 | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Pittsburgh Sledgehammers Rugby League Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | Sledgehammers, Hammers |
| Colours | Black Gold |
| Founded | 2010; 15 years ago (2010) |
| Current details | |
| Ground | |
| Coach |  Ken DeLucia |
| Captain | Ken DeLucia |
| Competition | USA Rugby League |
| 2010 | 10th |
ThePittsburgh Sledgehammers are arugby league football team based in thePittsburgh area. They are currently confirmed to be affiliated with the newUSA Rugby League. They play their games at Founders Field inCheswick, Pennsylvania.
The club was founded as thePittsburgh Vipers, and joined theAmerican National Rugby League (AMNRL) as anexpansion team for the2010 season. In 2011 they were one of seven teams to depart the AMNRL to form the USA Rugby League, adopting their current name shortly thereafter. On February 18, 2011 it was announced they would serve as a "developmental" team in the new league. In June 2015, it was announced the Sledgehammers would be coming out of hiatus and participate in the USARL in the 2016 season under new management.
The team, originally known as the Pittsburgh Vipers, was founded in 2010. They joined theAmerican National Rugby League as anexpansion team for the2010 season, replacing theBucks County Sharks, who had suspended operations for the year. Their first scheduled match was against theWashington, D.C. Slayers, but the Slayers were unable to travel to Pittsburgh as scheduled, which meant their first game was postponed.[1][2] They played their first game in round 2 of the 2010 AMNRL season, where they lost 80–4 against theFairfax Eagles.[3]
In 2011 the team was one of seven teams to leave the AMNRL to form the newUSA Rugby League.[4][5][6] They changed their name to the Pittsburgh Sledgehammers shortly after.[6] In February 2011 it was announced the Sledgehammers would be participating as a "developmental" team in the new league.[7][8]
Their jerseys are black and gold, the traditional colors of Pittsburgh sports. Black and gold are the colors of the city's flag as well as thePittsburgh Pirates, thePittsburgh Steelers and thePittsburgh Penguins.
| Federation |
|
|---|---|
| National teams | |
| International competitions | |
| Representative teams |
|
| National competitions | |
| Unsanctioned competition |
|
| National Level Domestic Teams | |
| Domestic seasons | |
