New York Knights (rugby league)

New York Knights
Club information
Full nameNew York Knights
Rugby League Football Club
NicknameKnight
Founded1997 (1997) Revived 2026 (2026)
WebsiteTeam Website
Current details
Ground
  • TBA
CoachMatt Duckworth
CompetitionUSA Rugby League
Records
Premierships4 (AMNRL) 2002, 2009, 2011, 2012
Runners-up1 (USARL) (2017)
Minor premierships2 (AMNRL) 2011, 2012

The New York Knights are a semi-professional rugby league football team based in New York City that currently plays in the USA Rugby League. They played 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.

The club went into hiatus in 2019. In March of 2026, Super League club York Knights announced the partnership and revival of the club and its brand. They will rejoin the USA Rugby League as a member of the Rugby League United Conference (Northeast RL).

History

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.[1][2]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

Uniform and colors

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.[5] For the 2006 and 2007 seasons the club's major jersey sponsor was Guinness.[6]

Stadium

The Knights currently use the Pier 40, Hudson River Park Stadium in Hudson River Park as their home ground.[7] The stadium is sometimes referred to as The Castle because of the architecture and surrounding river, give the park a Castle like appearance.[8]

Hiatus and revival

The Knights went into hiatus in 2019. In 2026, newly promoted Super League club York Knights announced a partnership and revival of the club and its brand. The club will assume their logo and colors. They'll re-enter USA Rugby League's National Competition as a member of the Northeast division (Rugby League United). An open combine will be held to help the process to select the club's 2026 roster.[9][10]

Team History

New York Knights Team History (2002 - onwards)
C = Champions R = Runner Up F = Finished First P = Playoffs L = Last Place
Competition Games

Played

Games

Won

Games

Drawn

Games

Lost

Ladder

Position

C R F P L Notes
2002 AMNRL season Record unknown C P W Grand Final v Glen Mills Bulls, 18–12
2003 AMNRL season Record unknown
2004 AMNRL season
2005 AMNRL season
2006 AMNRL season 6th of 11 P
2007 AMNRL season 9 5 1 3 4th of 10
2008 AMNRL season 5th of 10
2009 AMNRL season 8 7 0 1 2nd of 11 C P
2010 AMNRL season 6 4 1 2 4th of 11 P
2011 AMNRL season 7 6 0 1 1st of 6 C F P
2012 AMNRL season 7 6 0 1 1st of 6 C F P
2013 AMNRL season 7 6 0 1 2nd of 6 R P L Grand Final v New Haven, 42–18
2014: AMNRL Season canceled, league & federation folds
2015 USARL season 8 3 0 5 10th of 14 Missed playoffs
2016 USARL season 8 7 0 1 2nd of 14 P L North Semifinal vs Boston, 19–12
2017 USARL season 8 8 0 0 1st of 12 F P
2018 USARL season 4th of 7 P L North Championship SF v Brooklyn Kings[11]
2019–2025: Club on hiatus
2026 To be determined

Honors

2002, 2009, 2011, 2012
2001
2016

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "New York Knights". amnrl.com. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Image: 717673666108_0_BG.jpg". newyorkknightsrugby.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "Image: 364353666108_0_BG.jpg". newyorkknightsrugby.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  7. ^ "Image: ACFPier40Field.jpg". ussoccerfoundation.org. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "New York Knights RLFC". newyorkknightsrugby.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  9. ^ media3035 (March 10, 2026). "Revival of New York Knights signals a new chapter for Rugby League in the Big Apple". York RLFC. Retrieved March 10, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Kennedy, Emma (March 10, 2026). "York RLFC announce new partnership with New York Knights". York Press.
  11. ^ "Kings and Wombats into Title Game: North". USARL. August 5, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
Official websites
News sites
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