USARL Mourns The Loss of Contributor Steve Williams

The USARL is saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Steve Williams, a major contributor of the organization. 

Williams worked toward growing rugby league in the United States starting in 1997 with Super League America, the USRL, and the AMNRL. He began working with the USARL LLC Club competition in 2010 as the independent director and maintained several roles and positions with the USARL Inc (the National Governing Body). In 2014 he was elected as an executive director to the USARL Inc and put in countless hours of work to build the sport in the USA. 

When he departed the USARL in 2019, he was most proud of his work to ensure a full Americas calendar, including the Americas Championship and Americas Nines tournament every other year. Although he moved on from the USARL, Williams was a continued advocate for rugby league and always looked for opportunities to help the sport grow.  

He had a esteemed career in advertising and marketing, and founded two successful marketing, communications, and digital marketing agencies in the Philadelphia area. 

Steve Williams passed away on December 16, 2023 at the age of 53. He leaves behind his wife Barbara, and their three children. He left a legacy that will help drive the globalization of rugby league and build the sport in the United States.  

“Steve will be missed, both professionally and as a personal friend,” says USARL Chairman Drew Slover. “His contributions to the sport and countless hours of doing the work that gets unrecognized will always be appreciated. We hope to get the sport to where Steve thought it could be, and hopefully we can make him proud.”