Massive year for the RL in Europe claims Lewis

Mon 06 Jul 2009

The 2009 season is set to be the busiest and most important year to date for international Rugby League in Europe according to RLEF Chairman Richard Lewis as two tournaments vital to the development of the sport in the continent got under way this weekend.

In total, Europe will stage five international Rugby League competitions this year, with the Four Nations involving Australia, England, France and World Champions New Zealand looking set to be the biggest tournament to be held in the northern hemisphere since the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.
RFL Chairman Richard Lewis, who is also Chairman of the RLEF, said: “Following the success of last year’s World Cup in Australia, 2009 is a massive year for the international game in Europe with so many nations competing in a number of prestigious competitions.
“The highlight will certainly be the Four Nations which will see fixtures played on both sides of the channel and see the top two sides in the northern hemisphere lock horns with the two best from the south, including the newly crowned World Champions.
“However, 2009 is also an important year for other nations competing in international competition. The newly rebranded European Cup will see six nations who either participated in last year’s World Cup or took part in the qualifiers go head-to-head whilst the Euro-Med Challenge, Shield and Bowl competitions are all vital to the growth of the sport in Europe.”
Two of the five tournaments planned for 2009 got underway this weekend with fixtures held in Spain and the Czech Republic.
On Saturday (4 July) more than 1,000 supporters turned out in Barcelona to see Morocco XIII beat Catalonia XIII 29-6 in the opening fixture of this summer’s RLEF Euro Med Challenge which also involves a third team Belgium XIII.
Meanwhile in Olomouc, hosts the Czech Republic recorded their first ever senior victory on Saturday when they defeated Germany 30-4 in the first game of RLEF European Shield which will also see Italy compete.
Later this month on July 24 three teams – Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine – will play their first round fixtures in the RLEF European Bowl which will see games played in both Riga and Tallinn.
And, in addition to this autumn’s Four Nations tournament which kicks off on October 23 when England meet France in Doncaster, October 17 will also see the start of the European Cup involving Ireland, Lebanon, Russia, Scotland, Serbia and Wales.
The six sides have been drawn into two groups of three and the competition will climax in a ‘Finals Days’ on Sunday 8 November at Brewery Field, Bridgend at which the respective sides finishing third, second and top of their groups will play against each other.
RLEF Development Executive Kevin Rudd said: “The European Cup is moving forward as a brand and an even more meaningful part of the representative calendar.
“Every nation is now guaranteed three international games as a minimum during the season and the Finals Day is set to be a real highlight of the year with six sides on show and seedings up for grabs.”
The 2009 competition will also provide rankings for next year’s European Cup which will also involve France, the winners of which will qualify for the 2011 Four Nations alongside Australia, England and New Zealand.

RUGBY LEAGUE EUROPEAN CUP SCHEDULE

RLEF European Cup 2009

Pool 1: Lebanon, Russia, Scotland
Pool 2: Ireland, Serbia, Wales

Round 1

Saturday 17/10/09, in Moscow - Russia V Scotland
Sunday 18/10/09, in Limerick - Ireland V Serbia

Round 2

Saturday 24/10/09, in Tripoli - Lebanon V Russia
Sunday 25/10/09, in Belgrade - Serbia V Wales

Round 3

Sunday 01/11/09, in Glasgow - Scotland V Lebanon
Sunday 01/11/09, in Pontypridd - Wales V Ireland

FINALS DAY:

Sunday 08/11/09 in Bridgend

RLEF European Shield 2009

Teams: Italy, Germany, & Czech Republic

Game 1 -Czech Republic V Germany: Saturday 4th July, Olomouc
Game 2 - Italy V Czech Republic: Saturday 11th July, Padova
Game 3 -Germany V Italy: Saturday 18th July, Hurth

RLEF European Bowl 2009

Teams: Estonia, Latvia, & Ukraine

Game 1 - Latvia V Ukraine: Friday 24th July, Riga
Game 2 - Ukraine V Estonia: Sunday 26th July, Riga
Game 3 - Estonia V Latvia: Saturday 8th August, Tallinn

RLEF Euro Med Challenge 2009

Game 1: Catalonia XIII v Morocco XIII, (Barcelona): Saturday July 4th
Game 2: Belgium XIII v Catalonia XIII, (Wavre): Saturday July 25th
Game 3: Morocco XIII v Belgium XIII, (Bézier): Saturday August 15th