Serbia

The 20^th Serbian domestic campaign got underway with the now traditional curtain-raiser, the annual Risman Cup challenge match, at the Skolarac stadium in Ub. Team Bev – the Serbian U21s - defeated Team John, their national U19s, 28-16; Valentino Milovanović with two of the victor’s five tries.

By Brian Lowe,

The final round of the European qualifiers for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) are set to get underway later this month.

As Challenge Cup final week heats up, Red Star Belgrade have revealed their intention to return to the competition next year.

New Serbia head coach Stuart Wilkinson has reflected on his side’s two game tour against the Yorkshire Lionhearts, saying that it is the perfect platform for them to build upon. Wilkinson brings a wealth of experience to the role having previously been on the coaching staff at Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors, and has international experience with Great Britain Academy, England, Wales, France and Russia.

Serbia’s mini-tour of Yorkshire continues this week (Wednesday 10 July) with a second match against the Yorkshire Lionhearts at the Stanningley club in Leeds (kick off 7.45pm).

Serbia will become the latest rugby league nation to field a women’s team when they face Italy in Lignano tomorrow (Saturday) as part of the sport’s international weekend.

Date: 28/2/19

The traditional match to herald the start of the new rugby league season in Serbia, named after the Risman family, saw ‘Team John’ comprising of the Serbia U21s, defeat ‘Team Bev’ made up of their best U23s, 36-24 at the BASK Arena.

Date: 11/2/19

Rugby league’s most geographically spread club competition, the Balkan Super League, will be further expanded when it kicks off in April 2019.

Date: 8/1/19

The 2019 Challenge Cup first round fixture between Millom and Red Star Belgrade at Coronation Field on Sunday, January 27 (KO 1.30pm) is to be live streamed on the BBC Sport website.

Date: 7/12/18

Red Star Belgrade will bring one of the great names of European sport to the oldest competition in Rugby League when they are included in the draw for the First Round of the 2019 Challenge Cup next Friday (December 14) at Emerald Headingley – the venue for the first Challenge Cup final in 1897.