RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Foundation Year - 2003

International Team - Titans

Top level domestic competition - Hellenic Rugby League had a small rugby league competition take place on Greek soil in 2008.

History - Hellenic Rugby League was first formed by Australian's with Greek heritage. Their first international's were played in 2003. Greece played a warm up game against New Caledonia in late August before playing an RLIF sanctioned game against Italy in September. The game was played in Australia, NSW at Kogarah's Oki Jubilee Oval home to NRL club St George Illawarra Dragons. The teams were playing each other for the inaugural Ionio Cup. In a close and brutal game fitting for these two rivals, Greece were narrowly defeated 26 - 24 in the dying minutes of the game.

In 2004 Greece once again defeated New Caledonia 56 - 8. The Ionio Cup was retained by Italy with Greece going down again to the Italian's 58 - 14

Greece took on Malta in 2005 at Sydney's Fairfax Community Stadium. Once again Greece snatched defeat from the jaws of victory letting Malta score in the dying minutes to win 24 - 22.

In October 2006 the first game of club rugby league was played on Greek soil when the Olympus Eels defeated the Attica Tigers 24-16. A majority of the players were locals with eight Australian based Greek players split up between the two teams to provide on field guidance.

The defining moment for Hellenic Rugby League came in 2006 with the first international played on home soil against Serbia. Played in Athens with eight locally based players, Greece defeated Serbia 44 - 26.

In 2007 a Greek Residents Team played Scotland Students winning 58 - 30. A number of training clinic's were also held introducing rugby league to interested locals.

In early 2008 the Rugby League European Federation released European seedings with Greece ranked 11th out of 16 European nations.

Greece decided against entering into the 2008 World Cup qualifiers deciding to concentrate on developing the sport at home. In Feb 2008 Greece were confirmed as the 8th team in the 2008 University Student World Cup being held in Australia in July. Fielding 10 Greek based players, Greece were the surprise packets of the tournament. They defeated Scotland 14 - 0 in the opening game. Narrowly went down to England 22 - 20. Minus a hiccup against Australia, Greece went on to defeat France in the Cup Plate Final 14 - 12.

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 Greece could possibly be involved in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers. It is hoped that the establishment of a local competition in Rhodes and continued development of the sport in the Greek Islands will help Greece create more history come 2013.

In early 2009 Greece were ranked 26th in World seedings by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

In late 2009 Greece, Italy, Portugal and Malta took part in the inaugural Australian Mediterranean 4 Nations Shield held at Marconi Stadium over two weeks. Greece defeated Italy 34 - 14 in the final to become the first team to win the Australian Mediterranean 4 Nations Shield.

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