Rugby league in Greece explained

Country:Greece
Sport:rugby league
Union:Greek Rugby League Association
Nationalteam:Men's
Women's
First:2006
Registered:116 [1]
Clubs:20
National List:Rugby League World Cup

Rugby league is a team sport that is relatively new to Greece.

History

The Greece national team was formed in 2003 by Greek Australians. Rugby league was subsequently introduced to Greece in 2006. The first match played in Greece was contested by the Olympus Eels and Attica Tigers, with the teams consisting of a mixture of local rugby union players and Greek Australians. A few days later on 28 October 2006, Athens hosted an international match against, which Greece won 44–26.[2]

The initial attempt to find a Greek RL Federation, started by Colin Mylonas, in 2003. Mylonas and his associates spent a lot of money until 2007, but they failed to form a Greek-based Federation. Colin Mylonas was involved with the continued development of the game until 2010. This included Greece playing in the 2008 University Rugby League World Cup after Russia pulled out. Greece was made up of 10 Australian based players with Greek heritage and 10 players from Greece were flown out to Australia. They achieved great success beating France in the plate Final. In the same tournament, Greece beat Scotland Ireland and came very close in beating England only losing on the bell. This put Greece on the map in playing rugby league. Other achievements included winning the Mediterranean Cup in 2010 played in Sydney beating Italy in the final, in front of 3000 people. Greece also played Fiji in Sydney in 2009 losing but gaining respect as a nation on the rise.

Colin Mylonas in 2010 had decided to withdraw from the organisation due to differences in the direction of the Greek Rugby League.

In 2012, Anastasios Pantazidis, Konstantinos Tzevelekos, Ioannis Mavros, Matthew Ashill and Iordanis Bilikaidis have become the first Greek coaches to gain their Level 1 qualification after completion of a two-day course in Nikaia, North of Piraeus, the port area of the capital, Athens. It was organised following co-operation between the Greek rugby league committee and the Serbian Rugby League Federation.[3]

The Hellenic Federation of Rugby League (HFRL) was founded in 2013 by Anastasios "Tasos" Pantazidis. The body was recognised by an Athens court and was therefore accorded observer status within the RLEF in August 2013.[4] In February 2014, the HFRL was granted affiliate member status by the RLEF.[5]

In April 2016, the HFRL was suspended from the RLEF following a year-long investigation for "wilfully acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the RLEF and international rugby league."[6] The HRFL was expelled from the RLEF in August 2016 for failing to meet membership requirements.[7] The HFRL continued to organise a domestic competition through the Hellenic Federation of Modern Pentathlon (HFMP) with the recognition of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Meanwhile, the RLEF ran a separate, recognised competition in the 2016/17 period.[8]

In March 2017, the Greek Rugby League Association (GRLA) was recognised by the RLEF as the official governing body for rugby league in Greece, and was granted observer status.[9] The conflict between the HFRL/HFMP and the RLIF continued until August 2022 when the GRLA was finally recognised as the official body for the sport by the Greek government.[10]

In December 2017, national team captain Stefanos Bastas became the first Greek domestic player to sign a professional playing contract when he secured a one-year deal with the Hemel Stags.[11]

Greece competed at the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup in which it was their first time qualifying for the tournament, they had a very hard draw coming up against host nation England, eventual runners up Samoa and France who have competed in international Rugby league for over 50 years - led by captain Billy Magoulias along with other established NRL stars lachlan Ilias and Peter Mamouzelos they performed valiantly especially against the French - with a stunning try from Greek Centre Nick Mougios on the final siren.Although the Greek side failed to win a match, they performed strongly with many semi professional players, young talent and nrl stars sprinkled in to try and help the team perform credibly.

Competitions

GRLA clubs

Club class=unsortableColours !City Joined class=unsortableNotes
2019/20[12] Former HFRL club (A.E.K. Kokkinias)
A.E.L.[13] 2018/19
2016/17[14] GRLA founder; former HFRL club (Aris Petroupolis)
Athens City Raiders 2019/20
2016/17 GRLA founder; former HFRL club (Pegasus Neos Kosmos)
2016/17 Joined the inaugural GRLA competition in 2016/17
2016/17 GRLA founder; former HFRL club

