RFL receive New York team application  

A New York-based team has applied to join the Rugby Football League in 2019.

Talks have already taken place with some Super League clubs to take a competitive game to New York if the application is accepted.

A team of unnamed investors have pledged to invest $10million to get the franchise to become the second Transatlantic team behind Toronto Wolfpack into the professional ranks.

It is believed that the consortium behind the New York outfit would be prepared to start in League 1, like the Wolfpack did this season before gaining promotion to the Championship.

Toronto had an average attendance of 7,000 in their inaugural season and have proved to be a success both on and off the field so far.

However, unlike Toronto, the club’s main base would actually be in New York wheras the Wolfpack train in Britain and travel out to Toronto to play home fixtures.

And it is reported that the club play two-game blocks.

The New York franchise would make the Red Bull Arena, a 25,000-capacity stadium which is home to Major League Soccer giants, New York Red Bulls, their home should the application be approved by the RFL.

The consortium are also confident that they can gain a big television deal and want to spread the word of Rugby League into schools and the Big Apple community.

And some reports suggest that the New York side would target NRL stars Jarryd Hayne, Cameron Smith, Jonathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Paul Gallen and Greg Inglis.

What do you think of the idea of having a New York team in the professional ranks? Good or bad, let us know in the comments below.