Toronto Wolfpack

The Rugby Football League first received an application from a Canadian consortium based in Toronto, led by the chairman of the national governing body Canada Rugby League Eric Perez in 2014 to compete in the United Kingdom's third tier of professional rugby league.{{cite web|url=http://www.totalrl.com/toronto-rugby-league-canada-league-one-england/|title=Canadians seek to join League One in 2016 |date=October 13, 2014|access-date=July 21, 2016}} Perez was denied permission to join the first-tier Super League directly, and instead attempted to build the club up to the point where it can be promoted.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15314099/canadian-team-join-english-rugby-league-setup|title=Canadian team to join English rugby league setup|date=April 24, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2016|publisher=ESPN}}{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/canadian-team-to-play-in-uk-next-year-as-part-of-super-league-bid-20160421-gobk7i.html|title=Canadian team to play in UK next year as part of Super League bid|date=April 21, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2016|first=Adrian|last=Proszenko|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} A press conference was held on 27 April 2016 at which details on the franchise, which began to play in 2017, were revealed.{{cite web|url=http://www.torontowolfpack.com/uncategorized/test-news/|title=TORONTO ANNOUNCED AS HOME TO WORLD'S FIRST TRANSATLANTIC PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM|date=April 27, 2016|access-date=April 27, 2016|publisher=Toronto Wolfpack|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502163651/http://www.torontowolfpack.com/uncategorized/test-news/|archive-date=May 2, 2016}} The team will be the first professional rugby league team to be based in Canada. A group of 10 businessmen, consisting of mostly Canadians and Australian mining millionaire David Argyle, own the club,{{cite news|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/new-toronto-wolfpack-rugby-league-team-wont-divulge-its-ownership-377455331.html|title=New Toronto Wolfpack rugby league team won't divulge its ownership|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=April 28, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Mohdin|first1=Aamna|title=The future of sport is this Canadian rugby league team that flies 3,500 miles to play in England|url=https://qz.com/1048062/the-future-of-sport-might-just-be-this-tiny-Canadian-rugby-club-that-plays-in-england/|access-date=August 28, 2017|work=Quartz (publication)|date=August 28, 2017}} having paid around $500,000 to be granted admission to the rugby league.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/more/big-read-toronto-wolfpack-best-little-startup-sports/|title=Running with the Wolves|last=Dixon|first=Ryan|work=Sportsnet}} A condition for the team to join the British rugby league system was that they would be responsible for covering travel and accommodation expenses incurred for all visiting teams outside of the first division Super League.

It was suggested that it was an attractive market as Canada has the largest amount of rugby league followers outside of Australia, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/07/toronto-rugby-league-team-talks-join-england-league-1-canada|title=Toronto-based rugby league team in talks to join England's Rugby League 1|first=Aaron|last=Bower|date=May 7, 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=July 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.totalrl.com/canadians-confident-competitive-league-one/|title=Canadians confident of being competitive in League One|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=July 21, 2016}} The club plans to play in blocks of four home matches, four away matches, and cover all expenses for visiting teams throughout the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/9838724/barrie-mcdermott-canadian-team-would-boost-league-one |title=Barrie McDermott: Canadian team would boost Rugby League One |work=Sky Sports |date=May 6, 2015 |access-date=December 9, 2016}}

The Wolfpack held tryouts in five cities across North America starting 24 September; those were: Philadelphia, Tampa, Kingston (Jamaica), Vancouver, and Toronto itself. From these tryouts 18 athletes were selected to take part in a tour in England, culminating in a victorious game against an amateur club, the Brighouse Rangers. Three players won professional contracts with the Wolfpack Rugby League Team following the tour, with another round of tryouts to be held in Toronto in the following few months for the unsuccessful trialists.{{cite news | url=https://www.torontowolfpack.com/tryouts/ | title=Tryouts | work=Toronto Wolfpack | date=January 8, 2017}}

The Toronto Wolfpack Rugby League Team owns rights to all broadcasts of their matches. In Canada, games are broadcast on CBC Live and on Game TV,{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} in the USA games are broadcast on Eleven Sports, and in the UK and Ireland Premier Sports broadcasts through the Sky Network.

