International RL Blog

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...

Lebanon defeated Italy 26-22 in a closely fought game in Catania, Sicily to retain the Mediterranean Cup. The first ever international RL match between South American countries took place in Sydney when Chile defeated El Salvador 58-20. Serbian second division side Novi Beograd beat Kodikoy Bulls 40-6 as the Bulls (from Turkey) made the first international RL appearance by a Turkish side and scrum half Demir scored their first points with a fine break and conversion.   The Ohana RL Festival will take place on 20/8/16 at the Aloha Stadium in Hawaii and it will include Tonga v Samoa and Fiji v Canada Italy will host Wales on 22/10/16 at the 18 000 capacity, Stadio Brianteo in Monza. The game is a World Cup qualifier with both Wales and Italy in the same group as Serbia and the winners guaranteed a place in the 2017 tournament in Australia.