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The Rugby League Atlantic Cup was an annual rugby league football tournament held in Jacksonville, Florida. Played in different incarnations from 2009–2011, it was hosted by the Jacksonville Axemen rugby league team at Hodges Stadium on the University of North Florida campus. The 2009 and 2010 Cups were co-sponsored by the American National Rugby League (AMNRL), and pitted the United States national rugby league team against other developing rugby league nations in North America: Jamaica and Canada. In the 2011 edition, the Jacksonville Axemen faced the Helensburgh Tigers and British Police rugby team.〔(Helensburgh Tigers to contest Atlantic Cup ) ''rleague.com'', 15 November 2011〕 ==History== The origins of the Atlantic Cup go back to 2006, when the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) planned a tournament as part of an intended qualifying bracket for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. However, this first contest, between the United States and Japan national teams, did not go as planned. In 2009 the AMNRL returned to the idea of an international game in the hopes of making it an annual event. Together with the Jamaican Rugby League Association (JRLA) and the Jacksonville Axemen AMNRL franchise, they organized a single test match between the United States and Jamaica national teams, to be called the 2009 Atlantic Cup. The game, which was organized by the Axemen, was held on November 14, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida, at the Axemen's home field, Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida.〔 The game was Jamaica's international debut, and ended in a 37-22 victory for the United States. The game drew around 3,500 spectators, and was deemed a success, and the organizers made plans to expand the tournament the following year. The 2010 Atlantic Cup was also organized by the Axemen at the University of North Florida. Canada joined the competition, and the Cup was expanded from a single match into a three-game round robin tournament. Super League referee Phil Bentham refereed all three matches, which were held on November 16, 18, and 20.〔 The United States won both of its matches, and was declared champion for a second year. Several thousand spectators attended the tournament, with the final match between Canada and the United States drawing 2,800. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rugby League Atlantic Cup」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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