International RL Blog

 When VAR was originally introduced, the idea was that it would be used to avoid "clear and obvious" errors and who could doubt the wisdom of that. Unfortunately, mission creep has occurred on a massive scale and now VAR (or TMO, video ref, big screen) is used on such a massive scale that it is allowed to disrupt games to a far greater extent than originally envisaged. We have reached a point where sport is no longer recognisable. The flow and continuity of the game is disrupted and any drama is often dissipated.  This is true for all major football codes (soccer, union and league) but it is particularly a problem in soccer where decisions are often analysed to such a minute degree that the game can be interrupted for up to ten minutes. This takes place in winter and players are left standing around in pouring rain or freezing cold. Spectators suffer in bad weather too and they are often oblivious to the VAR decisions being made. Obviously, accurate decision making is importa...

This is still wonderful. Proud, dignified and having a good time. Merry Christmas

The Australian Jillaroos have won the 2017 Rugby League Women’s World Cup after surviving a physical encounter with the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns to finish champions 23-16. A field goal on the stroke of fulltime from Australian livewire, Caitlyn Moran sehaled the game for the Jillaroos after holding off a late surge from a determined Kiwi ferns outfit.  Moran also bagged a double in the match which laid the platform for the Jillaroos to build a lead after spending much of the first half fending off New Zealand attacks. New Zealand try scoring machine, Honey Hireme, also scored two tries but it wasn’t enough as the Jillaroos won their second straight Women’s World Cup. As soon as play got underway, the Ferns flexed their muscles and tried to put the jillaroos on the back foot by sending their powerful forwards up the middle to try and gain some early momentum. But despite controlling the opening minutes of the game, some brilliant creative play from the Jillaroos result...

The Australian Kangaroos are the 2017 Rugby League World Cup champions after narrowly edging out rivals England 6-0 in a physical and tense encounter. No points were scored following Boyd Cordner’s 15th minute try as England threw everything they had at the Australians but failed to find a way through the green and gold defensive line as the Kangaroos won their second straight World Cup title. In front of a packed house at Brisbane stadium, Australia put together another clinical performance from the opening whistle to lift the Paul Barrière trophy for the first time in 40 years on Australian soil. As Australia kicked off to get the much anticipated clash underway, the physicality of the bout was evident from the first hit up as English forward James Graham, got up bleeding from the head after returning the kick off. And as Graham’s head was cleaned up, Australia would also draw first blood on the scoreboard following repeated raids on the English goal line. 15 minutes into ...

Australian Captain Cameron Smith and New Zealand Kiwi Ferns star forward Teuila Fotu-Moala have received the prestigious individual international player awards at the official Rugby League World Cup 2017 Grand Final luncheon at the Sofitel Brisbane attended by all four finals teams. The Australian hooker narrowly edged out Tongan forward Jason Taumalolo with England winger Jermaine McGillvary being named in 3rd place for the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) Golden Boot Award. The presentation of the RLIF Golden Boot was made by RLIF Chairman Nigel Wood and caps an outstanding year for Smith who has led the undefeated Australian team with distinction, winning his 50th cap for the Kangaroos during 2017.  Smith also won the 2017 Dally M Medal, 11 years after winning his first Medal, and led the Melbourne Storm to the NRL Premiership. He has been an ever-present force in the Australia team during 2017, kicking 24 goals to date in the 2017 World Cup and surpassed Clive ...

In their first campaign, Stavanger Storm have finished top of the expanded Norwegian rugby league championship, ahead of Porsgrunn Pirates. The season saw a seven-team competition, with sides spread over 1,800km, complete all the scheduled games, along with the national side competing in four fixtures, all unbeaten, in what is the most successful Norge RL campaign to date.   “Forty games being played without a single forfeit is a major step forward,” said chairman Lee Johnson.  “We now look to the future with a strategic plan to develop better skills among the players. We also look forward to taking on new and stronger opposition within Europe and to do our best in the 2021 World Cup qualifiers.” Norway also played their first junior international in 2017, against Serbia U18s, two 9s tournaments and now have 11 clubs actively training, with three newcomers set to play in the first 9s competition next year. “We also focus on staging an event rather than a game,” ...

The RLEF board has awarded observer status to Cameroon Rugby League XIII, an association based in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital city.   “ Rugby league will give Cameroonian youth strong human and social values; solidarity, courage and citizenship,”   said CRLXIII chairman Samuel Tayou.  “Physically, rugby league is well suited to Africans and the game is just spectacular.”   Tayou heads a seven-strong executive committee which was elected by its 26 Directors in 2017, in line with the French system. However, the Cameroon story is now in its sixth year and currently involves eight member clubs: Yaoundé-based Dragons RL, Bulls RL, Raiders RL, Petou Institut RL and Panthers RL; plus Nyété Bulls, Babadjou RL and Kumba RL. Another five clubs are in the process of being formed. “Everything started in 2012 with (former Kangaroo international) Michael Hancock in Brisbane, who embraced my idea to set up rugby league in Cameroon,” explains Carol Manga, CRLXIII’s gen...

