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Adelaide Rams
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Full name | Adelaide Rams |
| Colours | Red, Blue and Yellow |
| Entered 1st grade | 1997 |
| Departed 1st grade | 1998 |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | Super League, NRL |
| 1998 | 17th of 20 |
| Premierships | Nil |
| Runners-up | Nil |
| Minor premiers | Nil |
| Wooden spoons | Nil |
| Biggest win | 52 - 0 vs. Balmain, July 3, 1998 |
| Worst defeat | 16 - 58 vs. Canberra, August 17, 1997 |
The Adelaide Rams were an Australian rugby league team created in an attempt to grow the sport is South Australia. They played two seasons at the top level, 1997 and 1998.
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On 28 June, 1991, the New South Wales Rugby League took a game between Balmain Tigers and St. George Dragons to the Adelaide Oval to gauge public interest in Rugby League in South Australia. 28,884 people watched the Dragons defeat the Tigers in pouring rain. The match was played under lights using transportable lights. A year later the Brisbane Broncos defeated the Dragons 20-18 at the same ground attracting a Sunday afternoon crowd of 18,892, reinforcing the idea that a truly national rugby league competition could support an Adelaide team. However, with four new clubs already selected to play in the 20 team Winfield Cup in 1995, the chances of an Adelaide team entering in the near future were very small.
In June 1995 the South Australian Rugby League (SARL) officially joined Super League and was offered a franchise in the breakaway competition, although it was envisaged that a Sydney-based club would relocate to Adelaide. When North Sydney and St George decided to stay with the Australian Rugby League, Adelaide was given the nod to be Super League's 10th team.
Although the original nickname "Aces" was coined by a member of the South Australian media, News Ltd decided to go with the name Adelaide Rams, and on December 13, 1995, the club was officially launched. John Ribot explained that "[t]he Adelaide Rams name is readily identifiable with strength and hardness. The interim label of the Adelaide Aces was too soft, and did not have the required identity and 'branding' necessary for a Super League team."
Court action stopped the Super League competition from being held in 1996, and other than trial games against Perth and Canberra, they did not play a game until the commencement of the Super League season in 1997. The Rams started with a bang, with a defeat of Hunter in their initial home game. Played in front of 27,435, the Rams eked out a narrow 10-8 victory. They finished the season in 9th position out of 10.
Home ground support in 1997 ensured that Adelaide would participate in the National Rugby League in 1998, although ongoing problems with the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) over the Adelaide Oval resulted in the Rams moving to Hindmarsh Stadium. With the success of the Adelaide Crows in the AFL, Rams attendances in their second year plummeted. They finished the season in 17th position out of 20. On December 1, 1998, the board of the Adelaide Rams wound down operations due to the withdrawal of financial support.
In 2006 Penrith played a "home" game against the Melbourne Storm at Hindmarsh Stadium, due to the Panther's regular home ground, Penrith stadium being unavailable because of renovations and an upgrade. The match was the first NRL game played in Adelaide since the demise of the Rams. The score in the game was Melbourne 40, Penrith 18. Although the SARL was disappointed with the 7,017 crowd, they are hopeful of Penrith or another National Rugby League (NRL) team taking a match to Adelaide next year. Penrith has said they are interested in returning.
- The History of Rugby League Clubs. By Ian Collis and Alan Whiticker. Published by New Holland
- Super League: The Inside Story. By Mike Colman
- RL1908's Adelaide page