Talking Footy

NSWAFL wrote:

So what? AFL is played in more countries. So neither code is kicking the other's butt! Level of professionalism has ZERO to do with it!

IN THE first Australian football match between the two countries at any level, the Under-17 AIS-AFL Academy squad overcame the New Zealand Hawks by 91 points at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.

After the Kiwis performed a stirring rendition of the haka, they got the jump on the Aussies in the first quarter with forward Adam Campbell helping the home team to a five-point lead at the first break.

The Australians, coached by triple-premiership player Chris Johnson, hit back in the second quarter, kicking six goals-to-none to open a 31-point lead at half-time.

New Zealand showed it could compete with the best Under-17 players in Australia in the third term, delighting the enthusiastic crowd and showcasing the potential the code has in the South Pacific.

It was all Australia after the last change as the away team kicked seven unanswered goals, Jack Billings was outstanding, capping a great match with his fourth goal.

Billings won Australia's best player award with Kurt Heatherley, a highly promising 191cm player who holds an international scholarship with Hawthorn, winning the New Zealand equivalent.

After a successful nine-day tour, the AFL has committed to return to New Zealand in 2013 as the game takes another step forward in the South Pacific.

FINAL SCORE
New Zealand 4.1 4.3 6.3 6.3 (39)
Australia 3.2 9.4 12.12 19.16 (130)

GOALS
Australia: Jack Billings 4, Jack Martin 3, Clayton McCartney 2, Luke Dunstan 2, Dylan Loo, Ben Lennon, Jess Hogan, Cain Tickner, Billy Hartung, Sam Garstone, Dallas Willsmore, Matt Scharenberg
New Zealand: Adam Campbell 2, Andrew Christenson, Kurt Heatherley, Shem Tatupu, Khan Haretuku

BEST
Australia: Jack Billings, Luke McDonald, Billy Hartung, Jess Hogan, James Aish, Ben Lennon, Luke Dunstan, Matt Scharenberg
New Zealand: Kurt Heatherley, Michael Gregson, Adam Campbell, Andrew Chrighton, Sami Turiupo, Khan Haretuku

2011 saw the Czech Rugby League Association make further advances on the rugby league field – both on the domestic development front and in terms of international representation – & off of it.

On the international stage, the Czech Republic won its 1st ever silverware with an emphatic 38-16 victory over Hungary in Kecskemet‏, outside of Budapest, to secure the 2011 Euro Bowl. Petr Sedina, captaining the Czech Republic in what was actually his rugby league debut for his country, led from the front and picked up a tradesmanlike hooker’s try from dummy-half. He was ably supported by Beroun captain-coach, and national team veteran at only 22 years of age, David Dolak, and Pardubice players Victor Leeuw and Mike Masia, who became only the 3rd & 4th foreign-born players to ever represent the Czech Republic’s national rugby league team. The 2 fluent Czech-speaking, South African born, players qualified through residency and will be huge assets to the national team as the Czech Republic moves on to defend its Euro Bowl title in 2012.

On the domestic front, a 4 team domestic competition was played over an extended season from April to November, with the Pardubice Jets winning the Minor Premiership – ahead of Lokomotiva Beroun, Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels & Prague Vikings – before also going on to win the 1st ever CZRLA Grand Final against Beroun, the 2010 Czech Champions. In 2009 – the inaugural Czech Rugby League domestic season, which resulted in Praslavice being crowned the champions – and 2010, the Czech Championship was decided simply on the most wins over the course of the season. Due to the ever-broadening demand for more Rugby League in the Czech Republic, however, it was decided that a Grand Final would be played at the end of the 2011 season’s rounds; this decision being more than justified by the best standard domestic match yet played in the fledgling rugby league country resulting in Pardubice using their flair and ball movemement to edge out the ever-gritty Beroun, 42-18.

Pardubice season’s was also highlighted by their hosting of the inaugural CZRLA International Rugby League 9s Tournament. 2 teams from Lebanon, a Belgrade select team, & players from Great Britain, Ireland, Norway & the Netherlands participated with the hosts, as well as Beroun & Vrchlabi, in a thrilling competition held over the Easter long weekend which saw a magnificent example of pulsating rugby league result in Lebanese American University (LAU) running out the winners, defeating Belgrade in the final. Pardubice will again host the international 9s over the Easter weekend in 2012, with teams from around the world encouraged to make enquiries about entering, and LAU keen to defend their title.