Following the success of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, the new world rankings have been announced for the men’s game and, significantly, for the first time, the women. Australia, after picking up the silverware in both tournaments, are at the head of the respective tables. “One of our goals since 2016 has been to restore the Kangaroos to the position of number one in the world,”   said Kangaroos head coach Mal Meninga, in the afterglow of retaining the World Cup.  “We achieved that following the Four Nations Final last year and it has been enormously satisfying to stay there. “We believe a strong international programme is essential and see our success, and the manner in which we fought for it, as a catalyst in continuing this push to prioritise Test match rugby league. The players have been central to this achievement and I know they are very proud and humble to maintain the status quo.” Nine nations make up the inaugural Women’s rankings. Australia head coach...

The honours have been shared as the Serbian rugby league season comes to an end, after Partizan held on to defeat rivals Red Star 32-26 to win the inaugural, regional Balkan Super League title, at the FK BASK Arena in the capital city, in the second ‘battle of Belgrade.’ The competition, which is scheduled to expand in 2018 with more nations and teams involved, also featured sides from Turkey, Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The week before, for the second time in their history, Red Star became Serbian champions after defeating Partizan 44-22 in the SRL Grand Final, held at the Ada Ciganlija Stadium. The Balkan Super League decider saw the lead change hands four times in the first half. But touchdowns from the competition’s leading try scorer, Vladimir Milutinović, and Branko Čarapić in five minutes in the lead up to the break – which established a 28-16 for Admir Hadžić’s Partizan side – turned out to be crucial. Red Star’s fight back was too late, Brodie Feeney with a b...

Chile win Latin American Championship

Wins for Argentina and Chile at Day 1 of Latin America Championship

​Hong Kong lost against Japan 22-24 in a thrilling encounter that saw Japan hold off a spirited second half comeback by Hong Kong to claim the inaugural East Asia Cup. Hong Kong, playing in their first ever international RL match, started off slowly in the first half, struggling with a high error count and low set completion rate that allowed Japan to dominate territory and possession. Japanese hooker Kazuki Fukushige and half back Kenshin Tsutsui controlled the game well, Fukushige in particular causing Hong Kong plenty of problems with his quick snipes out from dummy half. Japan raced ahead to a 14-0 lead through scores by Fukushige, Itaru Matuso and Tsutsui, who scored collected his own kick to go over for a brilliant individual score. Hong Kong looked to gain back some possession through some strong running in the middle and eventually scored their first ever international try through barnstorming forward Ben Ryan, who was a standout performer from both sides. However, another s...

FIRST 9S TOURNAMENT PLAYED IN ISTANBUL

SPANISH SEASON SET TO KICK OFF

The Rugby League World Rankings have been updated prior to the kick-off of the 15th World Cup. Two of the participants, Lebanon – up three places to 18th and Italy – who rise two to 12th – are amongst the main movers since May; along with the Netherlands, Hungary and Vanuatu. Cedars head coach Brad Fittler commented:   “It’s really encouraging news on the verge of the tournament, to hear that we are rising in the rankings. It’s a great boost as we go into our group games with Australia, England and France and a further yardstick to measure ourselves by – it gives us encouragement to aim even higher and break into the top ten.” Results in the World Cup could see Australia, co-hosts New Zealand or even England – if they win the World Cup for the first time since 1972 and the Antipodeans both have poor tournaments – end the campaign as the number one ranked nation. Should they make the quarter finals, Scotland will most-likely retain their high spot of fourth gained after t...

Norway hold on to record historic win in Czech Republic

The Czech Republic and Norway have announced their squads to play in Saturday’s international in Krupka, close to the east German border. It will be the third meeting between the nations, with each having won once. Thirteen of Ladislav Cintler’s Czech squad played in the victory against Hungary earlier in the year, Bruno Jasiczek the only debutant this time. Captain Jan Heininger said: “We are really looking forward to testing ourselves once more against Norway. We had a narrow victory over them last year but since then they have won the Nordic Cup and are in good form. We have had a fantastic and long season of rugby league in the Czech Republic this year and we are looking to round it off in style with a win for our home fans.” In a sign of the progress being made in both countries, the combined squads are collectively drawn from 17 clubs, with Vikingene coach Dave Hunter selecting his team from a record 10 sides. Porsgrunn are contributing the largest number, including sole deb...

Chile will host the inaugural Latin American Rugby League Championships in Los Angeles, Chile, on November 17-18 2017. Argentina, Mexico and Colombia the other teams taking part.

El Salvador registered an historic first win in international RL against Latin American opponents Uruguay. On Saturday 1/10/17, in fine but blustery conditions in Sydney, El Salvador fought hard for a resounding but unexpected 46-10 victory. The big win has immense significance for El Salvador, a nation of just 6.5 million people which has fared poorly for decades in football and Rugby Union. The Trueno Azul (Blue Thunder) were coming off a 32-12 loss to Thailand and a 58-20 loss to Chile in their only previous International RL appearances. But after devoting themselves to a three-month preparation before the Uruguay game, the Salvadorenos reaped the rewards of hard work in a clash that was expected to be tight and go either way. Making the win ever more meritorious, El Salvador played most of the game with just two interchanges, after one player fell gravely ill hours beforehand and another suffered a serious shoulder injury in the first half. Gold Coast-based fullback Anth...