future. 2006 saw further expansion as the league added a first Southern club in Jacksonville Axemen , while further Northeastern clubs were added in New Haven Warriors, and the Boston Braves. The Fairfax Eagles joined the competition in 2007, and the Boston Thirteens joined in 2009. Another founder member,
3201-456: The 2013 season, though it continued to organize games for the national team, including the U.S.'s first ever appearance at the Rugby League World Cup in 2013 , in which the Tomahawks reached the quarter-finals. The split between the leagues cost the U.S. its automatic qualification to the 2017 World Cup . In August 2014, the AMNRL announced it would cease operations to end the rift and allow
3298-580: The 2020s include the Chicago Stockyarders and Cleveland Rugby League . The USARL as of 2021 plans to expand in all formats of the game such as Wheelchair rugby league , Masters Rugby League and Women's rugby league . In 2021, a break-away competition was form, the North American Rugby League (NARL). However, to date, only one match of the competition was ever played. In 2022, The Commission for Rugby League in
3395-423: The 35,415 households, 27.9% had children under 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were not families. About 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size in the city was 2.55, and the average family size was 3.16. The age distribution
3492-481: The AMNRL as the sole rugby league body in the United States. The AMNRL was affiliated with the Rugby League International Federation , the sport's world governing body, through Super League America. Expansion of the domestic league became a major goal for the organization, and new teams were added every few years. The Wilmington Vikings (later the New York Raiders) joined the competition in 2002, bringing
3589-800: The AMNRL considered them successors to the Media Mantarays , who played in the competition from 2000–2006. In 2011 the AMNRL launched a Hawaii-based competition in partnership with the Hawaii Rugby League. The AMNRL dubbed this the "Pacific Conference", while the East Coast-based competition was named the "Atlantic Conference". Teams listed in the Pacific Conference as of July 16, 2011 are the Hawaii Islanders, Honolulu Titans, Kalihi Raiders, Marist Marauders, Maui Voyagers, and Tama Suma Ie. However, as of that time, only
3686-651: The AMNRL suffered from competition with the USARL , and did not host a domestic competition after the 2013 season, though it continued to organize international team games. The organization folded in 2014, with USARL becoming the recognized body for rugby league in the USA. The roots of the American National Rugby League date to 1997, when Super League America was formed to organize a national team , establish an amateur domestic competition, and build
3783-504: The Boston Post Road, but the completion of the line is hoped to help provide additional power to lower Fairfield County. In addition a high-voltage undersea line runs from Manressa Island to Long Island to help provide electric power to Long Island Power Authority customers. In 2008 the city government of Norwalk started initial investigations of whether the city might resume generating power for sale to electricity customers in
3880-530: The East, Midwest, West and Southwest. A further two teams were announced to be joining the league on January 13 – the Las Vegas Warriors and Colorado Blizzard were announced to be part of a Western Conference as well as new teams forming from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Delaware Valley Mantarays merged with Philadelphia Bulldogs in 2006. The AMNRL considers the Delaware Vipers to be successors to
3977-731: The Grand Final. All six teams advanced to the playoffs, which consisted of a three-round single-elimination tournament , with the Grand Final winners receiving the championship title. One of signature events in the AMNRL's domestic schedule was the War at the Shore. The event, held annually in Sea Isle City, New Jersey , generally consisted of full 13-a-side and rugby league sevens games between AMNRL teams, local and national representative sides , and developmental teams. Six teams played in
American National Rugby League - Misplaced Pages Continue
4074-630: The MVP. Performance is not only measured by individual feats but also the influence that player has had on the performance of his respective team. Every season to date has seen an individual awarded the MVP excluding the 2005 season where both Andrew Webster and Erik Hollingsworth were awarded the Most Valuable player after they finished with equal points. Rugby league in the United States While rugby league has been played in
