Rugby League Planet

European Shield 2012-13: Game 8 Preview - Serbia V Russia

By Phil Caplan, Date: 24/5/13

Competition leaders Russia travel to Belgrade to face an in-form home side that, after an impressive 46-10 win over Germany last week, will be looking to take over top spot.

To do so Serbia must beat Russia for the first time in five meetings, although the trend of results has seen the Bears’ margin of victory diminish each time, culminating in last September’s 21-20 victory in Naro-Fominsk.

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RLEF inaugural match officials chief Davis steps down

By Phil Caplan, Date: 23/5/13

After six seasons at the helm, RLEF Match Officials Manager Steve Davis has decided to relinquish his post. Davis, the Federation’s inaugural match officials chief, will return to his native Sydney having spent the last 13 years in England.

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Tickets go on sale for Festival Of World Cups Finals Day

Date: 21/5/13

Festival of World Cups organisers have announced that tickets for the Police, Women’s and Student Rugby League World Cup Finals have gone on sale, with the three events taking place at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Sunday July 14.

The Festival Of World Cups Finals day is the culmination of two weeks of International Rugby League in July and promises to offer three exciting matches to bring the Festival to a crescendo. Tickets for the day are priced at £6 for Adults and £2 for Under 16s.

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Serbia steamroll Germany in game 7 of the rugby league European Shield

By Phil Caplan, Date: 19/5/13

Serbia 46 Germany 10 – Makis Stadium, Budapest, Saturday

A hat trick from Dorcol’s outstanding loose forward Stefan Nedeljković saw Serbia register a comfortable win over a gallant German outfit, to move into second place in the European Shield table.

There was little between the sides in a tight first half, the hosts scoring 28 unanswered points in the second period, with two-try centre Stevan Stevanović also a handful.

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Rugby League European Shield Game 7 - Serbia v Germany - Preview

By Phil Caplan, Date: 17/5/13

Rugby League European Shield Game 7 - Serbia v Germany - Preview

The 2012-13 European Shield recommences in Belgrade on Saturday, with Serbia hosting Germany. Twelve months ago in Heidelberg, Germany sprung an upset, beating Serbia for the first time, by the narrowest of margins.

“Two interesting challenges are in front of us in the following ten days,” said a pensive Marko Jankovic, the Serbian coach, who will also lead his men against arch-rivals Russia on 25 May. “Our approach to this round of fixtures is a cautious one,” he admitted, “although there is an expectation for all our effort to gain results.”

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2013 Pacific International Tonga v Samoa Results

By Richard Cowley, Date: 20/4/13

On a cold night in Penrith 10,143 Samoan and Tongan fans packed Centrebet Stadium to see the two Pacific nations pickup were they left off in 2008.

The atmosphere at the ground made the game feel like it was the World Cup Final. Where ever you looked there was a sea Tongan and Samoan flags. Prior to the game both nations did their traditional war dances which really got the crowd going before kick-off.

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2013 ANZAC Test Results - Australia and New Zealand

Richard Cowley, Date: 20/4/13

In front of a full house down in cold and windy Canberra the Australia's continued their dominance of one off test matches against New Zealand.

Cooper Cronk crossed the line just after 5 minutes into the test match and Cameron Smith converted to put Australia in front by 6.

The next 35 minutes of play saw the grit of a true test match take hold has both sides defended well and the kiwis squandered opportunities to get on the score board. Some would say the Kiwis didn't get the rub of the green with some of the referee calls.

On the half time buzzer Josh Hoffman crossed out wide and Shaun Johnson made sure New Zealand secured the extra 2 points. This saw both teams go into half time locked at 6 all.

The second half was a different story. Just 10 minutes into the 2nd half the Kiwis opened the floodgates. The Australian's ran in 5 tries with 4 of them taking place over a 9 minute period.

New Zealand crossed for a consolation try late in the match. The final score Australia 32 - New Zealand 12

The Kiwis can take a lot from the match against Australia and will be well prepared come World Cup time, when they have all their stars back on board. Simon Mannering pulled out due to injury just before kick-off which added to Kiwi injury list that included the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall.

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2013 Pacific International Tonga v Samoa teams

By Richard Cowley, Updated: 19/4/13

On April the 20th 2013 rugby league fans will get a taste of that rivalry and pacific passion that was last seen on our TV screens back in late 2008. Samoa is going to take on the might of Tonga once again at Penrith Stadium.

For 2013 Tonga v Samoa International Pacific match report, final team lists before kick-off and photos click here

During the 2008 rugby league world cup (RLWC) a new rivalry was born that matched the passion of State of Origin. Just under 12,000 rugby league fans packed Penrith Stadium to watch the ground shake as Samoa 20 defeated Tonga 12 in a closely contested match. The match itself was full of pacific passion and big hits which would even make non rugby league fans stand up and take notice.

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