International RL Blog

Wales Dragonhearts fought hard to earn a 40-32 win over the German national side that contained some professional players. The Dragonhearts, the representative side of the community ranks in Wales, were disappointed to have their first match of the tour against British Army Germany called off on the day, so were extra determined to do well in this game. It was deadlock at half-time after both sides scored three tries and converted twice. Ethan Coombes, who has scored tries in almost every game he’s played this season in his debut rugby league campaign with Valley Cougars and South Wales Scorpions Development, opened the scoring in Osnabrück on Saturday with Mike Hurley converting. Dafydd Phillips and Sam Baker each added scores for Wales before the break, Hurley converting the first.  Germany replied with tries from Andy Hoggins, Ben Dent and Ben White, Dent converting the first two, to set up an action packed second half, which Wales edged, scoring five tries to three. Dean Higgs ...

Italy played Lebanon in the Med Cup on 11/6/16 in Catania

England were too strong for France at the Parc des Sports, winning 6-40 with seven tries, six of which were converted by Gareth Widdop. England coach Wayne Bennett selected a 17-man squad with only Stefan Ratchford on the bench from the Wigan and Warrington players who appeared in the Grand Final at Old Trafford. After their disappointments of recent years, the French picked a strong looking side and they took the lead after 19 minutes with a great scoot by Eloi Pelissier from dummy-half,  with Tony Gigot adding the conversion. But the English replied with four tries in the first half, with two from Ryan Hall and one each from Tom Burgess and Daryl Clark. The French again held England in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but eventually England cut loose again, scoring three more tris from Jermaine McGillvary, Kevin Brown and Gareth Widdop, the last one being the pick of the bunch.

A late, hat-trick try from winger Aaron Jones-Bishop, from a terrific offload by skipper Wayne Reittie, saw Jamaica pull off a sensational draw with Wales in front of almost 1,400 vociferous fans in Wakefield. The Reggae Warriors, who led 12-8 at the break, produced, arguably, the most important result in their history, having also beaten Ireland last weekend on their first games in Europe. Team manager Glenn Morrison was full of praise for his men who cranked up the volume in their dressing room post-match in celebration.  “We’ve come a long in the few months we’ve been together and in these couple of games,” he said. “We dug deep, were pretty solid defensively and had each other’s back, especially when we were a man down – the character in the bunch to put that aside and come back for the equalising score said everything about us.” Morrison was keen to stress the legacy aspect. “To come out with a result like that, I don’t think anybody expected it, we’ve got to take a...

Classy stand off Terry Campese masterminded Italy’s 12-try romp at the Nastavni centar Makiš Stadium in Belgrade, which eliminates Serbia from the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers. The Azzurri now face Wales in Monza next Saturday, the winner securing the automatic place from Pool A, with the loser going into the qualifying play off. Campese, on international debut, had a hand in all his side’s best work, helping to carve out a hat trick of tries for winger Richard Lepori inside the opening 12 minutes, and nipping over himself from a quickly taken tap penalty just before the hour that fooled the home defence. Former rugby union centre Mirco Bergamasco, also making his international league bow, kicked seven goals from 11 attempts as the Italians look to secure their second successive appearance in a World Cup. Head coach Cameron Ciraldo commented: “It was a good start to the tournament with limited preparation time, we only had three sessions together and we’ve still got ...

Ireland will face Russia in Bray next Saturday to decide who qualifies automatically for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup after a nine-try, 46-6 win in Valencia against Spain. Scrum half and skipper Liam Finn bossed the midfield with domestic-based players James Kelly and Gareth Gill also impressing. “We came here and got the job done,” said Ireland coach Mark Aston.  “We scored in the first set and then the second and, when that happens, everyone wants to be a ball player rather than a ball runner, so there are some lessons to be learned. “We need to put out a statement at home next week that we’re a good team, there’s a lot of potential in this group and that excites me.” The visitors made a terrific start, hooker Joe Keyes, Finn and Shannon McDonnell combining to send Oliver Roberts to the posts in the second minute, Finn with the first of five conversions. Luke Ambler broke the cover and Keyes, Finn and Stuart Littler then spun the ball wide for winger Casey Dunne t...

Malta were set to play for the Inaugural Ajan Vinai Sucharit Memorial Trophy at Chiang Mai’s Princes Royal College Stadium on October 28. But the recent passing of 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has plunged the Kingdom of Thailand into a state of grief. In addition to a year of mourning, the Thai government has ruled a 30 day moratorium on state events. Entertainment will be heavily toned down and “festivities” avoided for this period. While officials from both countries extensively explored options of relocating the game, the Sports Association of Thailand (SAT) was also consulted. Ms. Ratalalin Kaewpan, the Chairperson of Rugby League XIII Sports Association (Thailand) published an official press release over the weekend and has ordered the cancellation of the Rugby League International. A decision was reached by both parties yesterday afternoon (Bangkok time) that the International will be rescheduled, to be played within the ne...

On the eve of the first and long planned RL competition in the Philippines, Typhoon Karen hit landfall with Legazpi City and therefore Bicol University and the Albay Sports Complex directly in its path. Fiftyone RL pioneers had travelled for 13 hours by bus to get from Manila to Legazpi City and not even Typhoon Karen could stop them from playing.  The results for the inaugural Erick Paul Estepa Elefante Cup are as follows: Game 1 - full time 6-0, Manila Storm 6 v UB Toros - 0 Game 2 - full time 16-0, Central Luzon Crusaders 16 v Albay Vulcans - 0 Game 3 – full time 10-4, Albay Vulcans 10 v UB Toros 4 Game 4 – full time 4-0, Central Luzon Crusaders 4 v Manila Storm 0

The Reggae Warriors' professional players dominated an all amateur  Ireland  side without of several key players, including captain Casey Dunne who starred in recent wins over Malta and  Italy . In front of a healthy crowd at a sun-drenched Carlisle Grounds, the Jamaicans boasted a side brimming with physicality and aggression.  They proved a much sterner test for the Irish than recent opposition. The Wolfhounds struggled to hold on to possession as they were put under intense pressure in attack and defence by the visitors. Once the game kicked off it became clear that the Jamaicans meant business. They dominated the tackle and contact areas, and ran in seven tries in the first half — former  Hull FC  winger Richie Barnett helping himself to a brace of scores. Ireland  responded with tries from hooker Connor Phillips and prop  Chris Hall  have responded with tries for the home side, but they faced an uphill struggle against bigger opponents. ...