File:Toronto Wolfpack Challenge Cup.jpg in the Challenge Cup at the Trailfinders Sports Ground in Ealing in March 2017]]

On 22 January 2017, the Wolfpack played their first professional game, a pre-season friendly against Hull F.C. at the KCOM Stadium. The final score was 26–20 in favour of Hull.[http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/10739157/toronto-wolfpack-impress-in-pre-season-loss-to-hull-fc Toronto Wolfpack impress in pre-season loss to Hull FC] The club played its first competitive match on February 25, 2017, resulting in a 14–6 victory in the third round of the Challenge Cup against the amateur NCL champions: Siddal.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/39090004 Toronto Wolfpack win Challenge Cup tie at Siddal in first-ever match]

On 4 March, Toronto played its first League 1 match, away at London Skolars. They won the match 76–0.[https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/03/04/wolfpack-dominate-in-their-first-league-match.html Wolfpack dominate in their first league match] Their first home match was played on May 6, where they defeated Oxford in front of 6,281 fans at Lamport Stadium.[http://www.cbc.ca/sports/toronto-wolfpack-home-opener-1.4103239 Toronto Wolfpack win ill-tempered home debut]

The Wolfpack would go on to have a successful campaign, winning all fifteen of their regular season matches and five out of seven playoff games. The Wolfpack finished the season with 41 points from 22 games and points difference of +921.

Promotion to the Championship, and the Kingston Press League 1 Title, was secured on 9 September 2017 with the Wolfpack defeating Barrow Raiders 26–2 in front of 7,972 spectators. They closed with a win against Doncaster in front of a record attendance of 8,456.

File:Liam Kay Toronto.jpg with the Wolfpack during a match in February 2018]]

The following season saw continued success by the Wolfpack; winning the league leaders shield in the championship competition. Following a round 4 defeat to London Broncos they put together an 18-game winning streak from March 2018 {{cite web |url=http://www.timescolonist.com/toronto-wolfpack-thump-rochdale-hornets-52-10-to-earn-18th-straight-win-1.23375739 |title=Toronto Wolfpack thump Rochdale Hornets 52-10 to earn 18th straight win |website=www.timescolonist.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722103516/http://www.timescolonist.com/toronto-wolfpack-thump-rochdale-hornets-52-10-to-earn-18th-straight-win-1.23375739 |archive-date=22 July 2018 |url-status=dead}} which was eventually broken with a home defeat to Featherstone Rovers in late July. They performed creditably in the Super 8s with five wins from seven games, defeating Super League sides Widnes Vikings and Leeds Rhinos. However, they fell short of automatic promotion on points difference and London Broncos beat the Wolfpack 4–2 at Lamport Stadium in the Million Pound Game, condemning the Wolfpack to another season in the Championship.

On October 5, 2019, the Wolfpack were promoted to Super League for the first time in club history after their 24–6 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 2019 Million Pound Game.

In November 2019, the Wolfpack made international headlines when they signed dual-code international Sonny Bill Williams on a two-year deal. The signing came in the wake of Williams' third appearance in a Rugby World Cup and saw him return to Rugby League, the sport where his career began.

In July 2020, Toronto Wolfpack withdrew from the 2020 Super League due to financial difficulties and new logistics needed for international travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/20/toronto-wolfpack-exit-super-league-season-casting-doubt-on-clubs-future|title=Toronto Wolfpack pull out of Super League season as relegation is cancelled | Toronto Wolfpack | the Guardian}}

The club was given a chance to resubmit a bid for a place in the 2021 Super League season but the bid for readmission was rejected on 2 November 2020 resulting in the team's removal from the league. Subsequently, the Wolfpack made an announcement that they would cease operations.{{Cite web |url=https://www.torontowolfpack.com/toronto-wolfpack-thanks-fans-for-incredible-journey/ |title=Toronto Wolfpack Thank Fans for Incredible Journey |website=Toronto Wolfpack |date=November 24, 2020 |access-date=February 12, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12204/12121950/toronto-wolfpack-fail-in-bid-for-re-admission-to-super-league1 |title=Toronto Wolfpack fail in bid for re-admission to Super League |publisher=Sky Sports |date=3 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/initial-toronto-bid-disappointing-says-elstone-as-wolfpack-given-more-time-to-convince-super-league/ |title=Initial Toronto bid "disappointing" says Elstone as Wolfpack given more time to convince Super League |publisher=Love Rugby League |date=25 September 2020}} Following the vote, a consortium of potential new owners led by Carlo LiVolsi backed out of a deal to purchase the Wolfpack from financially struggling owner David Argyle. Consequently, it was announced in November 2020 that the team would cease operations.{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Mike Meehall |title=We Need To Stop Talking About Toronto Wolfpack |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemeehallwood/2020/11/24/we-need-to-stop-talking-about-toronto-wolfpack/?sh=35ae75104dc4 |work=Forbes |access-date=4 March 2021}}

