The United States looks to be in the driver's seat to host regional qualification for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) is encouraged by the positive growth of the 13-man code in North America and the Caribbean.
The American National Rugby League has just completed a successful 13th year of competition; the game is re-establishing itself in Canada and Jamaica is emerging as a genuine Rugby League nation.
The first annual Colonial Cup is set to be played between the USA and Canada on September 19 in Kingston, ON, and the Rugby League Atlantic Cup will be played in Jacksonville, FL, in November.
On top of that, all three countries are looking at pathways to qualification for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup to be staged in the UK.
To that end, RLIF Development Manager Tas Baiteri made an official visit to the US to review those pathways and was buoyed by the potential.
“I see there being a pool here in America, or an Atlantic country, where we will host a knockout qualification phase where up to six countries, including Japan, will come to,” Baiteri tells ARN.
“The winner of that qualification process will earn the 13th spot in the 2013 World Cup, which will be reserved for 14 teams. We’ve got 12 locked in, two spots are vacant and this Atlantic qualification will take up one of those spots.”
The RLIF is well aware that it has a lot of work to do to bring Rugby League to the forefront in the USA and Canada as both countries have roots in Rugby Union, although according to Baiteri it’s not as daunting as it might seem.
“I think our sport is quite unique. It’s a tremendous gladiator style of sport,” he says. “People love to see two teams confront one another, both in an offensive and defensive manner the way that we do.
“You can’t compare it to American Football or Rugby Union. It’s got its own fine rules and regulations and I think it’s got a place here in the US sports scene.
“Rugby League is a niche sport and I’d like to see many Americans try it.”
The game has become more global in recent times with the RLIF now operating in 35 new countries.
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was broadcast to 125 countries, which has since generated a growing demand for the RLIF to help establish the game where, in some cases, Union previously had a foothold.