The 2012 domestic season will see Rugby League develop further in the Czech Republic when a 2nd division competition will be established. It is envisaged that the 2012 CZRLA 1st Division will contain the same 4 clubs who made up the 2011 competition, and the 2nd Division will be made up of 4 expansion clubs from different towns around the country. Czech Rugby League development thus far has largely come on the back of the establishment of ‘community‘ clubs, the record crowd being set in 2011 when Vrchlabi, the smallest town represented in the CZRLA Championship, attracted 400+ people to watch their uniquely branded ‘Mad Squirrels‘ put in a spirited effort before eventually being defeated by their bigger neighbour, the Jets from Pardubice. Vrchlabi attracted a similar sized crowd when they hosted the 2011 national team selection ‘Czech State of Origin‘ match, in which the CZRLA Player of the Year, Beroun’s talismatic fullback, Jan Buben, with a hat trick of tries in the 1st half, led Bohemia West to victory over the country’s East, 36-24.

The Chrudim Angels made their on-field rugby league debut in 2011, hosting Vrchlabi in an end-of-season friendly, the visitiors winning narrowly, 30-28. In 2012, Chrudim will – with 3 other clubs to be selected from the 6 applicants currently being scrutinsed by the CZRLA Board – participate of the CZRLA 2nd division. The final decision on the make-up of the 2012 season will be made after the CZRLA AGM in January, 2012.

The Czech Republic’s sole team in the national capital, Prague – re-branded the ‘Vikings‘ in 2011 – who are yet to secure a win in their 3 years of CZRLA competition, showed vast improvement in the 2nd half of the 2011 season, coming close to victories over both Pardubice and Vrchlabi, and with the securing of a cooperation deal with the Leeds Rhinos, possibly Superleague’s most international expansion-friendly club, look to be an emerging powerhouse in Czech domestic rugby league. The Vikings, as well as being keen to develop local talent and work in schools in the metropolis, will also look to take advantage of the far larger expatriate population from more developed rugby league nations that exists in Prague than in the rest of the Czech Republic, to bolster their on-field performances in 2012.

The Pardubice Jets, throughout their 3 year history, have been by far the most cosmopolitan club in domestic Czech rugby league, fielding 4 South African-born players, as well as having team members who have hailed from Australian, Columbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Slovakia, Nigeria, the USA and the UK, almost all of whom were based in the town as students, and none of whom had previously had any experience of playing any form of rugby. Outside of the Prague team, however, none of the players from the other 6 clubs who have competed in Czech domestic rugby league Matjes thus far have been non-Czech. Rugby League’s development in the Czech Republic – as has been the case in Serbia, which serves as something of a model for rugby league development in the Czech Republic – has been dependent on the establishment of clubs in local communities, drawing on local people to play, and to a large extent also coach, with virtually no cooperation with domestic rugby union clubs who operate a parallel domestic season to the CZRLA. This differentiation between the 2 rugby codes in the Czech Republic is further highlighted by the fact that all games this season, with the exception of the Grand Final, were played on soccer pitches, as the Union clubs either flatly refuse, or charge exorbitant amounts, to rent their pitches and facilities to League clubs. In 2011 there were 117 senior rugby league players registered in the Czech Republic, with more than 90% of those Czech nationals & only 3 registered with any rugby union club. It is expected that with the introducation of the 2nd division in 2011, this number will be doubled.

In positive junior developments, 2011 saw the establishment of the first ever primary school Rugby League training programs in Czech towns, around the cities of Pardubice, Brno and Prague, and the first ever tag Rugby League competition involving junior teams from Opatovice, Horni Jeleni and Pardubice. 2012 will see this extended into an inaugural junior Czech domestic rugby league championship, with an under 18 team also scheduled to travel to Serbia to play in a European challenge competition.

Off the field, Czech Rugby League development was greatly enhanced by the achievements of RLEF Coaching 3 qualifications by 2 Czech delegates – David Lahr & Andrew Mulhall – while Mulhall & Roman Nedomlel were also awarded RLEF Match Official Training accreditation in a sign of the significance of both areas for the further development of the sport domestically. Significantly also, in a country in which the national sporting body refuses to accept Rugby League as an independent sport from Rugby Union, and as such does not grant it any public funding, the Pardubice Jets Club were successful not only in securing 3 corporate sponsorship deals, but also the 1st ever state-funded finances to a Czech rugby league club, when the Pardubice Regional Government recognised their input into both the local community and its economy, by granting a sum which partly funded the payment required to secure the stadium which hosted the CZRLA International 9s. Other clubs too, made inroads into the world of corporate sponsorship with Vrchlabi, in particular, securing multiple sponsorhip deals from local businesses, and Beroun, formerly the ‘Black Panthers‘ forging a deal with powerful local soccer club, Lokomotiva, and re-branding themselves in exchange for access to high-quality local training and playing facilities.