On 31 March 2021, it was announced that a private investor group had purchased the Wolfpack and that they would be resuming play in the newly formed North American Rugby League.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-31|title=PACK IS BACK|url=https://www.torontowolfpack.com/pack-is-back/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Toronto Wolfpack RLFC|language=en-US}}

On 20 June 2023, Wolfpack announced they would be withdrawing from the NARL to start their own competition, the self sponsored Canada Cup, after no NARL seasons had actually occurred.{{cite web | url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/toronto-wolfpack-confirm-2023-return-with-nine-fixtures-announced-at-lamport-stadium | title=Toronto Wolfpack confirm 2023 return with nine fixtures announced at Lamport Stadium | date=June 20, 2023 }}

As the only professional club in North America, the TWP Canada Cup, is fully organised and ran by Toronto Wolfpack, and is an invitational league.{{cite web | url=https://www.torontowolfpack.com/news-updates/to-our-wolfpack-family | title=Toronto Wolfpack - to Our Wolfpack Family }} Games originally scheduled against Southwest Florida Copperheads, Canada All Stars, Washington DC Cavalry and Jacksonville Axemen were cancelled.{{cite web | url=https://www.totalrl.com/ex-super-league-side-toronto-wolfpack-cancel-opening-game-to-keep-practicing/ | title=Ex-Super League side Toronto Wolfpack cancel opening game "to keep practicing" | date=July 20, 2023 }}

Source:{{cite web | url=https://www.torontowolfpack.com/fixtures | title=Fixtures & Results | Toronto Wolfpack RLFC }}

File:Toronto Wolfpack and Brooklyn Kings group photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg

File:Lamport Stadium (37511251886).jpg based in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto.]]

The team's home stadium is Lamport Stadium in Toronto and known as The Den for Wolfpack matches. The stadium seats 9,600.{{cite web|url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/toronto-announced-home-worlds-first-110000984.html|title=Rugby Football League officials joined by Mayor John Tory to unveil team brand and league information|date=April 25, 2016|access-date=April 25, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426174917/https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/toronto-announced-home-worlds-first-110000984.html|archive-date=April 26, 2016}} The stadium was opened in 1975 and has an artificial field. In addition to the two rugby codes, it has hosted soccer and lacrosse. The team signed a three-year lease to play at the stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2016/04/27/toronto-to-be-first-transatlantic-team-in-rugby-football-league|title=Toronto to be first transatlantic team in Rugby Football League|date=April 27, 2016|access-date=April 27, 2016|newspaper=Toronto Sun|first=Jenny|last=Yuen}} The Toronto Wolfpack supporters group can be found in Section 35.

Lamport Stadium has been used by the team for nearly all their home games in Canada. However, during their 2018 season the Wolfpack relocated one of their home games to Fletcher's Fields in Markham, as Lamport Stadium was undergoing field resurfacing work.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/rugby/toronto-wolfpack-relocate-home-opener-markham-1.4611523|title=Toronto Wolfpack relocate home opener north of the city|last=Blum|first=Benjamin|date=9 April 2018|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|work=CBC Sports|access-date=10 February 2020}} The team explored options to improve the home stadium, including holding preliminary discussions about moving their home games to BMO Field, renovating Lamport Stadium or building a new stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/toronto-wolfpack-cross-the-atlantic-for-rugby-league-home-opener-this-weekend/article34868164/|title=Toronto Wolfpack cross the Atlantic for rugby league home opener this weekend|first=Neil|last=Davidson|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=May 1, 2017|access-date=May 1, 2017}}

