EurFed RLEF - League Overseas - General

[S J]

Cross Keys RFC will stage international rugby league for the first time in 24 years next month, and only the second time ever, as the Wales Women’s side visit the famous Pandy Park to host England on Sunday, June 12 (kick-off 1pm).

Wales Rugby League’s General Manager Mark Jones said: “I’d like to thank Cross Keys for agreeing to stage the game next month. After playing matches in Warrington and Colwyn Bay in 2021, we’re really looking forward to bringing the Wales Women’s side back to South Wales for the first time in three years.

 

[S J]

Joanna Lawer, from Koliber Sosnowiec, has become the first woman to coach rugby league in Poland. She was one of eleven candidates from six cities who completed a level 1 course in Skierniewice, Central Poland last weekend. It was the first educational activity organized by Polska Rugby XIII since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.

 

[S J]

A further fixture has been added to the mid-season international fixtures, with Lebanon scheduled to face Malta at Belmore Sports Ground in Sydney on Wednesday 22 June (kick off 7pm local time). It will be the Cedars’ first game since 2019 and vital preparation for their World Cup campaign this autumn, whilst Malta recently beat debutants Montenegro at home.

Lebanon head coach, Michael Chieka, commented: “All of us are very excited about finally getting on the field to play in the colours of our country. Malta are great friends of ours in the rugby league landscape and to play them here in Australia will be a real honour for us. This Test match is going to be a great opportunity for the players - many of whom will be making their debuts - to put their hand up for World Cup selection. We will probably have only one or two games together prior to the squad being announced, so it’s a great chance for them to set down a marker.”

Malta coach, Aaron McDonald, noted: “This is an important game for us, taking on another top 16 ranked nation. Lebanon have been a strong rugby league side for many years and will be looking to ramp up their own preparations for the World Cup. We want to ensure that we are continuing to improve and to challenge those ahead of us. We know we are in for a battle and are looking forward to it, and building on our recent victories against Macedonia and Montenegro.”

The match will be live-streamed, with details to follow.

 

[S J]

The participating nations have been confirmed for the U19s European Championships, which will be held in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy between 1-11 September. France will be aiming to defend their 2018 title, with England, Ireland, Italy, Serbia, Scotland and Wales also set to compete and, following negotiations with their Ministry of Sport, Ukraine will also take their place in the tournament.

 

[Raboriginal]

The participating nations have been confirmed for the U19s European Championships, which will be held in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy between 1-11 September. France will be aiming to defend their 2018 title, with England, Ireland, Italy, Serbia, Scotland and Wales also set to compete and, following negotiations with their Ministry of Sport, Ukraine will also take their place in the tournament.

Pretty sure there's a go fund me for the Ukrainian boys expenses.

 

[S J]

Pretty sure there's a go fund me for the Ukrainian boys expenses.

Good idea Raboriginal

 

[S J]

The opening Test match in the southern hemisphere mid-season international window saw Lebanon run in six tries to see off Malta 30-14, at Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney.

Winger Christian Yassmin claimed a try double, the second a length of the field interception just before the break which saw the Cedars 20-8 ahead, a blow from which the Maltese could not recover. A strong defensive performance after the interval ensured that Lebanon, building for the World Cup in the autumn, held on.

 

[S J]

Domestic rugby league in Nigeria is set to kick off this weekend with the opening southern conference fixtures. Four clubs will play in each of the northern and southern divisions, with Lagos Haven and Kano Lions set to defend their respective titles.

The opening weekend will see Haven face local rivals Lagos Rhinos, whilst R2 Finesse RL entertain Eko Trinity. In the women’s ranks, the Lagos Haven female team will begin their season against Eko Trinity.

The initial north fixtures will see Kano Lions face Jos Miners, whilst Zazzau Bulls take on Kano Gazelles.

Chair of the Nigeria Rugby League Association, Abiodun Olawale Cole, noted: “I would like to thank all the executives, members and fans of NRLA for getting us this far and looking forward to a new season.”

 

[S J]

Jacksonville Axemen host Tampa Mayhem for the USARL Championship this Saturday, August 13 (kick off 6.30pm local time). It will be the eighth title game the Axemen have played during their 17 seasons, winning in 2010, ‘12, and ‘18. Tampa are the defending champions after a narrow win against the Axemen in the semi-finals last year and success over the Delaware Black Foxes in the final.

 

[S J]

Jacksonville Axemen have won their fourth USA Grand Final in their 17 year history, defeating Tampa Mayhem 36-12 in the 2022 decider.

Winger James Williams posted a hat trick for the Axemen, Justin Williams and Steven Hill crossed twice, Josh Westerlund and Vashon Mars with their other tries.

