LatinHeat: Brazil sets sights on World Cup

[miguel de cervantes]

http://latinheatrl.com/brasil-sets-...WQbNXs1Ok7oMYoyFCSDrTF3LBbXH4nhrrU8Woxz0jyw2M

NOVEMBER1
BRASIL SETS SIGHTS ON WORLD CUP – IN RUGBY LEAGUE!
BY ROBERT BURGININ
BRAZILFEATUREDHOT NEWSIN FOCUSLATEST NEWS
One of the world’s biggest nations has fully awoken to rugby league, with men and women’s rugby league booming in Brasil, population 210 million.

Ranked fifth in the world in terms of both population and geographic size, Brasil is also home to one of the most influential economies on a global scale.

While rugby league has been played in Brasil six years, it has been in multiple small pockets, without overarching coordination or a planned calendar on a national scale.

That has all changed in 2018, and the commendable efforts of local organisers will culminate in a Tri Nations featuring Brasil, Argentina and Colombia, a women’s international series between Brasil and Argentina, and a nines tournament between domestic teams.

The event will take place at Clube de Campo do Palmeiras, Sao Paulo on November 24-25.

Confederacao Brasileira de Rugby League director Hugo Froes said he was greatly pleased with the quality available for selection, after Brasil finished last at the 2017 Latin American men’s championship.

“The 2018 selection trials (for the national squad) have been amazing…very tough,” said Froes.

“I think the preparation has been good and we will build a very strong Brasilian team.

“A lot of players have come from high-level programs in rugby union and we are finding more foreigners living in Brasil who have experience in rugby league to help lift the standard.

“The lightest guy we are looking at selecting is 88kg, which is a significantly different scenario to even one year ago.

“Most importantly, everyone has left happy, enjoyed the experience and offered praise.”

As much as Brasil is on the up in men’s rugby league, they are making even greater strides in female league, eyeing off a place in the 2021 Women’s World Cup.

One player who has turned heads with her dedication is Karina Araujo, who is travelling 950km from Vitoria to play in Sao Paulo.

“She is amazing,” said Froes.

“I’ve seen her for many years playing in the Brasilian rugby union championship, but where she lives doesn’t have great visibility in rugby, so for her the lure of a World Cup in rugby league is special.

“We also have Edna Santini and Paula Ishibashi who played rugby at the Olympics and have played a lot of rugby sevens and world series.

“We are building a very competitive female team that I believe will be on a similar level to most of the teams that contested the last women’s World Cup.”

While the door to the 2021 women’s World Cup is slightly ajar at the moment, the men’s team will be aiming for 2025, with Chile representing Latin America in the upcoming 2021 qualifiers in Florida, USA.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Parabens Brasil!

 

[Walter sobchak]

Would seriously love to see RL put down roots in South America and really take off. Especially in an amazing country like Brazil.

Just imagine the rivalry between nations like Brazil and Argentina. Or Uruguay and Argentina. Maybe throw in the likes of chile.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Seeing both Canada and Brazil at the 2021 Women's World Cup would be awesome. Presumedly we would also see France this time, along with stalwarts England, Australia, NZ and possibly PNG and you have a cracking tournament in itself.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Seeing both Canada and Brazil at the 2021 Women's World Cup would be awesome. Presumedly we would also see France this time, along with stalwarts England, Australia, NZ and possibly PNG and you have a cracking tournament in itself.

Unfortunately by then with the predicated development for the WNRL, Aus and NZ will be so far ahead of the rest of the pack I fear it will be a complete miss match.

 

[latingringo101]

The game has gone gangbusters in Brazil this year. Full credit to the guys on the ground for the exceptional growth of the game there

 

[siv]

With so much positive inroads into South America

We should take a leaf out if the soccer books are stage a tournament over there

Plenty of soccer stadiums we could use

 

[playdaball]

I watched the Brazilian RU team play the Maori this morning, they’re tough. The Brazilians love the scrums. A crowd of 30000 were there too.

 

[Irish-bulldog]

I watched the Brazilian RU team play the Maori this morning, they’re tough. The Brazilians love the scrums. A crowd of 30000 were there too.

Are you f**king kidding 30,000 ? That’s crazy. Brazil has a shit load of people doing it tough , league is the perfect sport for them, Union is slow and boring as f**k.

 

[Walter sobchak]

I watched the Brazilian RU team play the Maori this morning, they’re tough. The Brazilians love the scrums. A crowd of 30000 were there too.

You’ve really got to take your hat off to rugby union. Although the on field product is boring as fu@k it’s off the field organisation is top draw.

 

[yakstorm]

Well there is a decent chance that Brazil could be at the 2021 Women's World Cup, according to NRL.com the make-up of the tournament will be:

1. Australia (Auto-Qualify)
2. New Zealand (Auto-Qualify)
3. England (Auto-Qualify)
4. Europe
5. Asia Pacific - #1
6. Asia Pacific - #2
7. Americas / Middle East - #1
8. Americas / Middle East - #2

At the moment the 2x Americas / Middle East teams would be between Lebanon, Canada, Argentina and Brazil, with Chile potentially in the mix.

 

[Whatwhere]

I watched the Brazilian RU team play the Maori this morning, they’re tough. The Brazilians love the scrums. A crowd of 30000 were there too.

34,541 to be exact. Not bad for a game that went up against the biggest Soccer derby in town and the F1 also being in town. There will be 15k in Santiago this weekend as well. Which equates to the stadium that game is being played at being sold out as well.

Also, I'd be careful bagging out Rugby in Brazil as quite a number of the guys behind League in Brazil are also members of the Union.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

 

[miguel de cervantes]

http://www.portaldorugby.com.br/not...pyWVVI3FD51TWCFmEOYKX3lBPv7WQTm_tI26vU8aDSWpM

you have to wonder how long these dual code females in Canada and Brazil will be allowed to play league without hindrance. obviously the players themselves have no problem with it, but you can garantee they will get a tap on their shoulders one day.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

 

[Whatwhere]

http://www.portaldorugby.com.br/not...pyWVVI3FD51TWCFmEOYKX3lBPv7WQTm_tI26vU8aDSWpM

you have to wonder how long these dual code females in Canada and Brazil will be allowed to play league without hindrance. obviously the players themselves have no problem with it, but you can garantee they will get a tap on their shoulders one day.

The only time that would become an issue is if Brazil manage to secure a full time spot on the Womens 7s Circuit. What will be interesting to see is the impact of the Liga Sul Americano de Rugby from 2020 onwards. Brazil are slated to have 2 teams in the league alongside 2 from both Uruguay and Argentina and one from both Chile and Paraguay.

This will be a professional league involving full time contracts spanning 14 weeks plus finals. Then the Americas Rugby Championship which will involve an extra 5 Test matches. Could have a direct impact on a number of potential players who could be involved in both.