In addition to home games played in Greater Toronto Area, the team played a "home game" at New River Stadium in London for the 2018, and 2019 seasons. The Wolfpack played at these venues in an effort to boost the popularity of the team, and sport in London.{{cite web|url=https://www.skolarsrl.com/2019/02/15/excitingdoubleheader/|title=Toronto Wolfpack return to capital|date=15 February 2019|access-date=10 February 2020|publisher=London Skolars|website=skolarsrl.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-toronto-wolfpack-hosting-home-game-in-london-looking-to-showcase/|title=Toronto Wolfpack hosting 'home' game in London, looking to showcase transatlantic team|publisher=The Woodbridge Company|work=The Globe and Mail|date=5 April 2019|access-date=10 February 2020|last=Davidson|first=Neil}} Additionally, in their debut Super League campaign in 2020 the Wolfpack hosted scheduled "home" games on the road at neutral venues, due to the weather conditions not being suitable in Eastern Canada for rugby league until April. Toronto played scheduled "home" games at: Headingley Stadium, Leeds as a double header with Leeds Rhinos; the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington; and Bootham Crescent, York as a double header with York City Knights. The York game was originally scheduled to be at the new York Community Stadium, as the grounds' inaugural game, however the stadium was not ready in time.

The team stays at the George Brown College residence in West Don Lands that is the former site of the 2015 Pan American Games Athletes' Village and trains at Lamport Stadium. Away teams stay at York University residence{{cite web |first=Neil |last=Davidson |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/07/09/toronto-wolfpack-foes-enjoying-free-trips-to-canada-but-rugby-league-journeys-taking-their-toll.html |title=Toronto Wolfpack foes enjoying free trips to Canada, but rugby league journeys taking their toll |publisher=Toronto Star |date=July 9, 2017}} and train on York University athletic facilities. Through a sponsorship deal with Air Transat, the team covers the travel and accommodation cost for all of the away teams.{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Davidson |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/toronto-wolfpack-home-opener-1.4103239 |title=Toronto Wolfpack win ill-tempered home debut |publisher=The Canadian Press |date=May 6, 2017}} Toronto Wolfpack continued to cover expenses for the visiting teams in the 2018 season.{{cite web |first=Morgan |last=Campbell |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/2018/06/08/as-home-season-begins-wolfpack-has-eyes-on-promotion-to-super-league.html |title=Wolfpack have eyes on promotion to Super League as home season begins |date=June 8, 2018 |publisher=Toronto Star}}

Toronto signed an agreement with Brighouse Rangers to share their training ground for pre-seasons and while the Wolfpack are in the UK for away fixtures for 2017.[https://www.torontowolfpack.com/2016/11/14/brighouse-rangers-welcome-toronto-wolfpack/ Rangers welcome Wolfpack] At the end of the 2017 season the Wolfpack confirmed their intention to switch to a base in Manchester, UK, during the 2018 season, and in 2018 announced the deepening of their partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University and its community.{{cite web|url=https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/7293/ |title=Aspiring rugby league talent nurtured by new Toronto Wolfpack player development system |publisher=.mmu.ac.uk |access-date=January 17, 2019}} Until 2020, Manchester served as the Wolfpack's home in the United Kingdom, with the club training at Hopwood Hall College.

Toronto Wolfpack games were broadcast on Canadian specialty channel GameTV, with further digital rights extended to CBC Sports with games streamed on the CBC Sports website. Matches are also archived on the Toronto Wolfpack YouTube Channel.

All Toronto Wolfpack games were broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports - Arena which reaches 11 million homes across the Sky Network. In the USA Eleven Sports send broadcasts into 50 million homes.

All 2023 Canada Games were available on Wolfpacks own channel Howl TV.

{{Rugby league squad

|squadname=Toronto Wolfpack 2023 Squad

|BC1=black

|FC1=white

|BC2=white

|FC2=black

|source=[https://www.torontowolfpack.com/our-team]

|date=3 March 2023

|list1a={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Blake Mahovic|pos=FB}}

|list1b={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Scylar Dumas|pos=PR}}

|list1c={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Astley|pos=PR}}

|list1d={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Scott Christian|pos=PR}}

|list1e={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Eddie Bilborough|pos=CE}}

|list1f={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Tyler McGrattan|pos=PR}}

|list1g={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Jordan Ng|pos=WG}}

|list1h={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Jacob Bourne|pos=HB}}

|list1i={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Colton Carpenter|pos=WG}}

|list1j={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|FIJ}} Luke Toroca|pos=CE}}

