Tuesday 17 May 2016 09:15, UK
Rugby league will have its own version of the Americas Cup this year.
The United States, Canada and Jamaica will take part in a new round-robin competition in Philadelphia and Toronto in July and September.
The USA, under Leeds coach Brian McDermott, emerged victorious from their meetings with their rivals in 2015 to clinch a place in the 2017 World Cup but Canada are expected to be stronger on the back of the launch of the new professional club Toronto Wolfpack.
Rugby League International Federation chairman Nigel Wood said: "This is a very significant initiative in the development of our sport internationally.
"All three nations are to be congratulated for taking the World Cup qualifying process onto the next logical level.
"The introduction of this tournament together with the admission of Toronto Wolfpack club into the Rugby Football League competition structure in 2017 represents a step-change in the position of rugby league in the Americas."
The tournament will kick-off on July 16 with Canada taking on Jamaica at Levitown, Pennsylvania and the following Saturday the USA play Jamaica in Conshohocken, Philadelphia.
The final match, between Canada and the USA, on September 24, at Lamport Stadium, Toronto, will also count as the first leg of the annual Colonial Cup between the rivals. The second leg will be in the USA on October 1.