4171-467: The Mantarays. Largest victory : Jacksonville Axemen 90 – 8 Philadelphia Fight (2006) At the conclusion of each season , the title of Most Valuable Player is awarded to the individual who accumulates the most points via a voting system that is undertaken after every game. Each official at the conclusion of a regular-season fixture awards either three, two or one points for the most deserving players on game day; these points are then added up to determine
4268-435: The Marist, Maui, Tama Sulu, and Kalihi teams had played games, and had not played consistently. In addition, other teams competed in AMNRL-sponsored tournaments. The Chicago Stockyarders played two rugby league nines games in 2010. On June 10, 2011, the Utah Avalanche of Salt Lake City , Utah, announced they were joining the AMNRL as a developing team. The Avalanche were formed in early 2011 and were previously aligned with
4365-441: The Norwalk Little League team won the Little League World Series in 1952 . The 14-year-old Babe Ruth League team won the championship in 2008. In 2010, the 12-year-old Norwalk all-star team made it to the Cal Ripken League World Series and placed third in the country. In 2011, the Norwalk Senior American Legion baseball team won the Connecticut state championship. This had not been accomplished by any other Norwalk Legion team in
4462-417: The Pennsylvania Raiders, with Glen Mills winning the inaugural championship. Boston and Pennsylvania later dropped out of the league, while the remaining four teams continued to play under the guidance of Super League America. In 2000, Super League America announced a reorganization; the league headquarters were moved to Jacksonville, Florida , with Jacksonville-based marketing executive Steve Gormley serving as
4559-460: The Pittsburgh Vipers (later the Pittsburgh Sledgehammers). Five of these teams (all except Fairfax and Pittsburgh), along with three new teams, participated in the USARL's inaugural 2011 season . The AMNRL struggled over the next few years due to the competition from the USARL. The RLIF stepped in to work with the leagues toward an ultimate goal of reunification, but were unable to find a solution. The AMNRL put its domestic competition on hiatus after
4656-454: The Third Taxing District installed 3 diesel powered generators at the Norden complex on Norden Place that were initially licensed only for emergency power supply. By summer 2008 the generators, with a combined capacity of 6 Megawatts, had been upgraded to allow licensed operation as regular power providers for the grid (not just emergency power). In 2007 and 2008 the construction of the Middletown-Norwalk transmission line disrupted traffic along
4753-435: The Transportation Hub. The Metro-North Railroad 's New Haven Line runs through and stops in Norwalk. The train goes west and east, with Grand Central Terminal and New Haven Union Station being the final stops. The Danbury Branch runs from South Norwalk to Danbury, CT . Four stations are in Norwalk, three of them on the main line which is: Rowayton , South Norwalk and East Norwalk . The fourth station, Merritt 7 ,
4850-406: The U.S. and convinced the RFL to send an Ireland Team to the U.S. for St. Patrick's Day matches in 1995 and 1996. The games were staged at RFK Stadium and televised live by ESPN2 in 1995 and delayed in 1996. In 1992 former St George Dragons player David Niu moved to Philadelphia and began to introduce rugby league to the Glen Mills Schools , where he was employed as a teacher. Soon after, he
4947-437: The U.S. beat both Japan and Canada to meet Lebanon for the right to play in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup . Orlando 's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex hosted the Tomahawks's test against England , for the latter's 2000 World Cup warm up game. It ended 110–0 to the away team. In 2001, Florida was also host to the Sunshine State Challenge, where the United States competed against Huddersfield , Halifax and Leeds ,
SECTION 50
#17327872425375044-405: The USARL competition. In 2016, the U.S. was awarded the 2025 Rugby League World Cup along with co-host, neighbors Canada . However, plans for the World Cup to be held in the U.S. and Canada were scrapped on December 4, 2018, due to financial concerns and that the location of the 2025 Rugby League World Cup would be determined by a new bidding process in 2019. Current expansion franchises as of
5141-423: The USARL to seek status as the national governing body. From 1998 through 2013, member teams of the domestic competition competed in a Grand Final for the league championship. The winning team received the "Ferrainola Cup", named for American rugby league promoter Sam Ferrainola. Beginning in 2011 , the AMNRL season consisted of an eight-round, seven-game regular season followed by a playoffs series culminating in
