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EXCLUSIVE: Latin America Rugby League Federation Formed
An international federation representing the combined interests of rugby league-playing nations within Latin American has been formed, Everything Rugby League can exclusively reveal.
An area of rapid growth for the 13-man code, the Latin American region encompasses 24 nations from Mexico in the north, to Chile and Argentina in the south.
Federacion Latino Americano Rugby League (FLRL) is the working name given to the group which will hold its first executive meeting this Saturday, January 27, Latin American time.
FLRL aims to give a stronger voice and overarching strategy to the future goals of rugby league organisations within the region.
There are presently six Latin American nations ranked by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF), and the inaugural Latin American Rugby League Championship was held in Chile in November of 2017.
Hopes are that, in the next four years, the number of ranked nations from the region will grow by at least three.
Fifteen delegates actively associated with the sport in Latin America were invited to vote and elect five directors of the new federation.
Juan Jasso, a bilingual sports scientist and experienced rugby league coach connected to the Global Rugby League Academy in the UK, was voted in as chairperson of the organisation.
President of the Confederacion Argentina de Rugby League (CARL) Carlos Varela was appointed as another director, alongside Mexico Rugby League (MRL) president Carlos Munguia.
Mexico and Argentina boast the longest-running domestic activity within the region.
Daniel Godinez and Robert Burgin, respectively the current president and founder of the complementary Australian-based volunteer group Latin Heat, were also nominated to be directors.
Delegates voting on the composition of FLRL came from El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico, all of which have domestic activity at present and will be able to present agenda items to the federation.
Building on the groundwork of the Latin Heat, a non-profit incorporated association forerunner based in Australia since 2013, FLRL will be able to more closely and democratically reflect the needs of Latin Americans on a global scale.
Some immediate tasks for FLRL consideration include:
*Responding to changed qualification criteria for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
*Implementing standardised coaching and refereeing education programs in Spanish and Portuguese.
*Deciding details of the next Latin American Rugby League Championship and other calendar events.
*Seeking partners and sponsors and grants to help assist the growth of the game in Latin America.
*A strategy to ensure fair selection for players living in Latin America for the Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship, to be held in Sydney later in 2018.
Currently all nations in Latin America are affiliated with the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC), and the FLRL intend to work harmoniously with the RLIF and APRLC into the future.
While the newly formed federation currently has no binding influence on the top levels of the game, it hopes to progress steps towards a separate, recognised Americas federation within the RLIF, and present a united front on important issues.
The recent Latin American Championship has spurred a wave of activity now that nations can see what is possible through their endeavours.
El Salvador, which sent delegates to the Championship but did not compete, has launched domestic training and recruitment to complement the presence of Salvadorenos in Australian and USA competitions.
Colombia has scheduled a State of Origin between Bogota and Antioquia for February 17 and has been reporting strong numbers at domestic training.
Brazil Rugby League has formally registered with its government in recent weeks, Argentina has scheduled beach league events, while Mexico has launched an innovative 6-a-side competition.
Reigning continental champion Chile only last weekend held the final of its northern competition in Antofagasta, won by the Nomades club, following on from the completion of its southern league, won by Mariman Negrete.
One clear step the code has made in the past year is the transition from a sport covered predominantly by English-speaking media into a code which has attracted dedicated local journalists, providing coverage in Spanish and Portuguese.
Source: Everything Rugby League
An international federation representing the combined interests of rugby league-playing nations within Latin American has been formed, Everything Rugby League can exclusively reveal.
An area of rapid growth for the 13-man code, the Latin American region encompasses 24 nations from Mexico in the north, to Chile and Argentina in the south.
Federacion Latino Americano Rugby League (FLRL) is the working name given to the group which will hold its first executive meeting this Saturday, January 27, Latin American time.
FLRL aims to give a stronger voice and overarching strategy to the future goals of rugby league organisations within the region.
There are presently six Latin American nations ranked by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF), and the inaugural Latin American Rugby League Championship was held in Chile in November of 2017.
Hopes are that, in the next four years, the number of ranked nations from the region will grow by at least three.
Fifteen delegates actively associated with the sport in Latin America were invited to vote and elect five directors of the new federation.
Juan Jasso, a bilingual sports scientist and experienced rugby league coach connected to the Global Rugby League Academy in the UK, was voted in as chairperson of the organisation.
President of the Confederacion Argentina de Rugby League (CARL) Carlos Varela was appointed as another director, alongside Mexico Rugby League (MRL) president Carlos Munguia.
Mexico and Argentina boast the longest-running domestic activity within the region.
Daniel Godinez and Robert Burgin, respectively the current president and founder of the complementary Australian-based volunteer group Latin Heat, were also nominated to be directors.
Delegates voting on the composition of FLRL came from El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico, all of which have domestic activity at present and will be able to present agenda items to the federation.
Building on the groundwork of the Latin Heat, a non-profit incorporated association forerunner based in Australia since 2013, FLRL will be able to more closely and democratically reflect the needs of Latin Americans on a global scale.
Some immediate tasks for FLRL consideration include:
*Responding to changed qualification criteria for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
*Implementing standardised coaching and refereeing education programs in Spanish and Portuguese.
*Deciding details of the next Latin American Rugby League Championship and other calendar events.
*Seeking partners and sponsors and grants to help assist the growth of the game in Latin America.
*A strategy to ensure fair selection for players living in Latin America for the Rugby League Emerging Nations World Championship, to be held in Sydney later in 2018.
Currently all nations in Latin America are affiliated with the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC), and the FLRL intend to work harmoniously with the RLIF and APRLC into the future.
While the newly formed federation currently has no binding influence on the top levels of the game, it hopes to progress steps towards a separate, recognised Americas federation within the RLIF, and present a united front on important issues.
The recent Latin American Championship has spurred a wave of activity now that nations can see what is possible through their endeavours.
El Salvador, which sent delegates to the Championship but did not compete, has launched domestic training and recruitment to complement the presence of Salvadorenos in Australian and USA competitions.
Colombia has scheduled a State of Origin between Bogota and Antioquia for February 17 and has been reporting strong numbers at domestic training.
Brazil Rugby League has formally registered with its government in recent weeks, Argentina has scheduled beach league events, while Mexico has launched an innovative 6-a-side competition.
Reigning continental champion Chile only last weekend held the final of its northern competition in Antofagasta, won by the Nomades club, following on from the completion of its southern league, won by Mariman Negrete.
One clear step the code has made in the past year is the transition from a sport covered predominantly by English-speaking media into a code which has attracted dedicated local journalists, providing coverage in Spanish and Portuguese.
Source: Everything Rugby League
