A lucky fan will be accompanying Canada as they take their place at the 2018 Americas Championship, which will also act as qualifiers for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
The University of North Florida, Jacksonville, will host two double-header rounds on 13th and 17th November 2018, and in the opening fixtures the Wolverines take on Jamaica, the winners facing either hosts USA or Chile.
In an effort to generate more funding and to identify key supporters, the Canada Rugby League Association (CRLA) recently launched a supporters’ club with a ‘Watch the Wolverines’ competition – the top prize including flights for two to Jacksonville and accommodation.
Andrew Mifsud has been drawn as the winner, he and his wife having recently been introduced to the sport via Toronto Wolfpack coming to his city. The professional club side has just completed their Trans-Atlantic second season in English competition, picking up consecutive league leaders’ shields, as they game within one game of Super League in 2018.
“I was immediately taken with the speed and physicality of the game,” said Andrew. “It’s always exciting to watch! It moves so quickly that you can’t turn away from the action.”
He first heard about Canada’s potential participation in the 2021 World Cup from their women’s team, when meeting Canada Ravens players who were going around during a fixture at the Wolfpack’s Lamport Stadium in Liberty Village talking to fans and raising interest in their campaign.
He was subsequently made aware of the men’s involvement after chatting with Lindsay Wilson, a founding member of the CRLA supporters club and drummer with the ‘Section 35’ group of Toronto fans.
Andrew was one of the first to sign up as an official CRLA supporter and couldn’t believe he’d won the competition to travel south.
“We are elated to support our national team,” he commented. “We feel the Wolverines have a bright future in rugby league and are excited to show the world what were made of. We are thankful for the opportunity that the ‘Watch the Wolverines’ contest has provided and can’t wait to be cheering them on in Florida.”
CRLA president Bob Jowett noted: “Setting up and successfully running rugby league competitions in any tier 3 nation requires passion and commitment, and we have growing group of supporters and corporate partners who are dedicated to promoting the growth of rugby league.”