5238-472: The USARL, playing in a USARL rugby league nines tournament in Philadelphia in May. In June 2011 they announced they were re-aligning with the AMNRL. On November 26, 2011 the AMNRL announced that the Northern Virginia Eagles , formerly the Fairfax Eagles, would be reforming and joining the competition. In the new year the AMNRL released its 2011 review and announced its "Road to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup " which includes launching teams and competitions in
5335-467: The United States happened over the Norwalk River . During the 19th and early 20th century, Norwalk was a major railroad stop for the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad . The city of South Norwalk and the remaining parts of the town of Norwalk were both combined in 1910 to form the current city. The Ku Klux Klan had a brief presence in Norwalk during the 1920s, but quickly fell apart due to internal issues. In 1955, multiple hurricanes hit
5432-449: The United States (USARLC) was established and claimed that it had the agreement of the International Rugby League (IRL) to become the governing body for rugby league in the United States . The IRL issued a statement refuting the claim made by USARLC stating that they (IRL) had had no contact with USARLC and that USARL remains the sole IRL member in the United States. In August 2023, Australia's National Rugby League competition signed
5529-466: 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,
5626-561: The United States. In 2011 The American Youth Rugby League Association was formed as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. The goals of the American Youth Rugby League Association otherwise known as AYRLA are dedicated to introducing the sport to youth throughout the United States. AYRLA has formed a partnership with Rugby League Clubs in the U.S. most Notably the Rhode Island Rebellion and the Philadelphia Fight, in efforts to launch youth competitions and clinics in schools and towns, utilizing players coaches and administrators of local club's to run
5723-409: The city of Norwalk: Shorehaven Golf Club is a private club in East Norwalk, the Silvermine Golf Club is a private club in Silvermine (part of the course lies in the town of Wilton), and the Oak Hills Park golf course is a public course in West Norwalk. The cross-town rivalry between the city's two largest high schools, Norwalk High School and Brien McMahon High School , is fierce, particularly for
5820-405: The city, causing flooding in Norwalk Harbor . During the 1970s, efforts were taken to historically preserve South Norwalk, resulting in the creation of the Washington Street Historic District . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 36.3 square miles (94 km ), of which 13.5 square miles (35 km ) (37.24%) are covered by water. Norwalk's topography
5917-427: The city. Voting districts are not the same for state and federal elections, which are held on even-numbered years at 12 polling locations. Norwalk's municipal government is a weak-mayor form of a mayor-council government with the mayor of Norwalk elected by its voters. The city's charter gives certain administrative powers exclusively to the council and others jointly to the Council and Mayor. The Common Council
SECTION 60
#17327872425376014-403: The city. The population density was 2,358.2 inhabitants per square mile (910.5/km ). The 35,415 housing units had an average density of 975.6 per square mile (376.7/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 68.7% White, 14.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.8% Asian, 9.1% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 24.3% of the population. Of
6111-407: The clubs conforming to the new sport consisted of Northern English towns. Whilst the new form of rugby was taken to countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and France, American rugby continued to be played solely under rugby union rules. The sport was eclipsed by American football and was confined to California by the time of the 1920 Olympics. In 1939, the Californian Rugby Football Union wrote to
6208-416: The competition in 2007, and the Boston Thirteens joined in 2009. Another charter franchise, the Bucks County Sharks, suspended operations in 2010, while the Pittsburgh Vipers were added. In 2010, the AMNRL entered into a relationship with the Star Group to rebrand the league, its assets, and its teams. In 2012, the AMNRL entered into a partnership arrangement with Grand Prix Entertainment to promote and grow
6305-416: 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. In 2011, a new domestic competition, the USARL , began. Games related to rugby football (now rugby union ) were played in the United States in
