Balkan Super League

[Jankuloski]

The application process for next year is completed and so far there is unprecedented interest.

Can’t reveal more until the Federation go public with it, but exciting times!

 

[Perth Tiger]

Can't wait to see. What is the broadcast situation like? Are games shown on TV in any of the countries or does it rely on streaming?

 

[Evil Homer]

I'm hearing at least 12 teams with Greek and Albanian teams joining.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I'm hearing...

AKA read it on their Facebook page days ago.

 

[Evil Homer]

I'm hearing...

AKA read it on their Facebook page days ago.

I don't have Facebook. But there you go, 14 teams, even better.

 

[adamkungl]

How do these guys manage to get amateur teams playing across multiple countries?
What they've pulled off so far is nothing short of impressive. I can't imagine how they finance the travel and get that kind of commitment out of weekend warriors in a basically unknown sport.
The 1500km round trips some of these clubs are pulling off are a pretty sharp contrast to the likes of Scotland that can't even get a few clubs to play each other consistently.

What's the next step for this comp? Eventually they'll hit a ceiling on the amount of clubs a competition can practically hold, and hopefully they'll attract some media interest and money.
I can kinda see two paths it could take.
1. It becomes the Elite division for Eastern Europe with growing national competitions running underneath it as feeders.
Or
2. It becomes a Champions league style competition for the region, with winning teams from national leagues competing in it.

 

[Stallion]

How do these guys manage to get amateur teams playing across multiple countries?
What they've pulled off so far is nothing short of impressive. I can't imagine how they finance the travel and get that kind of commitment out of weekend warriors in a basically unknown sport.
The 1500km round trips some of these clubs are pulling off are a pretty sharp contrast to the likes of Scotland that can't even get a few clubs to play each other consistently.

What's the next step for this comp? Eventually they'll hit a ceiling on the amount of clubs a competition can practically hold, and hopefully they'll attract some media interest and money.
I can kinda see two paths it could take.
1. It becomes the Elite division for Eastern Europe with growing national competitions running underneath it as feeders.
Or
2. It becomes a Champions league style competition for the region, with winning teams from national leagues competing in it.

Hope so for either!

 

[Perth Tiger]

How do these guys manage to get amateur teams playing across multiple countries?
What they've pulled off so far is nothing short of impressive. I can't imagine how they finance the travel and get that kind of commitment out of weekend warriors in a basically unknown sport.
The 1500km round trips some of these clubs are pulling off are a pretty sharp contrast to the likes of Scotland that can't even get a few clubs to play each other consistently.

What's the next step for this comp? Eventually they'll hit a ceiling on the amount of clubs a competition can practically hold, and hopefully they'll attract some media interest and money.
I can kinda see two paths it could take.
1. It becomes the Elite division for Eastern Europe with growing national competitions running underneath it as feeders.
Or
2. It becomes a Champions league style competition for the region, with winning teams from national leagues competing in it.

Hopefully 1.

With a bit of luck they will start attracting sponsors and maybe a TV deal and once it starts generating some money that can hopefully go towards players becoming semi pro which would then put them a level or two above their national comps.

 

[Evil Homer]

2. It becomes a Champions league style competition for the region, with winning teams from national leagues competing in it.

That is basically what it already is. They also play in pools so there's not really any limit to the number of teams in the comp, as long as they can divide it by 4 or 5.

 

[adamkungl]

That is basically what it already is. They also play in pools so there's not really any limit to the number of teams in the comp, as long as they can divide it by 4 or 5.

Sort of but not really. It lacks a formalised structure, it lacks enough clubs in each participating country, it's still growing into what it will be.

And sure, it could theoretically have any number of teams, but if it's to position itself as an elite competition a line has to be drawn somewhere or the quality is diluted.

 

[Jankuloski]

You’re jumping way ahead.

If the comp provides competitive matches week in, week out it will raise the standard of all teams in the region. This is the biggest problem ATM - Serbia has three clubs that until recently were a league of their own (now two). They have a tough game only when they play each other.

Same as with Super League vs NRL even our top quality players underperform against stronger international opposition because of this lack of consistent training.

If this structure holds for five years, it will be a massive success.

 

[Jankuloski]

The teams that applied:

Serbia:
1. Red Star Belgrade
2. Partizan Belgrade
3. Dorćol Belgrade
4. Radnički New Belgrade
5. Radnički Niš

Bulgaria:
6. Lokomotiv Sofia

Bosnia and Herzegovina:
7. RLK FIS Vitez
8. Ratnici Drvar / Banja Luka

Greece:
9. Rhodes Knights
10. Patras Panthers
11. Aris Eagles

Turkey will participate with the champions and the runners up.

 

[deluded pom?]

The Last Tackle contestant, Monte Gaddis, has signed for RSB.

 

[deal.with.it]

That should be epic for media promo in serbia

 

[Evil Homer]

The teams that applied:

Serbia:
1. Red Star Belgrade
2. Partizan Belgrade
3. Dorćol Belgrade
4. Radnički New Belgrade
5. Radnički Niš

Bulgaria:
6. Lokomotiv Sofia

Bosnia and Herzegovina:
7. RLK FIS Vitez
8. Ratnici Drvar / Banja Luka

Greece:
9. Rhodes Knights
10. Patras Panthers
11. Aris Eagles

Turkey will participate with the champions and the runners up.

Albania?

 

[deluded pom?]

Albania?

Albania.

 

[adamkungl]

Apparently Mascord started "Albania Rugby League" social media accounts (he's going through countries alphabetically) and someone in Albania noticed them and actually started playing

 

[Stallion]

Apparently Mascord started "Albania Rugby League" social media accounts (he's going through countries alphabetically) and someone in Albania noticed them and actually started playing

And this sort of proactive work is being done by a journalist! Good on Steve Mascord! Shame on so called rugby league development people.

 

[langpark]

Apparently Mascord started "Albania Rugby League" social media accounts (he's going through countries alphabetically) and someone in Albania noticed them and actually started playing

It's really disappointing that mascord is trying to take credit for that. The Albanian Rugby League reps attended the RLEF AGM in Serbia months before that page was created.

You can see that simply by checking the date of the AGM and comparing it to the date that page was created.

 

[Pommy]

New signing for Red Star.