was supposed to kick off on May 21, 2022, but failed to do so. A pre-season game was played in June and an announced start for September for the competition with even more reduced sides. This also failed to start. Expansion, popularity and development Participation According to estimates in 2022, there were 700 rugby league players in the United States. Attendance Although the 'heartland' of rugby league is the north east, some expansion is underway in other areas of the east coast. Efforts are being made to set up a west coast competition and midwest competition, as well as the California Rugby League. In 2006, a new team joined the AMNRL from Boston, which played an exhibition match in 2005. Teams from New Haven (Connecticut) and Jacksonville (Florida) also joined the 2006 competition. A Chicago team is also going through various stages of development with possible inclusion in the USARL in the future. Florida has hosted rugby league games in the past, the state was the host to 1999 North Pacific Qualification Tournament, where the US beat both Japan and Canada to meet Lebanon for the right to play in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Orlando's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex hosted the Tomahawks's test against England, for the latter's 2000 World Cup warm up game. It ended 110–0 to the away team. In 2001, Florida was also host to the Sunshine State Challenge, where the United States competed against Huddersfield, Halifax and Leeds, the miniature tournament drew a crowd of 6,700. In 2005, an exhibition match was played in Phoenix, Arizona, to help promote rugby league outside the heartland. Plans were announced to start a west coast competition called the WAMNRL in Summer 2011. In November 2010 the USA announced a strategic plan to grow the sport in the country with grass roots development, expansion and world cup qualification in sight. Current expansion franchises as of the 2020s include the Chicago Stockyarders and Cleveland Rugby League. The USARL as of 2021 plans to expand in all formats of the game such as Wheelchair rugby league, Masters Rugby League and Women's rugby league. Youth rugby league In 2011 The American Youth Rugby League Association was formed as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. The goals of the American Youth Rugby League Association otherwise known as AYRLA are dedicated to introducing the sport to youth throughout the United States. AYRLA