6402-410: The creation of a new, fully professional league, the National Rugby League USA (NRLUS), which originally hoped to launch in 2010. The AMNRL would serve as an amateur and semi-professional feeder league for the new competition. However, the new league never got off the ground, with officials blaming the Great Recession . On January 12, 2011, seven teams announced they were breaking with the AMNRL to form
6499-428: The creation of the American Youth Rugby League Association. The sole concern of AYRLA is introducing the sport to American youth. Since 2011, the American Youth Rugby League Association has created and administered summer camps and clinics in addition to a Middle School Flag Competition, A U23 Tackle Competition, A Training School Program (youth prison), a U23 Representative Side dubbed the 'AYRLA Americans', and as of 2014
6596-401: The day to day programs. The American Youth Rugby League Association have created Middle School, U23 and as of 2014 High School Competitions. Additionally AYRLA has created and assist run summer camps and clinics. For a history look here Norwalk, Connecticut Norwalk is a city located in Western Connecticut , United States, in southern Fairfield County , on the northern shore of
6693-479: The districts. Both the second (SNEW) and third (TTD) district electric departments belong to the six member Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative which pools their wholesale power purchasing to obtain lower rates for their customers. Connecticut Light and Power (now Eversource Energy) operated a power plant, Norwalk Harbor Station on Manresa Island , from 1960 to 1999 when it was acquired by NRG Energy , which then began its deactivation in 2013. In 2004
6790-538: The early 19th century. During this time the sports had no fixed rules, and were particularly popular in universities and college preparatory schools in the Northeastern United States. The sport of American football evolved from these intercollegiate games. Meanwhile, in Huddersfield , England a schism developed in rugby football between those who favored strict amateurism and those who felt that players should be compensated for time taken off work to play rugby. Many Northern English industrial towns tended to be poorer,
6887-500: The game in the USA, in return for ownership of the league and TV rights to World Cup matches in 2013. This led to complications regarding the ownership of the league. The AMNRL announced various plans for future expansion at different times. Beginning in 2001 the league announced plans for a Western American National Rugby League (WAMNRL) to develop the sport on the West Coast of the United States . The AMNRL has revisited these plans several times since. In 2009 league officials announced
6984-606: The governing body of rugby league, the Rugby Football League , to tell them they wanted to switch from rugby union and affiliate to the RFL. In June 1939, the RFL made plans to send a delegation out to California but were unable to do so due to the outbreak of World War II . One of the earliest attempts to introduce rugby league to the United States was in 1953, when Mike Dimitro, a wrestling promoter and former UCLA football all star and NFL Rams player ( 1947 draft ),
7081-423: The intention of forming the country's first professional rugby league competition. Between 1976 and 1978, Mayer secured franchising rights from the British Rugby Football League and attempted to attract funding from British and Australian promoters to help establish a twelve-team professional competition. The proposed league would have chiefly relied on attracting American football players who could not make it in
7178-410: The mid-1990s, rugby league promoters including Australian-American Niu worked to promote the game domestically, and in 1997 the first rugby league organizing body, Super League America (later renamed America National Rugby League (AMNRL)), was formed, with Niu as its head. Super League America was recognized as the official governing body for the sport by the Rugby League International Federation , and
7275-538: The miniature tournament drew a crowd of 6,700. In 2005, an exhibition match was played in Phoenix, Arizona , to help promote rugby league outside the heartland. Plans were announced to start a west coast competition called the WAMNRL in Summer 2011. In 2006, a new team joined the AMNRL from Boston, which played an exhibition match in 2005. Teams from New Haven (Connecticut) and Jacksonville (Florida) also joined
7372-583: The northeastern branch. The organization was renamed the United States Rugby League , and set its sights on expanding into the Southeastern United States and attracting British rugby league teams to Florida for training camps and international competitions. The USRL was successful in attracting foreign teams and advanced the U.S. national team to the Rugby League World Cup qualifiers for the first time; however, it
