League Timeline of Emerging Nations

[The Partisan]

With the New Year now upon us I thought it may be a good opportunity for someone to list the years / dates relevant to the new countries who have taken up league in recent times. That someone is not me !!!

So for those of you out there who seem to have your fingers on the pulse of Rugby League, could a timeline of new entrants be provided. I was thinking of just the basics - formation / first international / first tour.


Any opinions on who the next newcomer to our code will be ?

Finally, I have read on Australian police RL website that they are touring Argentina in 2005. Did the game ever start up over that part of the world?

 

[dimitri]

the game has started in argentina i believe under an alternative sports body who also overlook other sports such as afl

 

[Corbin]

i remember reading somewhere i think it might of been rleague about argentina starting league.

 

[MRLA]

SO FAR...

March 2004- George Tonna & Michael Borg meet with Parramatta Eels U16's coach Joe Grima in Sydney.

1 April 2004- Inaugural board is elected including 5 members and form the Maltese Rugby League Association (MRLA).

September 2004- 2 additonal board members join the MRLA.

25 September 2004- Malta defeats British Defence Forces 78-0 in Sydney.

16 October 2004- Malta loses to Fiji A 24-40.

AHEAD...

January 2005- Malta officials travel to Malta to scout players/officials...

22/23 January 2005- Orara Valley Sevens

12 February 2005- VB Sevens

September 2005- Malta VS TBC in Sydney.

(MALTA KNIGHTS(Australia) TOUR OF LEBANON & MALTA)
October 2005- Mediterranean Cup in Lebanon.

October 2005- Malta VS TBC in Malta.

IN THE PIPELINE...

Domestic rugby league competition within Malta.

2008- Rugby League World Cup

 

[rugged]

Has the Falcon helped with the Malta thing at all?

 

[MRLA]

rugged- Not at all... But stay tuned!

 

[The Partisan]

Thanks, MRLA. I'm assuming the other nations that we are continually discussing just appeared from thin air !!! Surely someone knows about the formation / debut of some of the other new entrants.

 

[WIRLF]

The West Indies Rugby League Federation (WIRLF) was formed in 2003 in Sydney from some rugby league enthusiasts who believed there was an opportunity for a West Indies international side to compete on the world stage through the eligibility clause that has seen the rise of other nations such as Italy, Greece, Malta etc.

What was different between the above mentioned nations and the WIRLF, was that the WIRLF was based in the UK, where there are a number of ex-patriot Caribbean people, form nations such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Barbados etc. and a number of talented players of West Indian/Caribbean heritage. An international side was formed with great success, the West Indies side winning the York 9's and their very first 13 a side international against South Africa in 2004.

In 2005, the WIRLF plan to take the game to the Caribbean, with the formation of the Jamaican Rugby League Association (JRLA) who will commence a domestic competition in April 2005. Trinindad and Tobago also look set to follow. These two nations, and subsequent other nations who eventually show interest in rugby league will all fall under the auspices of the WIRLF, who will act as the governing body for the game in the Caribbean.

The WIRLF are also aiming to take the West Indies international side to Jamaica in October 2005, with an opponent still to be advised. Other internationals planned for 2005 are against South Africa again in London and a game against Holland in Rotterdam. We will also be looking to field a West Indies "A" side against the England Lionhearts at some stage in 2005.

I hope that assists your search and please feel free to contact the WIRLF on info@wirlf.com for any further queries.

 

[Ari Gold]

Italy RL had existed back in the 50s-60s, i heard that back then it had over 40 teams.....how things change. Over the years Italia RL died completely. However under the efforts of Orazio D-Arro and Mick Pezzano, Italian RL was formed once again in 1995. Our first hitout was the World Sevens in 1995, and (i think) our first test was against Lebanon in 1997. Our greatest ever win was against France in 2000.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

The West Indies Rugby League Federation (WIRLF) was formed in 2003 in Sydney from some rugby league enthusiasts who believed there was an opportunity for a West Indies international side to compete on the world stage through the eligibility clause that has seen the rise of other nations such as Italy, Greece, Malta etc.

What was different between the above mentioned nations and the WIRLF, was that the WIRLF was based in the UK, where there are a number of ex-patriot Caribbean people, form nations such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Barbados etc. and a number of talented players of West Indian/Caribbean heritage. An international side was formed with great success, the West Indies side winning the York 9's and their very first 13 a side international against South Africa in 2004.

In 2005, the WIRLF plan to take the game to the Caribbean, with the formation of the Jamaican Rugby League Association (JRLA) who will commence a domestic competition in April 2005. Trinindad and Tobago also look set to follow. These two nations, and subsequent other nations who eventually show interest in rugby league will all fall under the auspices of the WIRLF, who will act as the governing body for the game in the Caribbean.

The WIRLF are also aiming to take the West Indies international side to Jamaica in October 2005, with an opponent still to be advised. Other internationals planned for 2005 are against South Africa again in London and a game against Holland in Rotterdam. We will also be looking to field a West Indies "A" side against the England Lionhearts at some stage in 2005.

I hope that assists your search and please feel free to contact the WIRLF on info@wirlf.com for any further queries.

I hope it does take off in the Indies . But please make sure no one like Russ will come up with false names like league clubs in Jamaica (Kingston Tigers, Conge Reggae Boys etc ) and add them to worldfootballranking with an average crowd of 4000 .
I believe he did this with Morocco and South Africa and everyone jump on it .

 

[iggy plop]

Average crowds of 4,000? Twice as many as club union games in most of the UK.

 

[hgfds]

Any more med cup news if malta and greece are involved this year,is it time to take some matches out of lebanon,some home med cup matches would be a big boost for places like,malta,greece,italy,morrocco etc that are trying to start a domestic comp.

 

[Ari Gold]

italy wont be in the med cup anytime soon...

 

[Costaki]

greece will hopefully be playing in the med cup depends on finance

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

Average crowds of 4,000? Twice as many as club union games in most of the UK.

:lol:

 

[Thomas]

Average crowds of 4,000? Twice as many as club union games in most of the UK.

If you want to discuss union :arrow: TFC, you obsessed clown.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

We are touring Samoa in late January and early febs . Im taking a squad of 30 players and we are playing in three rugby union 7s tournament and two 15s games plus a league game against a Samoan 13 .
I have organise a league game against the locals because 8 of our touring members play league for QLD cup clubs from colts to premier level .
I've decide to charge our league games against the locals so we can give the gate money plus our own donations to the new Samoan Rugby League chairman (good mate of mine ).
To help them start and hope to start a local comp again . And our uniforms will be donated to my league club in Samoa (they haven't played in two years) and hope they use it when a local comp is up and running .

 

[carlnz]

Why dont you start up a fund rasier on these forums?!? Who is the new chairman?