{{short description|United States international rugby league player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Use American English|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox rugby league biography | name = Joe Eichner | fullname = Joseph Michael Eichner | image = | image_size = | caption = | position = {{rlp|LK|SR}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|10|09}} | birth_place = Geneva, Florida, United States | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{convert|6|ft|2|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name="blazing">{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Neil|date=June 2, 2017|title=American Joe Eichner blazing rugby league trail with Toronto Wolfpack|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/rugby/toronto-wolfpack-eichel-1.4143038|publisher=CBC Sports|accessdate=October 2, 2017}}</ref> | weight = {{convert|220|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="blazing" /> | club1 = {{nowrap|Jacksonville Axemen}} | year1start = 2015 | year1end = 17 | appearances1 = 22 | tries1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | fieldgoals1 = 0 | points1 = 0 | club2 = Underbank Rangers | year2start = 2017 | year2end = 18 | appearances2 = 24 | tries2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | fieldgoals2 = 0 | points2 = 0 | club3 = {{nowrap|Northern Pride RLFC}} | year3start = 2019 | year3end = 21 | appearances3 = 7 | tries3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | fieldgoals3 = 0 | points3 = 0 | club4 = New York Freedom | year4start = 2021 | year4end = 23 | appearances4 = 0 | tries4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | fieldgoals4 = 0 | points4 = 0 | club5 = Tampa Mayhem | year5start = 2024 | year5end = present | appearances5 = 20 | tries5 = 5 | goals5 = 0 | fieldgoals5 = 0 | points5 = 0 | teamA = United States | yearAstart = 2016 | yearAend = present | appearancesA = 28 | triesA = 1 | goalsA = 0 | fieldgoalsA = 0 | pointsA = 0 | teamB = {{nowrap|United States 9s}} | yearBstart = 2019 | yearBend = present | appearancesB = 2 | triesB = 0 | goalsB = 0 | fieldgoalsB = 0 | pointsB = 0 | updated = March 2, 2024 | source = <ref>{{cite web|title=Joe Eichner|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Joe-Eichner/|publisher=Love Rugby League}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Joe Eichner|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/joe-eichner/summary.html|publisher=Rugby League Project}}</ref> }}
'''Joseph Michael Eichner''' (born October 9, 1991) is an American rugby league player who played professionally for the Toronto Wolfpack during their inaugural season in League 1. Primarily playing as a {{rlp|sr}}, Eichner is a United States international representative and was a member of their 2017 World Cup squad and 2019 9’s Rugby League World Cup squad. He currently plays for New York Freedom in the North American Rugby League where he was the first ever player signed by the newly formed club.
== Early life == A Geneva, Florida native, Eichner played baseball and attended Oviedo High School in his youth. He discovered rugby league in 2010 while attending the University of North Florida, and joined the Jacksonville Axemen of the USA Rugby League after graduating with his bachelor's degree in building science.<ref name="blazing" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Buckley|first=Zach|date=January 13, 2017|title=West Palm Beach man part of history-making pro sports franchise|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/west-palm-beach-man-part-history-making-pro-sports-franchise/fYRv9wCCmFXsMpUAFrgTiI/|publisher=Palm Beach Post|accessdate=October 2, 2017}}</ref>
== Playing career == After attending a try-out in Tampa, Florida in October 2016, Eichner earned a contract with the Toronto Wolfpack in December 2016 following a twelve-day training camp held in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 23, 2016|title=Training Camp Report With Coach Finnigan – Dec 23rd, 2016|url=https://www.torontowolfpack.com/2016/12/23/training-camp-report-coach-finnigan-dec-23rd-2016/|publisher=torontowolfpack.com|accessdate=October 2, 2017}}</ref> He made his debut for the Wolfpack in their round 9 match against the Coventry Bears on June 3, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 8, 2017|title=American Joe Eichner is the first graduate of Last Tackle for Toronto Wolfpack|url=http://www.rlif.com/article/8283/american-joe-eichner-is-the-first-graduate-of-last-tackle-for-toronto-wolfpack|publisher=Rugby League International Federation|accessdate=October 2, 2017}}</ref> On September 24, Eichner was named in the United States' 23-man squad for the 2017 World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 24, 2017|title=Team USA|url=http://www.rlwc2017.com/news/team-usa|publisher=RLWC2017.com|accessdate=October 2, 2017}}</ref> In 2018, Eichner joined the Junee Diesels in the Group 9 Rugby League, playing alongside fellow U.S. representative Tui Samoa.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lowe|first=Brian|date=May 16, 2018|title=Joe Eichner enjoying Rugby League Down Under|url=http://www.usarl.org/news/2018/joe-eichner-enjoying-australian-rugby-league/|publisher=USARL.org|accessdate=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
In August 2019, Eichner made his debut for the Northern Pride in the Intrust Super Cup.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=386#Joe-Eichner RLWC profile]
{{United States 2017 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eichner, Joe}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate rugby league players Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Australia Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Canada Category:American rugby league players Category:Expatriate rugby league players in Australia Category:Expatriate rugby league players in Canada Category:Jacksonville Axemen players Category:New York Freedom Rugby League players Category:Northern Pride RLFC players Category:Rugby league players from Florida Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:Sportspeople from Seminole County, Florida Category:Tampa Mayhem players Category:Toronto Wolfpack players Category:United States national rugby league team players