In a country in which it is almost impossible to watch rugby league on television, the sport is making steady, sustainable steps in establishing itself within the Czech sporting panorama. Unlike any other developing country in Europe, outside of Serbia, Czech rugby league runs a full season of fixtures with clubs made up almost overwhelmingly of players from their local communites who have adopted Rugby League as their sport, and does not attempt to merely play a short season to fit in with any other sport. Similarly, in its 7 year history, the Czech national team has only used 4 non-Czech born players in it’s national team, all of them long-term residents of the country, and has never had the huge advantahe of fielding even a single heritage player from a more traditional rugby league playing nation. Rugby league is developing and growing at a rapid rate in the Czech Republic, but its success is the result of a small, but gradually growing, group of enthusiastic advocates.

Anyone wanting to help with the development of rugby league in the Czech Republic, on either a domestic or national level, is encouraged to contact the country‘s Development Manager on the following email address: andy.mulhall@rlef.eu.com

Morocco’s first domestic league to start in March
BY TONY MUNRO – DECEMBER 29, 2011
POSTED IN: AFRICA, MOROCCO, NEWS/RESULTS
The new governing body for Rugby League in Morocco, Federation Marocaine de Rugby League (FMRL), is planning for the country’s first ever domestic competition to start in March.

That’s according to FMRL spokesperson, Driss Aamoud, who said seven teams were expected to take part. “There are three clubs in Berrechid [near Casablanca], two clubs in Casablanca, one club in Rabat and one club in Guelmim [in the south].”

Aamoud said a priority for FMRL, which was formed on December 10, was to see the game established in the North African country’s universities.

Rugby League in Morocco has experienced a sporadic existence, with the country regularly fielding national teams regardless of the amount of activity in the country.

It seems as though the FMRL are determined to change that with specific steps aimed at putting down roots.

Italia RFL – 2011 in Review
BY RYAN NORMAN – DECEMBER 30, 2011
POSTED IN: EUROPE, ITALY

Coppa Italia
This year was the first full year for the Italia Rugby Football League in focusing on Rugby League development and growth for the code in Italy.

Expansion and additional participation and competitions were two key developmental targets for the year with expansion to a more national level eventuating for the re-branded Italian Championship to the ‘r-Evolution League’ recognising rugby league’s roots from the 1895 revolt in Northern England that formed rugby league and an evolution of rugby league from the first rugby code. Expansion into Padova (Jaguars XIII based in Valaguna) and Reggio Emilia (Rex Albinea RL) were involved for the summer ‘r’Evolution League on top of existing club’s in Rome, Florence and Catania with more matches being played over the regular season.

A new competition for the winter was implemented with the first Coppa Italia Rugby a XIII being played that can be defined as a knockout second tier cup for Italy (reserve grade if you like), grouped into regional based matches before the semi-finals and final held in Rome, with various players being called up by their regions r-Evolution League franchise in the summer. 8 amateur clubs from Central and Southern Italy were invited into the competition with 4 teams for the Gladiators Roma franchise (2 x Perugia and 2 x Rome) and 4 local teams from Catania province for Spartans Catania.

Short term initiatives that will help establish structures and development beneficial for the long term viability for the code (preventing 1960’s situation) are most important and challenging for the Italia RFL, with targets such as federation headquarters, franchise (club) own fields, new competitions, junior and youth participation, stronger media and TV coverage, financial support, political recognition and strengthening the r-Evolution League (clubs, all fixtures and expansion).

One such exciting initiative eventuating earlier than expected was the acquirement of the first fixed headquarters and sports facility for rugby league with a 16 year agreement! The Eastern Rome facility known as the Tor Bella Monaca consists of 2 major multipurpose fields with natural grass (1 covered grandstand already), 2 minor fields and a swimming pool – with further expansion to be looked at in future (2 fields to be synthetic grass) and could be one of the largest Rugby facilities in Italy outside a few big union clubs. The club has since over rugby league’s offseason established an rugby union entity to allow some of its league players to participate under the Gladiators banner during the winter and also increasing sponsorship (even forming 1 junior team that will receive some league training).

