Following their acceptance as observer members of International Rugby League, a Slovakia select side will play a representative fixture against Serbian club Radnicki from Belgrade today (Saturday, kick off 3pm local time) at at the Bratislava Ekonom Ihrisko Stadium.
Charles Cimetiere, president of Slovak Rugby League, commented: “After our international match against Poland last year, we have the pleasure of hosting our friends from Serbia. Our goal is to play more fixtures this season and bring new faces into the rugby league family.
“Our development plan is based on the recruitment of juniors from U14-16 and welcoming new adults. Also, we have some plans with Hungarian rugby league clubs to play 9s games and eventually hold some training camps in Vienna and Hodonin in the Czech Republic. We think fans here will love the game and the Slovak Rugby League Federation is growing surely.”
RLC Radnicki is one of the oldest rugby league clubs in the region, founded in 1953 and playing until the sport was stopped in 1964, restarting activity in 2012. Vladan Kikanovic, director of the club and Serbian Rugby League Federation general secretary, noted: “It’s a great opportunity to play against our friends from Slovakia and assist them in future development. We also wish to give opportunity to our players for a tour as a reward for their efforts.“
Fijian Misa Vakadranu will referee match. Based in Vienna, just 80km from Bratislava, he intends to start developing rugby league in Austria.