HFRL clubs

Club class=unsortableColours !City Joined class=unsortableNotes
A.E.K. Kokkinias 2013/14[15] Left the HFRL in 2019 and joined the GRLA
Agios Thomas Goudi Athens (Goudi) 2015/16[16]
Argos Wolves 2014/15[17] Joined the 2nd division only; club folded
Aris Petroupolis 2013/14 Left the HFRL and founded the GRLA as the Aris Eagles
Haidari Lions Athens (Haidari) 2014/15 Joined the 2nd division only; club folded
Neapoli Lakοnias 2013/14 Joined the 2nd division only
Pegasus Neos Kosmos 2013/14 Left the HFRL and founded the GRLA as the Attica Rhinos
Promitheas Rendi 2013/14 Fielded only a 2nd division team in 2014/15
Pyrrichios Aspropyrgou[18] 2014/15[19]
Rhodes Knights 2013/14 Left the HFRL and founded the GRLA
----

The domestic XIII competition for 2017/18.

XIII Teams

No Club
1 Promitheas Nikaia / Rendis
2 Pyrihios Aspropyrgou
3 A.E.K.

9's Teams

No Club
1 Promitheas Nikaia / Rendis
2 Pyrihios Aspropyrgou
3 A.E.K.
2 Nemesis Thessaloniki
3 A.O. Kavala
http://www.rugbyleague.gr/omicronmualphadeltaepsilonsigma-teams.html

Promitheas, AEKK and Pegasus, participated in a regional 2012–2013 championship of Athens.In the 2013/2014 Promitheas, AEKK, Pegasus, Aris and Knights participated in the A' Division. Knights won the championship. In the B' Division, Neapoli, AEKK B', Promitheas B', Aris B' and Pegasus B' participated. Nepoli won the championship.For the 2014/15 season, there were ten teams taking part:Division 1: Rhodes Knights, AEK Kokkinias, Aris Petroupolis, Pyrrihios Aspropyrgou (1st team) and Pegasus Neos Kosmos. Pegasus won the championship. Division 2: Neapoli Lakonias, Argos Wolves, Haidari Lions, Pyrrihios Aspropyrgou ('B' team) and Promitheas Rentis.[20] [21] For the 2015/16 season, a new formation was planned.South Group: AEK Kokkinias, Pyrrihios Aspropyrgos and Agios Thomas. Pyrrihios won the tournament.North Group: Filippos Vereea and 2 teams from Thessaloniki. Finally, the tournament did not operate. As a result, Pyrrihios was named 2015–2016 Greece Champions.Two RL 9's tournaments took place: a) in Nikaea, Piraeus (AEK Kokkinias won vs Pyrrihios and Agios Thomas) and b) in Thessaloniki (Agios Thomas won vs Lions/Kavala, Pyrrihios and Thessaloniki).

In 2016–2017 season, four teams participated in the XIII tournament: Pyrrichios Aspropyrgou, Aghios Thomas Goudi, A.O. Kavala and ASP Chalkidonikos http://www.rugbyleague.gr/epsilonpiiotasigmaetamuepsilonsigma-deltaiotaomicronrhogammaalphanuomegasigmaepsiloniotasigma--official-tournaments.htmlIn the 9's tournaments, five teams participated (Promitheas, Pyrrichios, St. Thomas, Nemesis, and Kavala). Pyrrichios won 2 of the cups and St. Thomas 1.

In 2017–2018 season, three teams participate in the XIII tournament: Pyrrichios Aspropyrgou, Promitheas Rendi and A.E.K.. http://www.rugbyleague.gr/epsilonpiiotasigmaetamuepsilonsigma-deltaiotaomicronrhogammaalphanuomegasigmaepsiloniotasigma--official-tournaments.htmlIn the 9's tournaments, five teams participate (Promitheas, Pyrrichios, A.E.K., Nemesis, Kavala. A.E.K. won 1 cup and Promitheas 1.

An unofficial 7's tournament was also played on 9 February 2013. Participating teams apart from Promitheas and AEK PK included the newly formed team "Neapoli Lakonias" that was created in Peloponnese in 2013. Promitheas won the tournament.

National team

See main article: Greece national rugby league team.