It was possible through new Italia RFL President Mr David Massitti (Vice President at the time) and political support as David said at the time “Finally, after over 50 years, the Rugby League finds a proper physical placement. Thanks to the interest of the VIII District of Rome, school clubs involved and those who have spoken at the Coppa Italia finals, we have managed to obtain the grant. I must thank Dr. Lorenzetti’s, the town hall muniplicity and Sports Centre of Rome VIII. Our intention is to turn this place into a Centre for the development of Rugby League and the oval ball.” It will be beneficial for Gladiators Roma, visiting Italia RFL clubs and fellow rugby entities while he says ”The goal is to find fixed locations in Italy, places where the 13 code can grow, bringing it to become, an independent game and be able to sustain itself. We made a crucial step that should not be wasted, Italia RFL and the Gladiators have a place to grow and from which we hope can leave a message: we’re taking the sport terribly seriously, we want to see it grow and expand.”

Increasing TV exposure for rugby league was a target achieved with the r-Evolution League Gran-Finale broacasted across Europe and North Africa, on regional TV (Roma UNO) and highlights on Sport Italia (national free to air TV) and increased media exposure for rugby league clubs (in Italian papers, blogs and websites).



Federal and Club Highlights in 2011:

· New websites implemented (Italia RFL – www.irfleague.it and r-Evolution League – www.rleague.it).
· Italia RFL and Gladiators Roma aquiring own legal headquarters and sports centre
· First Italian Cup (Italia RFL) being formed with 8 new teams (2 Umbria, 2 Lazio, 4 Sicily) and over 120 players participated
· Etruschi Perugia winning the first Coppa Italia and Portaportese Roma as runners-up
· Coppa Italia Finale played at the prestigious Hotel La Borghesiana, where the National rugby union and Soccer/Football teams have prepared and trained in Rome)
· Flag Rugby exhibition match being played before Coppa Italia final
· The expansion of the r-Evolution League into Padova and Reggion Emilia, on top of consolidating Magnifici Firenze, Spartans Catania and Gladiators Roma.
· Rex Albinea RL qualifying for Grand Final in their first season, while Gladiators Roma winning their second successive Italian Championship and effectively the “Italian double” (Campionato & Coppa)
· Spartans Catania involving at least 11 youth (aged between 18-21) in their squad in the championship – finishing third overall
· Rex Albinea RL coach and players meeting with Jonah Lomu and expressing his positive opinion for rugby growth (any code), hence attracting regional media attention for the Rex
· Magnifici Firenze’s coach and former Italia A RU International debuting in rugby league
· Padova Jaguars recruiting Marzio Zanato, former Italia RU A and U20 International coach and received rugby league coaching experience at 2 NRL Club Coaching Camps (one under Wayne Bennett)
· Amongst the few rugby league competitions in the world (outside NRL, NZ, France and UK) to have Grand Final TV coverage. R-Evolution League GF broadcasted into Europe and North Africa 3 times through a SKY international channel and also on Roma Uno TV (regional/local). With highlights being shown on the national free to air station ‘Sport Italia’
· Involvement of Eurosport commentators and best experts to commentate rugby league for Italy with Gianluca Veneziano and Luca Tramontin for the TV coverage
· Over 220 participating rugby league players since foundation in mid-2010
· Final process toward government recognition from Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) beginning from late November.
The details of the 2012 Coppa Italia Rugby League will soon be announced with the first match being played the last month. The competition is looking to provide another positive increase for participation in 2012. The Coppa Lazio & Sicilia have began and plans are being finalising with new regional cups in existing rugby league regions, which aids with coaching tutelage from their respective region’s Italian Championship club).



Thank you for all sponsors, executives, members, coaching staff, volunteers, fans and players involved in 2011.

Buon natale e felice anno nuovo!

The Italia RFL

https://www.facebook.com/ItaliaRugbyFootballLeague

https://twitter.com/italiarl

King-Eliagh wrote:

People, steer well clear of nswafl's links!!

King-Eliagh wrote:

People, steer well clear of nswafl's links!!

King-Eliagh wrote:

No I wont click on them. You're a dangerous man!