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For the last three weeks, in the damp and fog of north England, Toronto Wolfpack coach Paul Rowley and his staff have been building a dream.

Assembling a professional rugby league team from the ground up.

“It’s interesting because it’s so different than anything anybody’s ever done before — putting a whole team together from scratch with nothing. Nothing in terms of facilities, nothing in terms of one lad knowing another,” said the former England hooker. “It’s all so new.

“It’s humbling really … It brings you back to when you began playing the sport and why you did and the beauty of it and the love for it. Everyone’s training with a smile on their face but ultimately we’re working hard because we’ve got some goals to achieve.”

Despite the challenges, there have been no bad moments thanks to the enthusiasm of the group, he says.

“Good moments and bite-your-lips moments,” he said.

The Wolfpack, owned by a group of entrepreneurs including Australian David Argyle, are serious about making their transatlantic sports venture work. Playing in the Kingstone Press League 1 — the third tier of professional rugby league in England — they will pay the travel expenses of European teams coming to Canada during the season. The first home game at Toronto’s Lamport Stadium isn’t until May, the seventh league game of the season.

Ngawati and his rivals have now flown over to the U.K., joining the 24 experienced players already in camp. They have 12 days to show their mettle, and there are no guarantees: Rowley, who will carry 25 to 30 players during the season with 17 dressing for games, says none of the North Americans may make the first team.