The first representative game involving Greece was played in 2003 against New Caledonia with Greece winning 26–10. The first representative game played in Greece was played in 2006 with Greece defeating Serbia 44–26 in Athens. These teams were not recognised by the Greek sports Authorities. In 2011 a touring GB Student "Pioneers" team played a game vs an unofficial "national" team consisting of players from the two Rhodes teams in Rhodes island. The Pioneers won. In October 2013 the Greece National Team (under the authority of the newly formatted HFRL) played an international against Hungary in Budapest.[22] The Greek team was a mixture of local players from the fledgling Greek national competition and heritage players from Australia. Greece won the game 90–0.[23]

In 2014, Greece participated in the RLEF European Championship C. Greeks won the tournament (32–18 vs Malta and 68–16 vs the Czech Rep.).In 2014, Greece won the Balkan Cup in Belgrade, Serbia (58–4 vs Bosnia/Herzegovina and 50–22 vs Serbia).In 2015 Greece withdrew from the RLEF European Championship C in Malta, due to financial reasons. Greeks played the home match vs Spain (lost by 4–76). That was the first Greece national team consisted only by domestic players.After the recognition of the sport by the Ministry of Culture and Sports in 2016, the Hellenic federation of Modern Pentathlon, formed a rugby league committee. As a result, the first recognised by the country's highest sport authority National Team, played twice vs Italy in L'Aquila and in Nikaea Piraeus. The opponent LIRFL is the only RL governing body recognised in Italy by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

The Greek Men’s side made history by advancing to the final 16 of the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup, they had a very hard group with host nation England and eventual runners up Samoa in their pool and France who have played international rugby league for over 50 years.

A women's national team was established in 2019 and played in the 2022 Rugby League Women's European Championship B.[24]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 30 June 2017. Rhodes claim Greek title as GRLA continues to build. European Rugby League. 12 May 2021.
  2. Web site: 28 October 2020. International Window – Greece v Serbia 2006. International Rugby League. 12 May 2021.
  3. Web site: first-greek-coaches-qualified . europeanrugbyleague.com .
  4. Web site: 26 August 2013. Greek Rugby League Federation Formed and Accepted. RLEF. 27 December 2017.
  5. Web site: 14 February 2014. RLEF Statement on International Calendar and SportAccord. RLEF. 27 December 2017.
  6. Web site: 8 April 2016. Greece suspended from RLEF. SBS. 27 December 2017.
  7. Web site: 9 August 2016. Hellenic Federation of Rugby League Excluded From RLEF. RLEF.
  8. Web site: 12 September 2016. Rugby League in Greece continues to develop. RLIF. 27 December 2017.
  9. Web site: 23 March 2017. Greek Rugby League Association Awarded Observer Status. RLEF.
  10. Web site: Greek Rugby League Federation Finally Receives Official Recognition From Greek Government – Greek City Times . Greek City Times . 2 August 2022 . 2 August 2022.
  11. Web site: McLennan. Stuart. 19 December 2017. Gamble pays off for Greek rugby league player. Neos Kosmos. 27 December 2017.
  12. Web site: McLennan. Stuart. 5 February 2020. Greece on the road to domestic bliss in the lead up to 2021 World Cup. Everything Rugby League. 13 May 2021.
  13. Web site: ΑΕΛ - Τμήμα Rugby . 2022-10-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  14. April–May 2017. Greece Is Back. Rugby League Review. 127. 29.
  15. Web site: 17 October 2013. Hellenic Federation prepares for kick off. European Rugby League. 13 May 2021.
  16. Web site: 5 November 2015. Greek XIII championship begins with new structure. European Rugby League. 13 May 2021.
  17. Web site: 29 October 2014. Greek second division championship underway. European Rugby League. 13 May 2021.
  18. Web site: Πυρρίχιος Rugby League . 2022-10-03 . www.facebook.com . en.
  19. Web site: 30 September 2014. Greek championship kicks off. European Rugby League. 13 May 2021.
  20. http://www.rugbyleague.gr/epsilonpiiotasigmaetamuepsilonsigma-deltaiotaomicronrhogammaalphanuomegasigmaepsiloniotasigma--official-tournaments.html Επισημεσ Διοργανωσεισ / Official Tournaments – Ελλασ Ραγκμπυ Λιγκ – Hellas Rugby League
  21. Web site: RLEF . 21 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150521153551/http://www.rlef.eu.com/greece/news/article/1032/greek-championship-nears-conclusion . 21 May 2015 .
  22. http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/rugby-league-nations/91-rugby-league-test-match-or-international-game/1301-hungary-and-greece-prepare-for-first-rugby-league-test-match Rugby League Planet – Hungary and Greece prepare for first rugby league test match
  23. http://www.rlef.eu.com/other/report?RLE00000538 RLEF
  24. Web site: Whitelock . Adam . Greek Women returning to Turkey on a Rugby League mission . Everything Rugby League . 24 August 2022 . 22 August 2022.