7469-661: The number of teams back up to six. The following year the Connecticut Wildcats of Norwalk, Connecticut and the Washington D.C. Slayers joined. In 2006 the league expanded once again to include the Jacksonville Axemen , the New Haven Warriors , and the Boston Braves . After the end of the season, however, the Boston Braves folded, and two charter teams, the Media Mantarays and the Philadelphia Fight, announced they were merging. The Fairfax Eagles joined
7566-553: The organization's new president. Niu would serve as CEO and maintain the northeastern branch in Philadelphia . The organization was renamed the United States Rugby League, and set its sights on expanding into the Southeastern United States and attracting British rugby league teams to Florida for training camps and international competitions. The USRL was successful in entering the U.S. national team into
7663-514: The others later formed the core of the AMNRL. Super League America organized the domestic competition in 1998 and 1999; the Glen Mills Bulls were declared league champions in both years. In December 1999, Super League America announced a reorganization. The league headquarters moved to Jacksonville, Florida , with Jacksonville marketing executive Steve Gormley made the organization's new president; David Niu would serve as CEO and maintain
7760-415: The sport in the United States. The organization was initially established by Rupert Murdoch 's News Corporation in an attempt to spread rugby league to the United States. The organization was run by former professional player David Niu , who had come to Philadelphia in 1992 and had been active in promoting the sport there. Super League America's domestic competition began its inaugural season in 1998, and
7857-538: The sport within the United States, in the lead up to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup . During this period, the USARL looked to consolidate its domestic competition while the AMNRL struggled domestically, with only New York Knights and Connecticut Wildcats maintaining regular competition under the AMNRL banner. In 2014, the USARL announced the formation of a Southern conference, with the Atlanta Rhinos and Central Florida Warriors among participating teams, while
7954-528: The storied 83-year history. The team defeated Branford, Connecticut, in the championship game. The girls' Norwalk Pride fast-pitch softball team won the Connecticut state championship in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The Norwalk Biddy Basketball All-Star team Won the state and regional titles and then went on to the world championships in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1986 and placed seventh in the world. Being
8051-532: The tour, against a Sydney side, drew a crowd of 65,453 to the Sydney Cricket Ground . After a consistent lack of competition, crowds were good but never reached the same heights. In turn, the tour did not bring any benefits to American rugby league, but Mike Dimitro did not give up, he was able to organize two exhibitions against Australia and New Zealand in California that did not turn out to be
8148-475: The working class players often working in industries that had long hours of manual labour for which they would not get paid for time off. Amateur status for players in these towns was therefore not just financially difficult, but also physically demanding due to the nature of their work. In 1895 this resulted in the formation of a break-away professional sport, rugby league , the rules of the two codes of rugby ( union and league) would themselves diverge. The bulk of
8245-669: Was 22% under 18, with 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 76,161, and for a family was $ 103,032. The per capita income for the city was $ 43,303. About 5.7% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over. Booking Holdings , Datto , FactSet , Pepperidge Farm , Priceline.com , Terex , Ventus , and Xerox have headquarters in Norwalk. The Financial Accounting Foundation and
8342-486: Was asked to organize a tour of Australasia by an American rugby league side. The team was given a huge schedule that included 26 matches against Australian and New Zealand sides. None of the 22 American players had ever played rugby league prior to the tour, and they presented themselves in American football -like attire early on in the tournament. The side won only six games as well as drawing two. Their second match of