Axemen co-founder and general manager Drew Slover commented: “I’m proud of the team for how hard they have worked all season. Coach Sean Rutgerson did a great job developing some new young players and it's great when the work pays off with a championship.

“Tampa caught us sleeping last year and went on to win the title but we were determined not to let that happen again,” Slover added. “It's not an easy feat to go up against a team as good as the Mayhem three times in a season. Now we can take the momentum from the win and keep building for the future.”

Tampa co-founder, coach and manager Billy Neilson was understandably disappointed with the loss. “Jacksonville deserved it, congratulations to them.” he said. “We picked the wrong day to have our worst game of the season. We knew going into it we couldn't make many mistakes, Jax is too fast and disciplined to give them extra opportunities. We didn't take care of the ball and couldn't complete sets. They turned our mistakes into points and pulled away in the second half.”

 

[S J]

The fixtures for the southern group of the first-ever Euro B Women’s competition have been confirmed. The opening game will see Turkey host Greece at Istanbul Technical University on Saturday 25 September and the following weekend Greece welcome Serbia to the Goritsa Stadium near Aspropygos, just outside of Athens, for Greece’s first international match since rugby league achieved government recognition.

The final game sees Serbia take on Turkey in Belgrade on Saturday 8 October, and on the same day Ireland will host Wales at Malahide RFC, near Dublin, in a winner takes all encounter to conclude the north group.

The southern group fixtures mark a debut in competitive women’s rugby league for all three nations having previously played friendlies. Turkey are looking forward to opening the competition on home soil.

 

[S J]

France and Spain have announced squads for a Wheelchair Rugby League International on Saturday 3rd September in Fitou, France.

The World Champions will be looking to bounce back from a 62-48 loss to England in June, whilst Spain will be playing their first international since the 2017 World Cup, with a view to using the game as intense preparation for this year's competition.

 

[S J]

Serbia 6 - 22 Ireland

Italy 10 - 10 Serbia

Ireland 30 - 0 Italy

England 56 - 8 Wales

 

[S J]

France 62 - 7 Ukraine

Holders France will take on England on Saturday in the final of the European U19s Championship, after both were comprehensive winners in their semis. Eric Anselme’s young Tricolors beat surprise package Ukraine 62-7 whilst England triumphed 56-8 against Wales, in the heat at the Pasian di Prato Stadium in Udine, Italy.

Matthieu Garrigues, winger Kylian Benavent, Thibault Marty and Louis Grossemy from the bench all scored try doubles for the French who got off to a blistering start with six touchdowns in the opening 26 minutes. “We knew it was going to be tough and we had to impose ourselves from the start,” said Anselme. “If we began well and worked hard, we felt that we would have the advantage. We managed to keep our concentration and did a good job.”

Davyd Zazimko showed supreme pace, scorching 90 metres to score between the posts to open Ukraine’s account on the stroke of half time and was denied another long range effort in the second, Vitalii Romanov’s drop goal delighting the crowd on the hour mark.

 

[S J]

England pulled off a dramatic victory, defeating holders France 14-12 in the European U19s Championship at the Pasian di Prato Stadium in Udine, Italy, coming back from being 8-0 down at the break. The win was immediately dedicated to assistant coach Gary McMahon, who tragically passed away when with the squad last weekend.

Winger Noah Lancellot claimed two tries as part of the fightback, England head coach Allan Coleman, who stands down now, understandably emotional and full of praise for his charges. “I’m so proud of everybody, players, staff - all who has been part of what we wanted to achieve,” he said.

 

[S J]

In the Plate Final to decide third place in the tournament, Wales defeated Ukraine 32-7. There was little between the sides in the opening 25 minutes, props Michael Carter and Bradley Williams running hard for Wales and Ukraine responding in kind through Maksym Harmash and Bohdan Stetsun.

Dafydd Orr Morgan delayed a restart after Oleksandr Formiuk defused the bomb in the in-goal area that saw Wales reduced to 12 players with a sin binning, Oleksandr Levandovskyi slotting over a now trademark drop goal to move Ukraine ahead.

Unconverted tries late in the half from Bradley Toy, burrowing over from dummy-half, and Oscar Fisher in the corner saw Wales lead 8-1 at the break. Heavy rain and a strong wind accompanied the second period, Fisher with his second and Mason Phillips extending the advantage by the 50th minute.

Ukraine showed the spirit that has made them so popular throughout the tournament, building pressure to give the opportunity for Harmesh spring out of dummy-half to add some respectability to the score line, Oleksandr Forniuk adding a difficult conversion.

