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Toronto Wolfpack coach Paul Rowley insists the new club can make a success of their ground-breaking entry into League One next season.

The Canadian club was launched in press conferences on both sides of the Atlantic today and will compete in the third tier of the British game from 2017.

Former Leigh coach Rowley will lead their Bradford-based team alongside director of rugby Brian Noble, with the Wolfpack traveling to Toronto in three-week blocks to play home games.

The venture is completely self-funded with no RFL help, and the club will pay for opposition clubs to travel and stay for matches in Canada.

Their squad will be primarily English, but they hope to include some local players and attract crowds in excess of 7,000 - and Rowley says he had no qualms of joining.

(Image: Getty Images)

Rowley said: “I just sensed an opportunity - I like an adventure and like to build from the base and to shape my own future.

“Life is for living and I think it’s exciting.

“With Brian Noble involved too and the thought of he and I in a venture like this in such a great city - how often do these opportunities come along?

“It’s a no-brainer for me really. Obviously myself and Brian are not in it to just come on a holiday - we enjoy winning.

“Brian is the most successful coach in Super League history and I wasn’t doing too bad myself so we want to progress at a fast rate.

(Image: Reuters)

“Our immediate goal is to be strong contenders and fight for promotion in year one.”

Rowley believes the traveling involved is a positive for opposition teams rather than a negative.

He added: “Part-time players will need time off work, but I don’t think too many players will be bothered about an all-expenses paid trip to play in front of 7,000 supporters who will embrace them.

“I don’t think we’ll get too many people turning their noses up at this opportunity - it’s an exciting adventure.”

Wolfpack chief executive Eric Perez is confident that the club can be a success.

(Image: Paul Thomas)

He said: “Toronto is a city which hosts a lot of professional sports teams that aren't based in Canada - baseball (MLB) and basketball (NBA).

“We’re used to being only Canadian team in a different league, so with the ethos of rugby league and the core values of the sport it seemed to be a perfect fit for my city.

“It’s been a single-handled goal of mine to make this happen and I’m really proud that it has.”

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood added: “The people behind the initiative are truly committed - it’s been explored in great detail and and the League One clubs are fully supportive of it.

“Rugby league is pushing boundaries yet again, and with the infrastructure they've got it’ll be a tremendous addition for our game.”