|list1k={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Nathan Roberts|pos=HK}}

|list1l={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Nick Hails|pos=HK}}

|list1m={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|JAM}} Tremaine Griffiths-Thompson|pos=PR}}

|list2a={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Matt Fish|pos=SR}}

|list2b={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|WAL}} Matt Barron|pos=PR}}

|list2c={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Jordan Henry|pos=SR}}

|list2d={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Jason Park|pos=SR}}

|list2e={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|SRI}} Lee Matthew Keegel|pos=CE}}

|list2f={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Kyle Yurkiw|pos=HK}}

|list2g={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Christian Miller|pos=SR}}

|list2h={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Charles Curran|pos=PR}}

|list2i={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Jonmichael Fletcher|pos=HB}}

|list2j={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Akeem Green|pos=FB}}

|list2k={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|USA}} Dan Martyn|pos=PR}}

|list2l={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Jason Chuck|pos=SR}}

|list2m={{Rugby league squad player|name={{flagicon|CAN}} Greg Wise|pos=HB}}

|coach={{flagicon|CAN}} Robin Legault

|assistant={{flagicon|CAN}} Henry Miers

|assistant2={{flagicon|CAN}} Steve Piatek

}}

{{main|Toronto Wolfpack records and statistics}}

• Most tries in a match:

:*5:

:: Liam Kay v. {{leagueicon|york city|16}} York City Knights (1 July 2017)

• Most goals in a match:

:*13:

:: Craig Hall v. {{leagueicon|doncaster|16}} Doncaster (9 April 2017)

• Most points in a match:

:*38:

:: Craig Hall v. {{leagueicon|hemel|16}} Hemel Stags (15 July 2017)

• Most drop goals in a season:

:*2 (2 players):

:: Ryan Brierley and Gareth O'Brien (2018 Championship)

• Most goals in a season:

:*170:

:: Craig Hall (2017 League 1)

• Most tries in a season:

:*27 (2 players):

:: Liam Kay (2017 League 1) and Matty Russell (2019 Championship)

• Most points in a season:

:*436:

:: Craig Hall (2017 League 1)

• Biggest win:

::88-4v. {{flagicon|USA|16}} Atlanta Rhinos (Aug 19, 2023)

::82–6 v. {{leagueicon|doncaster|16}} Doncaster (April 9, 2017)

• Biggest loss:

::66-10 v. {{leagueicon|Warrington Wolves|16}} Warrington Wolves (May 13, 2018)

• Highest home attendance:

::9,974 v. {{leagueicon|Featherstone|16}} Featherstone Rovers (at Lamport Stadium, 5 October 2019)

;{{flagicon|UK}} British rugby league system

;{{flagicon|USA}}{{flagicon|CAN}} North American Rugby League

;{{leagueicon|Toronto|16}} Toronto Wolfpack Canada Cup{{cite web | url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/toronto-wolfpack-confirm-2023-return-with-nine-fixtures-announced-at-lamport-stadium | title=Toronto Wolfpack confirm 2023 return with nine fixtures announced at Lamport Stadium | date=June 20, 2023 }}

;{{flagicon|UK}} RFL

• RFL Championship

::Winners (2): 2018, 2019

::Million Pound Game

:::Winners (1): 2019

:::Runners-up (1): 2018

::RFL Championship Leaders' Shield

:::Winners (2): 2018, 2019

• RFL League 1

::Winners (1): 2017

;{{flagicon|USA}}{{flagicon|CAN}} NARL

• Canada Cup

::Winners (1): 2021{{Cite web|url=https://www.torontowolfpack.com/the-toronto-wolfpack-canada-cup/|title = Canada Cup 2021: Toronto Wolfpack 42 – DC Cavalry 6|date = September 23, 2021}}

;{{leagueicon|Toronto|14}} TWP Canada Cup

::Winners (1): 2023

{{Portal|Sports|Ontario|Canada}}

• Canada national rugby league team
• Canada Rugby League
• Ontario Rugby League
• Ottawa Aces
• Rugby league in Canada

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• {{official website}}

{{Rugby League in Canada}}

{{Super League}}

{{Toronto Wolfpack}}

Category:2016 establishments in Ontario

Category:Rugby league teams in Canada

Category:Rugby clubs established in 2016

Category:Rugby teams in Toronto

Category:Super League teams