 

[S J]

Bulgaria will host Malta in a senior men’s international at Stadium Trebich in Sofia on Saturday 8 October with a 3.00pm kick off (local time). It will be the first-ever meeting of the nations and the host’s fifth fixture in the international arena.

 

[S J]

The squads have been released for the 2022 Middle East Africa Championship, set to be held from September 27 to October 2 at the Mansah Sabbah Field, University of Ghana, in Legon, Accra.

The tournament will act as part of the qualifying process in the region for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup, to be held in France.

MEA SQUADS

CAMEROON
Jean Claude Bidjana, Armel Damdja, Cyrille Kamole, Nzokou Martial, Hermand Nguele, Patrick Nkouak, Lamare Oudi (Bulls RL), Emmanuel Tientchue (Gorilla RL), Mouhamed Embella, Christian Tedjou, Loic Tsasse (Guepard RL), Philippe Ambassa, Bekolo Elie Jean Bliase, Ledoux Fosso, Fabrice Joufang, Frank Watio (Panda RL) Pitoile Assomo, Paul Atungsiri Ndifor, Georgane Ngoufack (Rock RL) Carol Manga, Khalil Njoya (Unattached)

GHANA
Yakubu Suleman (Accra Majestics), Jonas Moorkaar (Accra Panthers), Anane Benjamin, Bawa Bright, Geotrah Desmond, Collins Ofosu, Nigel Sackey (Bulls), Levi Osei (Canterbury Bulldogs), Sean Sabutey (Glebe Dirty Reds), Oliver Puman (Nungua Tigers), Jonathan Adotey, Philip Asomani, John Bless Mensah (Pirates), Emmanuel Acheampong, Riddick Alibah, Jordan Annan, William Pearce Biney, Chris da Gama, Francis Lawson,David Nartey (Skolars), Isaac Akuoko (Wong Roos)

KENYA
Denish Ndinya (AP), John Awiti Oketch, Raymond Ekutu (Rhinos), Tony Khadambi, Brony Lucky, Timothy Thimba (Ruffians), Joel Inzuga, Eliakim Kichoi, Celestine Mboi, Floyd Wambwire, (Sharks), James Maranga, Ramadan Masete, Finely Mokoro, Remi Odhiambo, Victor Odhiambo, Philimon Olang, Paul Seda (Winam), Horus Alela, Ahmed Hamed, Collin Ochieng, Wyclif Ratemo (Wolves)

NIGERIA
Anthony Tuoyo Egodo (Birmingham Mosley RFC), Michael Ayodeji Ogunwole (British Army), Abdullah Balogun (Castleford Tigers), Kalu Shedrack Agwu (Eko Trinity), Daniel Okoro (Hull KR), Jude Abrakson, Emmanuel Onyekwe Ebuk, Julius Godwin, Nuhu Ibrahim, Gabriel John, Issa Omale, Ibrahim Suraju, Bashir Usman, Obi Wilsom (Kano Lions), Azuka Chika, Daniel John, Isah Lawal-Saulawa, Olisa Nwokedi, Kelvin Olisa, Akeem Yusuf (Lagos Haven), Rio-Osayomwanbo Christoper Corkill (St Helens)

 

[S J]

The domestic title winners in Lebanon, Jamaica and Norway have been decided.

In Beirut, the Lycans (Grey Wolves) defeated the Wolves 34-12 in a reversal of last year’s result in the Grand Final. Their victory was built on a strong first half performance which saw them 18-0 ahead, loose forward Michel Tom scoring two of their six tries.

Gaby Haddad, Lebanon Rugby League’s tournament director, added: “It was a tough season for the LRL with all the issues going around in Lebanon. We managed to put Lebanon Rugby League back on track. All teams had an amazing experience and gave it their all to make the competition successful.”

In Jamaica, Duhaney Park Red Sharks won their sixth consecutive National Club Championship Grand Final, and eighth overall, with a convincing 40-18 win over Washington Boulevard Bulls at the UWI Mona Bowl, taking control of the game in the second half when running in five tries.

Centre Alexander John Ponton scored a hat trick as Lillestrøm Lions overcame Oslo Capitals 40-0 in the Norwegian decider at Vigernesjordet. The home side led 10-0 at the break, Lucas Zuniga and Wiktor Chodan each with two tries, and Eric Peter Mellor their other in a resounding triumph.

 

[S J]

A try five minutes from time by debutant centre Sander Doria, set up by scrum half Laury Renac, saw Netherlands defeat Spain 36-30 in Getafe, in the first meeting of the nations.

Bulgaria will host Malta in a senior men’s international at Stadium Trebich in Sofia on Saturday 8 October with a 3.00pm kick off (local time). It will be the first-ever meeting of the nations and the host’s fifth fixture in the international arena.