Rugby League in Africa

[yakstorm]

Considering there is so much domestic activity happening in Africa at the moment, thought it might be worthwhile creating a bit of a thread about the region.

SOUTH AFRICA
Latest season is expected to feature up to 14 clubs, 8 in the Gauteng Conference which kicks off last weekend and six in the Limpopo / Mpumalanga Conference which kicked off in mid-August. Competition will run until early 2020 with Representative fixtures to take place mid-way.

Limpopo/ Mpumalanga Conference
August 17:
Witbank Tigers 54 d. Middelburg Rabbitohs 34
Loskop Leopards 84 d. Loskop Ratels 14

August 22:
Witbank Tigers d. Loskop Leopards

August 30:
Loskop Ratels 40 d. Ermelo Tomahawks 30

September 7:
Ermelo Tomahawks 29 d. Loskop Ratels 24

September 14:
Loskop Ratels 20 l. Middelberg Rabitohs 56
Loskop Leopards 84 d. Ermelo Tomahawks 18

Gauteng Conference
September 14:
Pretoria Bulls 2 6 l. University of Pretoria Tuks Reds 72
Silverton Silverbacks 8 l. Tuine Grizzlies 44
University of Pretoria Tuks Blue 44 d. Brit Bulldogs 34
Pretoria Bulls 32 l. Elsburg Bears 62


NIGERIA:
Inaugural Domestic Competition is set to feature 9 clubs split into two Conferences. Competition set to kick off this Month.

South West Conference

• Lagos Broncos
• Eko Trinity
• Lagos Kings
• Lagos Haven
• Lagos Rhinos

Northern Conference:

• Kano Lions
• Kano Gazelles
• Zazzau Bulls
• Jos Minor

CAMEROON
Inaugural season took part earlier this year with the Black Boys De Douala defeating Yaounde Bulls10 - 0 in the Men's Final whilst the Douala Rock defeated the Yaounde Raiders 4 - 0.

Other participants in the opening season were Petou, De Nyeté and Bandjoun.


In the inaugural Laureane Biville Women's Rugby League tournament, the Yaounde Raiders finished top, defeating Sahel, Douala Rock and Douala Gorillas.

The second season for Cameroon Rugby League has kicked off last month, with the results being:

Round One:
Douala Gorila 24 d. Cheetahs 2
Yaounde Bulls 32 d. Yaounde Panda 16

Petou has become the Yaounde Panda's in the second year.


GHANA
2019 domestic season was won by the Bulls, who defeated the Skolars 40 - 30. Other teams who took part were the Panthers and Pirates in the four team competition. The domestic competition was the first 'club' competition in Ghana since 2016.

Ghana also held an Inter-Hall competition at the University of Ghana featuring Commonwealth Hall, JISH, Jean Nelson, Sarbah, Akuafo and Liman in March. I'm not sure who won the tournament, Commonwealth Hall played Akuafo in the Final.


BURUNDI
Have conducted a successful four team Women's Rugby League competition featuring Des Tigresses Rugby League, XIII Inzuki Rugby League Burundi (Wasps), XIII Inyambo Rugby League and XIII Des Pantheres Rugby League.


MOROCCO
Rugby League returned to Morocco for the first time in years late December 2018 when the FMR XIII domestic competition kicked off. AMAR Guelmim won the final defeating Nador Arekmane 4 - 0 in the Final.

Other teams which took part included Casablanca Black Eagles and South Lions.

The FMR XIII has announced a fifth club to take part in their 2019/20 season - the Assocition Afgarich TanTan Rugby à XIII

 

[adamkungl]

South Africa has enough clubs to be doing more than they currently are at international level.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

South Africa has enough clubs to be doing more than they currently are at international level.

hmmm yeah, maybe they are lacking in something else

 

[yakstorm]

In fairness it's not like they haven't tried. Remember for most of the nations listed above, they didn't run competitions prior to this year, or in the case of Ghana, they had a competition in 2016 and then vanished, meaning the closest nations they had to play against really were Lebanon and Australia.

South Africa, until recently, also when they played an International, generally played very few heritage players, which both added to the cost, and as well meant they weren't organising clashes with predominately heritage players.

This has started to change, hence the two internationals they played last year in Sydney.

