RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Foundation Year - 2006

International Team - Czech Rugby League

Top level domestic competition - Scheduled to kick-off in May 2009.

History - Czech Republic is a new rugby league playing nation and continues the trend of European nations taking up the sport. Rugby League found it's way to the Czech Republic via former Czech Union international Milan MrtynekIn. MrtynekIn fell in love with rugby league after attending a game at Odsal Oval involving Bradford and St Helens in the north of England. This new found passion put MrtynekIn on a mission to bring rugby league to the Czech Republic. By all accounts the development of league in Czech has been very successful.

In 2006 the Czech Republic were involved in their first international game against the Netherlands. The Czech's also played Serbia going down narrowly in both games.

In May 2007 the British Police toured Czech Republic to help with the development of the game. 1300 students were allowed time off school to be involved in the day long rugby league festival. In the final session for the day the British Police played Czech Republic winning the game 68 -10.

In August 2007 Czech Republic played in a development tri-nations series against Serbia and Germany. Once again Czech Republic failed to register their first win.

The CZARL plan to use the exposure gained by the British Police tour and development tri-nations series as a springboard for further development of the sport in the Czech Republic. The sport is now being introduced into selected schools and 2 new rugby league clubs based in Beroun and Pardubice have been formed.

The Czech Republic , Italy and Germany took part in the Euro Tri-Nations in July/August 2008. Once again the Czech's failed to register a win.

In October 2008 the Czech Republic hosted the under 18's European Nations Cup. Played in Prague, Czech's registered their first ever win at any level defeating a combined Euro Celts side 26 - 22.

In 2009 Czech Republic were ranked 20th in World seedings by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

In March 2009 the RLEF assigned two development officers to continue with growing rugby league in the Czech Republic. On the back of this the first ever domestic game between Beroun Black Panthers and the Pardubice Jets took place on the 17th of April. The domestic championship is due to kick-off in May.

The recent success of the Rugby League World Cup will provide further funds to develop the sport throughout Europe. The Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) will now have more funds to invest in development officers and continue assisting rugby league's growth. With the right support many more nations including the Czech Republic could possibly be involved in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers.

The Czech Republic along with Germany and Italy took part in the European Shield in July 2009. The Czech's finished 2nd on the ladder after being defeated by Italy.

Dear Readers, If you have first hand knowledge of the current Rugby League situation in Czech Republic we would love to hear from you. Please email us at: webmaster@rugbyleagueplanet.com or join our international rugby league Forums at http://forums.rugbyleagueplanet.com and let us all know what's going on in your part of the world.