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New York Knights (rugby league)

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New York Knights
Club information
Full nameNew York Knights
Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Knight
Founded1997; 27 years ago (1997)
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOUnited States Robert Balachandran
CoachFrance Guillaume Cieutat[2]
CompetitionUSA Rugby League
Records
Runners-up1 (USARL) (2017)

The New York Knights are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in New York City. The team currently plays in the USA Rugby League. They play their home games at Pier 40 in Hudson River Park.

Originally known as the New York Broncos, the team was founded in 1997 and joined the league eventually known as the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) for its inaugural 1998 season. They adopted their current name in 2001 after forming a team partnership with the Newcastle Knights of Australia's National Rugby League, who sent them jerseys. The Knights competed in the AMNRL until it folded in 2014, and joined the USARL the following year. In the AMNRL they won season championships in 2002, 2009, 2011, and 2012.

History

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The team was founded in 1997. Originally known as the New York Broncos, they joined Super League America, the predecessor to the modern American National Rugby League, for its inaugural 1998 season. In 2001 the Knights and other teams in the competition departed to form the AMNRL. All teams formed a partnership with teams in Australia's National Rugby League. New York formed a partnership with the Newcastle Knights, who sent them Knights jerseys; the team subsequently changed their name to the New York Knights.[4][5]

The Knights advanced to the AMNRL Grand Final in 2002. A serious thunderstorm interrupted the game, and the Knights, who were leading perennial champions the Glen Mills Bulls 18-12, were declared winners.[5] This was the first time any team besides the Bulls had taken the Grand Final. The Knights made several other playoff appearances, and defeated the Jacksonville Axemen to win the 2009 AMNRL Grand Final. The Knights have provided a total of nine players to the United States national rugby league team to date, as well as one to Japan.[6]

The Knights remained in the AMNRL until it folded in 2014. The following year they joined the USA Rugby League, along with other surviving AMNRL clubs.[7]

Uniform and colors

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Since 2001 the Knights have based their uniforms and team colors on those of the Newcastle Knights of the NRL, due to their team partnership. Following Newcastle their colors are white, red and blue, and the uniforms are predominantly blue.[8] For the 2006 and 2007 seasons the club's major jersey sponsor was Guinness.[9]

Stadium

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The Knights currently use the Pier 40, Hudson River Park Stadium in Hudson River Park as their home ground.[10] The stadium is sometimes referred to as The Castle because of the architecture and surrounding river, give the park a Castle like appearance.[11]

Current season

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The Knights finished the 2016 conference season with a record of 7-1. They will play the winners of Boston 13s v Brooklyn Kings in the Playoffs[12]

Current 2019 roster

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Notable players

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Honors

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2002, 2009, 2011, 2012
2001
2016

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Image: 051205APhoto01.jpg". ussoccerfoundation.org. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  2. ^ "New York Knights RLFC". newyorkknightsrugby.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "Home | Hudson River Park Trust". hudsonriverpark.org. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  4. ^ David Hundt (May 4, 2001). "Who's in control?". 13world.com. rivals.net. Archived from the original on July 28, 2002. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Nick Walshaw (September 4, 2002). "First-Year Knights Win Yankee Comp". Rugby League World. rivals.net. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  6. ^ "New York Knights". amnrl.com. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  7. ^ "USA Rugby League Season V announced with 14 teams". www.usarl.com. USA Rugby League. January 23, 2015. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  8. ^ "Image: 717673666108_0_BG.jpg". newyorkknightsrugby.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Image: 364353666108_0_BG.jpg". newyorkknightsrugby.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  10. ^ "Image: ACFPier40Field.jpg". ussoccerfoundation.org. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  11. ^ "New York Knights RLFC". newyorkknightsrugby.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  12. ^ "USARL | USA Rugby League | American Rugby League « Schedule". Archived from the original on 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
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Official websites
News sites
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