Central & South America Rugby League

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Liga Mantiqueira launched
In a promising sign for the return of domestic Rugby League in Brazil, the Sao Lourenco Rugby League have launched a new regional competition, Liga Mantiqueira.

The new competition will feature the Sao Lourenco side, as well as teams from Itamonte and Carmo de Minas and will serve as a 'pre-season' for Sao Lourenco before they take part in the Brazil Championship in São Paulo in May & June.

The Mantiqueira league will be broken into 3 rounds. Round 1 on March 14, Round 2 on May 9 and Round 3 on June 13. Each city will host a different round and all three teams will play each other on the same day.

 

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Brazil championship returns
For the first time in three years, the Brazil Rugby League will host a national championship. The national championship will include Men's, Women's and Youth U17s divisions, and will feature three teams in each.

Sao Lourenco is the first team confirmed for the tournament. Previous teams to take part include the São Paulo Raiders, Urutau, Rio Sharks and Minas Miners.

São Paulo has been confirmed as hosts for the National Championship.

 

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Brazil v German Exiles match
Brazil will play a German Exiles game as a curtain raiser to the Keighley v Rochdale Championship match on June 7 at Cougar Park.

The silverware on offer for the match will be the Blumenau Pokal, which is named in honour of the Brazilian city of Blumenau, founded by Germans.

The game is the second match scheduled in the UK for the Brazil Men's national team with the Carcarás also set to play Cambridge University on March 28.

 

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Brazil representative fixtures
Following my post this morning, the Brazil Rugby League have announced that the Carcarás will take on the Poland Men's national team at Cougar Park in Keighley on May 3 in an authorised Test match.

The representative fixtures locked in for 2026 are:

28 March : Brazil Men v Cambridge University - Mumford Pitch Stadium, Cambridge, UK
3 May : Brazil Men v Poland Men - Cougar Park, Keighley UK
7 June : Brazil Men v German Exiles - Cougar Park, Keighley UK
2 July : Sao Lourenco Men v Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans Men - Sao Lourenco, Brazil
2 July : Sao Lourenco Women v Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans Women - Sao Lourenco, Brazil
TBC July : Brazil Men v Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans Men - TBC, Brazil
TBC July : Brazil Women v Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans Women - TBC, Brazil
13 July : Sao Lourenco Men v Oxford University Men - Sao Lourenco, Brazil
13 July : Sao Lourenco Women v Oxford University Women - Sao Lourenco, Brazil
TBC July : Brazil Men v Oxford University Men - TBC, Brazil
TBC July : Brazil Women v Oxford University Women - TBC, Brazil
5 August : Sao Lourenco Men v Lancaster University - Sao Lourenco, Brazil
TBC August : Brazil Men v Lancaster University - TBC, Brazil

 

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More teams locked in for Brazil Championship
The Brazil Rugby League has today confirmed the teams for the Men's, Women's and U17s Brazil Championships. Further, with tournament still a few months away, the Brazil Rugby League has expanded applications and is chasing a fourth team to join the Men's and Women's open age competitions.

The confirmed sides are:

Men's:
Sao Lourenco (Minas Gerais)
São Paulo Raiders (São Paulo)
Curitiba (Paraná)

Women's:
Melina Cuiabá (Mato Grosso)
SP Vale (São Paulo)
Sao Lourenco (Minas Gerais)

Under 17's:
Sao Lourenco (Minas Gerais)
Melina Cuiabá (Mato Grosso)
Curitiba (Paraná)
Umuarama (Paraná)

Melina won the previous two Women's National Championships, so it's great seeing them return.

 

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Opening weekend of Liga Mantiqueira
The opening weekend of the Liga Mantiqueira competition kicks off this Saturday at Ginásio Poliesportivo de Itamonte. This weekend's competition will be a nine-a-side event featuring four teams, Sao Lourenco Blue, Sao Lourenco Red, the Carmo de Minas Bulls and hosts the Ita Javalis.

The nines event will feature both a Men's and Junior's competition.

Men's Draw:
14:10 - Sao Lourenco Blue v Ita Javalis
14:20 - Sao Lourenco Red v Carmo Bulls
14:45 - Sao Lourenco Blue v Carmo Bulls
15:00 - Sao Lourenco Red v Ita Javalis
15:30 - Sao Lourenco Red v Sao Lourenco Blue
15:45 - Ita Javalis v Carmo Bulls
15:55 - 3rd Place Playoff
16:25 - Final

Juniors Draw:
14:30 - Sao Lourenco Juniors v Ita Juniors
15:20 - Sao Lourenco Juniors v Ita Juniors
16:10 - Sao Lourenco Juniors v Ita Juniors