Much is talked about rugby league in America being centered around the south east corner. With efforts being made out in the west coast with PCRL and its clubs its , the North Eastern is also to be given its spot light and attention. Delaware Black Foxes where founded in 2015 and have stayed steadfast in competing yearly regardless of competition. This year we will also see the beginning of the Rugby League United competition, which the Black Foxes are a founding member of. I personally have been a fan of theirs from afar and am excited for the Foxes to take the pitch again.
I deeply appreciate Ian from the Black Foxes taking time to answer some questions and I hope you all can enjoy.
I- We've always kept communication lines open with the players and tried to organize at least one team event each season. During times when we haven't been able to play consistently we still have had training sessions. We also got together to play touch just to keep our basic skills sharp and played at least one proper rugby league match every summer.
LLR- With as much chaos as it seems to be with the code of League in America, hopefully for the betterment of the health of the game here, what are the Black Foxes doing to help keep the team alive for next year and the years to come, are there youth groups being formed or active potential player communication happening ?
I- Every year we reach out and recruit from various rugby union clubs with the goal of getting more players to give rugby league a try. The past few years we've also built a good rapport with several university coaches in the surrounding areas. This helps replenish and rejuvenate the club with new players each season. We don't currently have a youth team specific to the Black Foxes, however, there are several players on this team that help coach youth and rookie rugby at various schools in our communities.
LLR- The women's side of the game is beginning to grow and some clubs throughout the USA are actively trying to also have a women's side compete with the men's. Is this something you all are looking into as well at this time?
I- Yes. We have been working on putting together a women's side called the Delaware Vixens. We're still in the early planning and recruiting stages of this process but the goal is to get the Vixens on the field competing possibly in 2024.
LLR- Where will home games be played?
I- Eden Park in Wilmington, DE.
LLR- Rugby League United is a brand new competition for yourselves and the fellow North Eastern clubs are set to begin play this year. Why now and not next year and has there been communication to others about joining down the road?
I- Honestly now just seemed to be as good of a start time as any. Delaware has done alright the past couple seasons but other teams in Northeast really struggled to bounce back after Covid and a few other factors. Now that some time has passed and these teams have had some time to recover, we all agreed that this was the right time to get back on the pitch and compete officially. We're trying to keep things relatively simple this first year by having only 4 teams in RLU but we won't rule out adding new teams and expanding the competition next year and beyond.
LLR- What is the current status with the relationship between the RLU and it's clubs with USARL competition and as a governing body?
I- Right now we're mainly concentrating on what's going on between Delaware, Brooklyn, Boston, and DC however we're always up for a chat and keeping communication lines open between our clubs and the USARL.
LLR- Has there been any communication between yourself and the other groups in America like The Championship (CRL) and Pacific Coast (PCRL) ?
I- Not officially but we'd be open to discussions with them and other groups/organizations in the future.
LLR- Final question, how can fans follow the Delaware Black Foxes and their journey and also the Rugby League United competition?
I- We have a website (Black Foxes Rugby) and we're on social media as well:
Facebook: The Delaware Black Foxes
Instagram: @blackfoxesrugbyleague
Twitter: @DEBlackFoxesRL
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