Date: 6/8/14
The Rugby League Development Fund members have submitted their votes and now it comes down to the remaining three members to decide who will be the winner of the 2013 Rugby League Planet Rugby League Development Fund Grant.
All nations involved submitted excellent applications with Spain and Ukraine being the two that stood out for members.
Spain are very new on the rugby league radar with the Association Espanola De Rugby League (AERL) founded in February 2013. With their ongoing efforts on the ground the Rugby League European Federation awarded them with observer status in December 2013.
Spain have recently completed their first rugby league competition and currently have 7 rugby league clubs throughout Spain and more in development stage. The AERL are also kick starting a rugby league 9’s competition to further expose the game of rugby league to the Spanish population.
The most important step of their progress is in planning with a rugby league schools competition another box the AERL are out to tick.
Ukraine rugby league adventure began in 2006 and today they have over 764 registered players. The Ukraine Rugby League recently became full members of the RLIF and RLEF.
The UFRL run two senior, Under 18’s, 16,s, 14’s and 12’s rugby league competitions. There are plans underway to expand the geography of the competition but the current instability in parts of Ukraine are making this very challenging for the UFRL.
The UFRL also want to give the sport of rugby league more national exposure with plans to broadcast matches on TV forming part of their plans moving forward. This coupled with the possibility of playing in better stadiums will hopefully attract some of the top athletes in Ukraine and build on the momentum rugby league has already created.
So the remaining members have a hard vote to cast and will have until midnight on Monday the 11th August to make their final decision.
Rugby League Planet and the Rugby League Development Fund members wish both nations the best of luck!
