New Haven Warriors

New Haven Warriors
Club information
Full nameNew Haven Warriors
Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Warriors
Colours  Black
  Grey
Founded2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Exited2013; 11 years ago (2013)
Former details
Ground(s)
CompetitionUSA Rugby League
Records
Premierships1 (AMNRL) (2008 (AMNRL))
Runners-up2 (1 USARL, 1 AMNRL) (2011 (USARL), 2010 (AMNRL))
Minor premierships1 (AMNRL) (2010)

The New Haven Warriors were a rugby league football team based in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. They played in the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) from 2006 to 2010 and in the USA Rugby League (USARL) from 2011 to 2012 before withdrawing. They played their home games at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven, Connecticut.

The team was established in 2006 as an AMNRL expansion team. In 2011 they became one of seven clubs that withdrew from the AMNRL to form the new USA Rugby League. The Warriors won the 2008 AMNRL Championship and made playoff appearances every year from 2006 to 2011, advancing to the AMNRL Grand Final in 2010 and the USARL Grand Final in 2011. They were named for the New Zealand professional club the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League.[2]

History

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AMNRL

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The club was founded for the 2006 AMNRL season by Adam Hamon, Blair Wards, Chris Willey and Tony Feasey. The Warriors management later consisted of Adam Hamon (chairman), Brian Lee (Marketing and Sponsorship), Chris Yergan (Treasurer), Bill West and Ed Reed (IT), and executive committee members Tony Feasey, Siose Muliumu. In their debut AMNRL season the Warriors side had an impressive inaugural year finishing 5th and within the top tier bracket of the competition and qualifying for the playoff series; however, they would eventually be knocked out by the New York Knights in a close encounter that finished 26–22.

In 2007 the club again finished 5th and again faced the New York Knights in the playoffs to the final. This time they won 34–8 but were eliminated by their interstate rivals and eventual champions the Connecticut Wildcats in the semifinals 42–18. The Warriors earned the reputation as the most physical side in the AMNRL, and includes several Maori and Polynesian players from New Zealand. In 2008, the club won the Grand Final, beating the Aston Bulls 50–18 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. They advanced through the semifinal by beating the Connecticut Wildcats 40–34.

USARL

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On January 12, 2011, New Haven became one of seven teams to break away from the AMNRL and form the new USA Rugby League.[3][4][5] After finishing fourth in the regular season and advancing to the playoffs, the Warriors achieved an upset win over the minor premiers Jacksonville Axemen to secure a championship final berth against the Philadelphia Fight. They were defeated by Philadelphia in the USARL's inaugural Grand Final.

New Haven finished seventh of eight teams in 2012, missing the playoffs. They were initially announced as competing in 2013, but withdrew before the season, along with Oneida FC of Boston.[6]

USARL season summaries

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C=Champions, R=Runners-Ups, F=Finished first, P=Playoff Appearance, L=Finished Last
(Brackets Represent Playoff Games)
Competition Games
Played		 Games
Won		 Games
Drawn		 Games
Lost		 Ladder
Position		 C R F P L Coach Captain Notes
2011 USARL season 8 (1) 5 (0) 0 3 (0) 4/8 R P Siose Muliumu
2012 USARL season 8 (0) 1 (0) 0 7 (0) 7/8 Siose Muliumu

Uniform and colors

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Team badge used until 2010

For their inaugural American National Rugby League season the club adopted the colors of navy blue, green and white stripe design characteristic of the old style vintage rugby league jerseys. The warriors later sport the reverse colors of their affiliate club, the New Zealand Warriors, who played in grey and black.[7]

Stadium

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The Warriors home ground was Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School in West Haven, Connecticut.[1]

Statistics and records

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Biggest winning margin

Margin Score Opponent Venue Date
76 76 - 0 Northern Raiders Andrews Field June 14, 2008 (Rd 2)

Biggest losing margin

Margin Score Opponent Venue Date
16 40 - 24 Connecticut Wildcats Jonathan Law Stadium June 30, 2007 (Rd 5)

Most points for the club

Player Points Years M
Siose Muliumu 28 (6 tries) 2006 5 *

Most points in a match

Points Player Opponent Venue Date Score
36 (3 tries/12 conversions) Luke Carr Northern Raiders Andrews Field Round 2, 2008 76 - 0
16 (2 tries/4 goals) Steve Scanlan Boston Braves Saunders Stadium Round 7, 2006 32 - 18
8 (2 tries) Siose Muliumu Connecticut Wildcats Depew Park Round 4, 2006 22 - 42
8 (2 tries) Siose Muliumu Boston Braves Saunders Stadium Round 7, 2006 32 - 18
8 (2 tries) Siose Muliumu Connecticut Wildcats Dealy Field Round 9, 2006 26 - 32
8 (2 tries) Blair Wards Boston Braves Saunders Stadium Round 7, 2006 32 - 18

Honors

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2006 - 1/4 finalists

2007 - semifinalists

2008 - Grand Final Winners

2009 - semifinalists

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b http://newhavenwarriors.net/news/2010/5/68/ [dead link]
  2. ^ AMNRL – American National Rugby League
  3. ^ Mascord, Steve (12 January 2011). "Discord 2011: Edition 2". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  4. ^ "New Rugby League Competition Announced". rugbymag.com. Rugby Magazine. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Breakaway league launched in the US". code13rugbyleague.com. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  6. ^ "2013 seasons predictions – Who will win?". usarl.com. USA Rugby League. 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  7. ^ New Haven Warriors Rugby League – New Haven CT Rugby
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