International RL Blog

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 ...

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...

​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...

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...

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...

Chile looked set for a second win in International Rugby League and a first against a non-Latin American a opponent as the Weichafes led Thailand 20-8 with less than 25 minutes to play. Unfortunately, Thailand centre Suhttirak Choengkhiri had other ideas and scored a match-turning try with only two minutes left on the clock. Thai fullback Matthew Waugh had a chance to steal the result with a conversion from out wide but the kick pulled up short very windy conditions and the two nations were left level. The game was played on 1/10/17 in Liverpool, West Sydney and Chilean five-eighth Nick Doberer received the Coach’s Player Award. He left soon after and rushed to the hospital where he welcomed the birth of his first child a few hours later. Chile fielded arguably their strongest side to date but were still without approximately ten top class rugby league players identified with Chilean heritage. The Chilenos are very optimistic and will host the inaugural Latin American Rugby Le...

Two tries in three minutes at the start of the second half saw the Czech R. emerge triumphant, 26-6, against Hungary at the KFKI Sporttelep in Budapest. Centre Martin Košťál and second rower Richard Gach did the damage after the break, the visitors running in five tries in all in the first official Test match between the nations. “The game gave us an excellent opportunity to bring through new players and expose them to a higher standard of rugby league,” said Czech assistant coach Petr Šedina.  “All six debutants have made us proud of their efforts. The Hungarians fought until the end and earned our respect for the way they contested for 80 minutes. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in Budapest and look forward to welcoming them in less than a month.” Winger András Nemes crossed for a late, deserved consolation for the hosts. HRLF official and player Zsolt Luakcs noted: “It was honour to host the Czech Republic on the day of the sixth anniversary of Hungarian Rugby Leag...

The RLEF has awarded Observer status to Polska Rugby XIII, the national governing body of the sport in the country. The association was formed in 2015 but rugby league has been played in Poland since 2011 when founder Lukasz Lucka discovered the game on the internet and decided it was the perfect sport for the youth of his home city, Lodz. “This is a great milestone for us and the best reward for all the hard work we have put in so far developing rugby league in Poland,” said Lucka. “We look forward to kicking off a Polish rugby league championship and to play our first full international later this year.” Since the creation of Lodz Magpies, five more clubs have followed; Tomaszów Wild Bears, Sparta Brzeziny, Skierniewice Razorbacks, Stryków Bulls, and Wataha (‘the Wolfpack’) Piotrków Trybunalski. Polska Rugby XIII currently has a federation application lodged with the local authorities which will aid further recognition. The governing body has set itself four core objecti...

Lebanon are aiming to retain the Mediterranean Cup when they face Italy in Beirut on 3 June. Originally played for in 2002, the Cup was relaunched last season when the Cedars edged a superb game, 26-22, against the Azzurri in Sicily. That encounter was between teams comprised of only domestically-produced players and the same stipulation will apply this year as the Federazione Italiana Rugby League and Lebanese Rugby League Federation continue to strengthen a bilateral relationship that also saw an historic women’s Test match played in February. Lebanon’s Director of Performance Tarek Houchar who, as interim head coach, led the Cedars to a 24-4 win against Malta earlier this month, commented: “The players take nothing for granted in Lebanon; their passion, commitment and attitude towards representing the nation is exemplary. I’m excited to see some fresh new faces in our train-on squad. “Our biggest aim is to create a culture amongst the players that can hopefully leave a grea...

USA RL Season VII delivers a blockbuster summer of USA Rugby League 2017.  USA RL will see eight teams competing in the NORTH Conference  and  four teams in the SOUTH Conference. VIEW THE FULL SCHEDULE:  http://www.usarl.org/competitions The 21st season of club Rugby League in America kicks off on Saturday 3/6/17 when the  White Plains Wombats XIII  take on the  Boston 13s RLFC  in the season opener.

Following two victories at the start of 2017, their initial successes in the international arena – beating Uruguay 50-4 and Thailand 44-10 – Hungary rugby league secured the highest rise in the recently published Rugby League International Federation World Rankings, moving up five places to 33rd. It comes as the result of a chance coming together in late 2015, which has seen rugby league begin to blossom under the Magyars banner. Michael Hay began working with the Hungarian Rugby League Federation after finishing his playing career in France, where he’d met a Hungarian and moved to her home country to get married. Since then he has coached the Magyar Bulls national team and improved league knowledge and skills in domestic players. Around the same time, Stephen Nemeth, a Hungarian citizen born in Australia, contacted the HRLF through Facebook. He had been living in Budapest for five months, grown up playing rugby league in Australia and, as it turned out, he and Hay played agains...

In November, Australia will go into RLWC2017 (which they co-host with NZ) further strengthened in their World Rankings Number 1 position after their recent ANZAC Test victory. Two new nations appear for the first time with the inclusion of Thailand and Uruguay. This takes the total to 42 and reflects the greater number of sanctioned internationals being played globally. Leilani Latu’s last-gasp try for Tonga to beat Fiji 26-24 in last week’s Pacific triple-header saw them move up one rung on the ladder, whilst the biggest gainers are Hungary who rise five places to 33.

A dominant first half performance saw Lebanon take the next step in preparing for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, as they defeated Malta 24-4 at the New Era Stadium in Cabramatta. They will play in the same group as Australia, England and France come the tournament. The Cedars led 18-4 at the break, Malta containing the hosts to just a converted try in the second period. Star of the show was Lebanon stand off Abbas Miskie who crossed for a hat-trick of tries and kicked a perfect four goals. “With limited time together leading into the game, we came together well and everyone performed,” Miskie said. “There’s always an extra bit of drive inside of you when you’re representing your country and the boys definitely showed that passion. “The tactical side will come with time but it was definitely pleasing to see the comradery shown among the group which I think is one of the main recipes for a successful campaign come the World Cup.” Stand in coach, LRLF director of performance ...