Rhode Island Rebellion

The club was established in 2011 by Lawrence Almagno, Alex DeCiccio, and Anthony Nardolillo, as a charter member of the USA Rugby League.{{cite news |title= New semi-pro rugby team finding its way |author= Kevin Pomeroy|url= http://www.warwickonline.com/view/full_story_sports/14529365/article-New-semi-pro-rugby-team-finding-its-way?instance=secondary_stories_left_column|newspaper= Warwick Beacon |date= June 30, 2011 |access-date=July 1, 2011}}{{cite web |url= http://www.golocalprov.com/sports/ris-first-semi-pro-rugby-team-debuts/ |title= RI's First Semi-Pro Rugby Team Debuts |date= April 23, 2011 |work= golocalprov.com |access-date=June 7, 2011}}{{cite news |title= Johnston Native Brings Rugby To RI |author= Damien Baldino |url=http://johnston.patch.com/articles/johnston-native-brings-rugby-to-ri |newspaper= patch.com |date= July 8, 2011 |access-date=July 13, 2011}} Together with Oneida FC and the New Jersey Turnpike Titans, they were one of three new teams to join the USARL, which was formed by clubs that had broken with the established American National Rugby League (AMNRL). The USARL had originally intended to establish a team in New York City, sponsored by Kodiak Capital Group, and named Kodiak Rugby.{{cite news |title= Providence-based rugby team battles for recognition |author= Mark Reynolds |url= http://www.projo.com/news/content/REBELLION_RUGBY_07-23-11_A1P8L9L_v356.37ef2.html |newspaper= The Providence Journal |date= July 23, 2011 |access-date=July 25, 2011}}{{cite web |url= http://www.usarugbyleague.com/2011/01/usarl-is-formed-nine-clubs-committed/ |title= USA Rugby League (USARL) is Formed; Nine Clubs Already Committed To Inaugural 2011 Season |date= January 11, 2011 |work= usarl.com |publisher= USA Rugby League |access-date= March 24, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110327151844/http://www.usarugbyleague.com/2011/01/usarl-is-formed-nine-clubs-committed/ |archive-date= March 27, 2011 }} Almagno, a Kodiak employee, was one of the planners charged with setting up the team, but the group was unable to find a suitable venue in New York. Thereafter Almagano just having moved back to Rhode Island contacted DeCiccio in order to determine if Rhode Island had a large enough player pool to form a new team. After the first team meeting, Nardolillio joined Almagno and DeCiccio to assist in the task of bringing the team to Providence, Rhode Island.{{cite web|url= http://league13.info/2011/02/18/inaugural-usarl-line-up-announced/|title= Inaugural USARL Line-up Announced|author= Ian Bridge|date= February 18, 2011|work= league13.info|access-date= March 24, 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110809225237/http://league13.info/2011/02/18/inaugural-usarl-line-up-announced/|archive-date= August 9, 2011}}{{cite web |url= http://www.usarugbyleague.com/2011/02/usarl-constitution-teams-entry-qualifications-announced/ |title= USARL Constitution & Teams announced |date= February 18, 2011 |work= usarl.com |publisher= USA Rugby League |access-date= March 24, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513210426/https://www.usarugbyleague.com/2011/02/usarl-constitution-teams-entry-qualifications-announced/ |archive-date= May 13, 2011 }} The move gave the USARL four teams in New England.

Almagno, who had experience playing both rugby league and rugby union, got together with former teammates DeCiccio and Nardolillo to recruit players. After initial difficulty finding players, they were able to recruit a full roster in time for the inaugural 2011 USARL season. They achieved their first win of the season in game four against the New Jersey Turnpike Titans. During their inaugural season the Rebellion attracted around 300 fans a game and was able to cover its expenses.

In 2014, with the growth of the USARL, the club was moved into the North East Division.{{cite web | url=http://thesportscrave.com/?p=14169 | title=USA Rugby League Kicks off Season V with 14 Teams | publisher=thesportscrave.com | access-date=21 February 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/usa-tomahawks-a-brief-history-of-american-rugby-league/news-story/6622215d37182e212ed80d4cf14e85fd | title=USA Tomahawks: A brief history of American rugby league | publisher=The Daily Telegraph | date=1 September 2015 | access-date=21 February 2016}}

The club run the American Youth Rugby League Association’s Providence High School Rugby League Competition in Rhode Island that involves 1,000 middle school students.{{cite web | url=http://www.timesherald.com/article/JR/20130927/SPORTS/130929698 | title=A winning Philly team and a different sport | publisher=The Times Herald | date=27 September 2013 | access-date=21 February 2016}}

Alongside the Boston 13s, a four team U23 competition is also run in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island regions.{{cite web | url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/06/06/usarl-season-iv-establishes-itself-as-north-americas-premier-rugby-league-competition/ | title=USARL Season IV establishes itself as North America's premier rugby league competition | publisher=theroar.com | date=6 June 2014 | access-date=21 February 2016}}

In 2015 Shain Singleton represented the United States national rugby league team USA Hawks in a match against Canada rugby league during game 2 of the Colonial Cup where 2 tries were scored directly off of his attacking kicks. In 2015 Jonathan St. John represented the United States Pioneers in a match against the Leeds Rhinos.{{cite web | url=http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_16762-usa-pioneers-name-full-squad-for-leeds-clash.html | title=USA Pioneers name full squad for Leeds clash | publisher=loverugbyleague.com | date=9 December 2014 | access-date=21 February 2016}}

• Rugby league in the United States
• List of defunct rugby league clubs in the United States

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.usarl.com/clubs/rhode-island-rebellion/ usarl.com]

{{Rugby League in the USA}}

{{Rhode Island Sports}}

Category:2011 establishments in Rhode Island

Category:Rugby clubs established in 2011

Category:Rugby league in Rhode Island

Category:Sports in Providence, Rhode Island

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Rhode Island

Category:USA Rugby League teams