The scene unfolding on Lamport Stadium’s field after the Toronto Wolfpack claimed the Kingstone Press League 1 title last weekend looked like any other championship-clinching celebration. There were empty sparkling wine bottles — who needs Champagne when it’s for spraying, not drinking? — scattered near the scene of the team’s celebratory photo. There were handshakes and hugs between players, coaches, staff and families.



There was a trophy — a large silver bowl — and there was beer. Sometimes there was beer in the trophy.



But the Wolfpack isn’t like other pro teams. Playing in the English Rugby Football League, the Wolfpack are the first trans-Atlantic professional sports organization. In year one of their bold experiment, playing in the third tier of the RFL, the Wolfpack defied doubters, overcame jet lag and dominated their UK competition en route to winning the League 1 championship. More importantly, the...