From an International front, what they've done in the past 8 or so years:

• 2011 : Travelled to the US to play Canada, US and Jamaica for 2013 RLWC
• 2013 : Sent Students team to the 2013 Universities World Cup
• 2014 : Played NSW CRL, British Community Lions and Philippines and entered Commonwealth Championship
• 2015 : Played Niue, BARLA and took part in the RLWC Qualifiers against Lebanon (x2)
• 2016 : Planned to host Niue + Lebanon in Tri-Series, Lebanon pulled out last minute, played Niue (x2)
• 2018 : Played Malta, Italy plus hosted Australian Universities

They also had planned to take part in the 2018 Commonwealth Championship, only to have their invite removed in favour of a Pacific nation, and as well in the 2017 University World Cup, only to have Government issues.

The fact they have now sorted out their recognition and the MEA Championship plans to be an annual thing should help a lot.

 

[adamkungl]

In fairness it's not like they haven't tried. Remember for most of the nations listed above, they didn't run competitions prior to this year, or in the case of Ghana, they had a competition in 2016 and then vanished, meaning the closest nations they had to play against really were Lebanon and Australia.

South Africa, until recently, also when they played an International, generally played very few heritage players, which both added to the cost, and as well meant they weren't organising clashes with predominately heritage players.

This has started to change, hence the two internationals they played last year in Sydney.

From an International front, what they've done in the past 8 or so years:

• 2011 : Travelled to the US to play Canada, US and Jamaica for 2013 RLWC
• 2013 : Sent Students team to the 2013 Universities World Cup
• 2014 : Played NSW CRL, British Community Lions and Philippines and entered Commonwealth Championship
• 2015 : Played Niue, BARLA and took part in the RLWC Qualifiers against Lebanon (x2)
• 2016 : Planned to host Niue + Lebanon in Tri-Series, Lebanon pulled out last minute, played Niue (x2)
• 2018 : Played Malta, Italy plus hosted Australian Universities

They also had planned to take part in the 2018 Commonwealth Championship, only to have their invite removed in favour of a Pacific nation, and as well in the 2017 University World Cup, only to have Government issues.

The fact they have now sorted out their recognition and the MEA Championship plans to be an annual thing should help a lot.

Let's hope so!

We can whine about how the SA government has it in for Rugby League, but the fact of the matter is that Rugby League has rarely had an international scene worth investing in. With more and more countries joining up, including a growing local scene, maybe SA will see some value in putting old prejudices aside.

It's not hard to imagine a South African team with some decent level Union talent rising very quickly up the ranks

 

[yakstorm]

Ghana will host their first Inter-University clash this Saturday when the University of Ghana takes on the University of Cape Coast.

 

[yakstorm]

South West Conference of Nigeria Rugby League kicked off over the weekend.

Lagos Haven 42 defeated Eko Trinity 18
Lagos Broncos 32 defeated Lagos Rhinos 14
Lagos Kings - Bye

 

[yakstorm]

Northern Bulls to face Eastern Eagles this Saturday
https://www.asiapacificrl.com/2019/09/26/northern-bulls-to-face-eastern-eagles-this-saturday/

The 2019 South African Rugby League Provincial Championship kicks off this Saturday when defending Champions, the Northern Bulls, face the Eastern Eagles at the Grizzlies Rugby Field in Pretoria.

After winning their first Jan Prinsloo Cup since 2015 last December, the Bulls kick off the latest iteration of the Representative tournament at home against an Eagles team ready to challenge for the National title.

The South African Rugby League Provincial Championship is a four team Representative competition featuring the Northern Bulls, Mpumalanga Panthers, Limpopo Bisons and Eastern Eagles.

The North West Warthogs, who were relegated following the 2017 Provincial Championship for the Limpopo Bisons, will play a Northern Bulls Invitational team as curtain raiser to the opening game of the Championship.

South African Rugby League Provincial Championship : Round One
15:00: Northern Bulls Invitational Vs North West Warthogs
16:30: Northern Bulls Vs Eastern Eagles

This weekend's matches in Nigeria:
ROUND ONE: NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Kano Lions v Zazzau Bulls
Jos Miner v Kano Gazelles

ROUND TWO: SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE
Lagos Rhinos v Lagos Kings
Lagos Haven v Lagos Miners
Eko Trinity - Bye


Meanwhile Burundi Rugby League has announced that they will be playing games in November and December around Muha and Ntahangwa respectively. For me, I don't know the country well enough, but they both look to be rivers in the same city, Bujumbura.

The teams for each look to be different though.

 

[deluded pom?]

http://rlif.com/article/8733/nations-gathering-for-mea-championships-in-lagos-nigeria

 

[deluded pom?]

http://rlif.com/article/8734/