8439-651: Was contacted by Morgan and they set about building a U.S. national team with Niu as player coach to compete in international tournaments for the first time. Morgan also hosted a few U.S.-Canada matches and a U.S.-Russia match at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco in 1996. Niu took over for Morgan after the 96 season. Under Niu's leadership the United States competed in the Super League World Nines (1996, 1997), Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament ( 2000 and Victory Cup (2003, 2004) competitions. In
8536-1082: Was contested by six teams all in the Northeastern United States: the Glen Mills Bulls (later the Aston Bulls), the New Jersey Sharks (now the Bucks County Sharks in the USARL), the New York Broncos (now the New York Knights in the USARL), the Philadelphia Bulldogs (now the Philadelphia Fight in the USARL), the Boston Storm, and the Pennsylvania Raiders. The Boston and Pennsylvania teams soon dropped out;
8633-485: Was established in the 1670s was located near the Ludlow Square area of East Norwalk (near the former Roger Ludlow Junior High School). Baseball and softball are popular amateur sports with active leagues across many age groups in Norwalk. Four baseball fields and 16 Little League fields are in the city. Several of the fields, including Calf Pasture Beach , are illuminated for nighttime play. The fields at
8730-545: Was granted a town charter by the Connecticut General Court in 1651. On May 29, 1678, town records mention the establishment of community-supported teaching activities with a passage that reads: "'At a town meeting... voted and agreed to hier a scole master to teach all the children in ye town to lerne to Rede and write; and that Mr. Cornish shall be hierd for that service and the townsmen are to hier him upon as reasonable terms as they can." The school that
8827-539: Was in charge of organizing the national team and establishing a domestic competition. The domestic competition kicked off in 1998 and was contested by six team; the Glen Mills Bulls (later the Aston Bulls), the New Jersey Sharks (later the Bucks County Sharks ), the New York Broncos (later the New York Knights ), the Philadelphia Bulldogs (now the Philadelphia Fight ), the Boston Storm, and
8924-726: Was not a financial success. Meanwhile, Mayer had continued to promote rugby league. His efforts resulted in establishing a national team to play a match against Canada in 1987; this would be the U.S.' first international match since the 1950s. The following year he was involved in promoting an exhibition game between the English teams the Wigan Warriors and the Warrington Wolves at County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin . Wigan defeated Warrington 12–5, in front of
9021-463: Was once the home of the Connecticut Wildcats , part of the American National Rugby League , from 2003 to 2015. Norwalk is the home of National Havoc Robot League , a robot combat competition which holds tournaments six times a year. News sources in Norwalk include News 12 Connecticut , a regional news channel for southwestern Connecticut and based in Norwalk. The Hour was an independent daily newspaper based in Norwalk and founded in 1871, which
9118-520: Was purchased by Hearst Communications on April 12, 2016. NancyonNorwalk.com is a self-published, nonprofit news site founded in 2010 that covers local issues. Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway lead through Norwalk, with several exits within the Norwalk city limits, and are the major thoroughfare through the city. U.S. Route 1 goes through the center of the city, mostly following local streets. The major north–south corridor in Norwalk
9215-614: Was settled in 1649, incorporated September 1651, and named after the Algonquin word noyank , meaning "point of land", or more probably from the Native American name "Naramauke". The Battle of Norwalk took place during the Revolutionary War, and led to the burning of most of the town. In 1836, the borough of Norwalk was created, covering the central area of the town. In 1853, the first ever train disaster in
9312-522: Was soon beset by internal strife. Complications over a deal with the British Rugby Football League led to a dispute that bankrupted the USRL. In the midst of the dispute, in May 2001 the five domestic teams announced they would form a new organization, the American National Rugby League, with Niu as its head. Later that year Gormley sold the USRL's assets to the Rugby Football League, leaving
9409-563: Was supposed to kick off on May 21, 2022, but failed to do so. A pre-season game was played in June and an announced start for September for the competition with even more reduced sides. This also failed to start. The Championship Rugby League (CRL) was introduced in December 2022. It was not affiliated with USARL . It began play in December 2022 and played through April 2023. It ceased operations at that point. The Midwest Rugby League ( MWRL )
#536463