Russia set up their match away in Ieland at the end of the month – victory in which will see them qualify from Pool B – with a comprehensive 40-6 win over gallant Spain at the Fili Stadium, Moscow. Watched by RLIF chairman Nigel Wood, tries either side of half time were decisive after the Bears had got off to the perfect start. Russia head coach Denis Korolev commented:  “We achieved all that we wanted to from the game and that is satisfying. Tactically we were good, we didn’t complete every set but what we did overall was more important than any individual mistakes.” Stand off and man of the match, veteran Aleksandr Lysokon, ran the game, his break in the seventh minute sending Mikhail Burlutskii over, Lysokon goaling. Lysokon was also on target soon after to make it 12-0 when Nikolai Zagoskin crossed but, having found their feet in the four degree cold, the visitors dug in. Spanish centre Antonio Puerta, who was a threat throughout, was unlucky to lose the ball over ...

Wales will secure their place at next year’s World Cup with a win over Italy in Monza in a fortnight’s time, after a comprehensive nine-try triumph over Serbia in Llanelli. The drive of forwards Rhodri Lloyd and Phil Joseph combined the guile of half backs, two-try Ollie Olds and Courtney Davies, allied to the speed at the back from man of the match Elliot Kear and young St Helens wing tyro Regan Grace saw John Kear’s men home. “I’m really pleased with what the players have turned up today,” said Kear.  “I’ve been delighted with how they’ve prepared for the game; the two mini camps that we’ve had in North Wales were exceptionally good. “Today, they’ve turned up with a very good team performance. We felt that, if our contact was good and we controlled the ruck area, we could restrict them.” Kear, who guided the Welsh to a trophy in 2015 added:  “It’s continued from last year; we conceded four tries in three games in the European Championships and we’ve again held ...

Turkey, who have been playing rugby league for less than a year, made their international debut facing Greek Titans at the Kallipatira Stadium on the island of Rhodes. The hosts, featuring 12 players from the domestic RLEF Greek Rugby League competition, won 86-0 but the Turks – who reached the final of the Rhodes 8s in the build-up – showed great promise. The Greeks were in control from the start with centre Mitchell Zampetides, who finished with six touchdowns, and Rhodes winger Panayiotis Lampousis both scoring a brace of tries to give the home side a 16-0 lead after 23 minutes. Zampetides registered his hat trick in the 28th minute before he was sin binned soon after, whilst Turkey lost centre Onur Ersoy, sent off for alleged kicking out, and playing with one less player began to take its toll. Winger Yiannis Valasas from the Aris Eagles club in Athens, finished off a back line move to score in the 35th minute and give the Titans a 26-0 lead at the interval. The second h...

The Sports Authority of Thailand has recently approved (September 15) the Rugby League XIII Sports Association as the registered body govern the game of Rugby League in the Kingdom of Thailand. David Collier, CEO of the Rugby League International Federation, was delighted with the news and looking forward to further advancement in the ASEAN region. The Thai board is comprised of several well-known and credible local personalities including sports legend and female athlete Ratalalin Kaewpan, as the Chairperson of the new board. Joining Ms Kaewpan on the board are respected local individuals, Pornnapa Chaiwangrach, Vice Chairperson and owner of the Mountain View Group of Companies as well as academic lecturers Nitiwat Puaprasert and Siripan Kiattong as Association Secretary.  Rugby League in Thailand has had a slow start but quickly gained momentum due to the physical nature of the sport and the entertainment value seen on TV via the NRL Australian Com...

Fiji have come back from 18-0 down after 20 minutes to steal a wonderful 20-18 win over Samoa at Apia Park on Saturday afternoon. A 90-metre intercept try to Bulldogs and Bati winger Tyrone Phillips – the only scoring play of the second half – handed Fiji an unlikely lead they desperately clung onto until the final siren when the celebrations erupted. In what was the first ever official Test match in Samoa, it looked like the home fans would be enjoying a runaway win as big Sam Kasiano inspired his country to an 18-0 lead after almost as many minutes. Poor handling from Fiji was also a factor early but once Kasiano went off and the passes started to stick for the Bati their ball movement and second phase play caused countless headaches for Toa Samoa as they ran in three tries of their own to trail by just two at the break. Lanky Bati fullback Sitiveni Moceidreke had a whale of a game, providing sting with some huge kick returns and kicking brilliantly, grubbering for one try...

Former international captain Marc Palanques, who was elected president of the French Rugby League Federation in early July, has joined the board of the Rugby League European Federation. A multiple championship and cup winner in a long and distinguished career, he returned to French rugby league in 2015, becoming co-chairman of Carcassonne in 2015 and is keen to make a contribution to the European governing body. “ Our international teams must meet frequently, from young players to full national sides,” he said. “We need to further integrate development between the membership. The RLEF has the desire to build a strong ‘Europe of Rugby XIII’ and I am very motivated to work with them in helping to further broaden their scope and influence. “I’m really looking forward to meeting all the members for the first time and to participate in their congress in Dublin at the end of the month.”