Rugby league receives huge boost in Canada, as Wolfpack support swells

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Canada is embracing the game of Rugby League all on the back of the popularity of pioneer club, the Toronto Wolfpack.

So much so, that all of the Wolfpack’s Championship games will now be broadcast live across the North American country on GameTV.

Despite failing to secure promotion to the Super League last season courtesy of a 4-2 loss to the London Broncos in the play-off game at their Lamport Stadium, they’ve built a strong supporter base.

They progressed to the Championship undefeated from League One in their inaugural season, and then finished in first-place in the Championship before the Broncos broke their hearts in a boilover.

Expectation is high that the Wolfpack will earn promotion in 2019.

Jeff Hagan, the Wolfpack’s Director of Broadcast Production and Distribution, is hopeful that success coupled with the newly announced extensive coverage will result in a much larger domestic support-base.

“As a valued broadcast partner Game TV have player an integral role in our success since our first season,” he said on the club website.

“In showing Wolfpack home and away games live, GameTV showcase our product and players, helping us to grow our game and inspire youngsters across Canada into rugby.

“We thank GameTV for giving our growing fanbase in Canada the ability to enjoy every minute of action from the 2019 Betfred Championship, while also allowing sports bars to show our games.”

Promising to take games to European capital cities if the club secures promotion to the English top-flight competition.

“I think next year we’ll be able to hit some of the other European cities,” Toronto’s majority shareholder David Argyle said. “The will is to go to Belgrade, the will is to go to Dublin, the will is to go to Copenhagen and other European cities. To do a game in Spain would be fantastic.”

The club has already boasted former NRL players of the calibre of Reni Matua, Fuifui Moimoi, Ashton Sims, Josh McCrone, Darcy Lussick and Chase Stanley over the past two years. And the quality would only improve dramatically if they were to make the step up to the Super League and enjoy the financial rewards that come with it.