
Bosnia and Herzegovina Rugby League Association and club FIS Vitez have completed the first part of their youth project, ‘Play sports, Play rugby league’ with a touch tournament at the Vitez City Sports Hall, supported by the local Municipality and regional government.
After more than a month and a half of work at the Vitez Elementary School, a competition between classes was organized with students from 6th to 9th grade. About 200 participated and learned rugby league skills, ending with a touch tournament for trophies presented by the Municipality of Vitez chief executive Boris Marijanovic, and after which they were all awarded diplomas.
The project was successfully undertaken by instructors and players from FIS Vitez; Viktor Bilic, Alem Sabanović, David Zuljevic, Stjepan Krizanac, Zvonimir Ljubanic, and Bosnia and Herzegovina national team coach Dado Vrebac and assistant coach Marko Banovic, in cooperation with physical education teacher Marija Vujica.
President of the club and BHRLA, Zeljko Ljubanic, said: “It was a great day for rugby league in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Youth rugby league is our future and we are indebted to the Municipality of Vitez and Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Central Bosnia Canton for supporting this, along with the Direct Aid Project financed by the Australian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I hope these initiatives, which are offered free of charge, will continue to support us and that the project will cover the whole Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future.”
The BHRLA are hoping that the interest generated will see more players joining the club whilst the scheme is next set to feature an inter-school competition.