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Good luck to them. The USA is a very competitive sporting marketplace.
Here's a link to the new league's website: http://www.nrlus.com/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/spor...5006066,00.html
FAST forward to America's Independence Day, 2010. Fireworks light up the sky, The Star Spangled Banner blares around the field - and a game of rugby league breaks out. And not just any game, but the first US Grand Final featuring players who are household names in the NRL.
This isn't a pipe dream, it's going to happen, with a US professional rugby league competition to be announced within weeks.
After almost 40 years of trying, rugby league is about to kick off in the Land of Opportunity.
Competition commissioner and former St George halfback David Niu told The Daily Telegraph that the US league would kick off on March 12 next year and the championship final would be played on July 4, Independence Day.
It will involve eight teams from eight different cities and each club will have a 22-man playing roster for a tournament to be played over 14 weeks - seven home games and seven away matches.
Franchises are already set for Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Jacksonville and Boston.
"We want to build a comp and we might only have one chance here to develop a professional game," Niu said.
"It would give players the chance to play league outside Europe.
"We would be looking at players towards the end of their careers, players who have maybe been internationals. We could offer a new experience. They could help grow a new sport in a different country."
Niu believes attracting top-level coaches from Australia was crucial.
"We want world-class coaches," Niu said. "The players over here have tremendous raw talent but some of the skills are missing. But there are athletes everywhere."
Brian Lowe, from American Rugby News, believes rugby league would be a hit in the US after rugby union's failure to break into the market.
"The fact of the matter is that while league possesses all the qualities the football fan craves, it's also a much faster game with fewer stoppages," Lowe said.
"Although those purists might not like to hear it, rugby union is way too stop-start, it's way too over-officiated, and it has become a kick-fest. Rugby league, on the other hand, offers end-to-end action, big hits, and for the most part is played at breakneck speed."
Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley would love to play a season in the US.
"A lot of blokes would jump at the chance to play in America," he said.
"It would be awesome."[/b]
Good luck to them. The USA is a very competitive sporting marketplace.