Other Rugby League Internationals
http://www.rlef.eu.com/other/report?RLE00000538
Hungary0
Greece90
Tries:
Sell (4,73), Aroutsidis (10), Terry Constantinou (16,21,61), Zampetides (28,39), Anasta (35,43,46,79),Nake (52), Bouris (59,70)
Goals:
Anasta 15/15
Braith Anasta, the former Australia and New South Wales great, scored 46 points as Greece routed Hungary in Budapest. The Greeks, bolstered by nine players based in Australia, took on a Hungary side in what was the first official Test match in both countries' rugby league history.
Played in the Iharos Sándor Margitszigeti Atlétikai Centrum, the healthy crowd of 500 were also treated to a women's 9s contest at halftime, which ended 42-0 to the visitors.
Attending RLEF official Jovan Vujsoevic was full of praise for the local organisation, citing it as one of the best organised games he has seen.
HUNGARY
Mark Tolnai, Benjamin Antal, Zoltan Solti, David Farkas, Adam Timar, Adam Belencsak, Balint Kosa, Sandor Lakatos, Adam Csiri, Viktor Zelenka, Zoltan Bertyak, Norbert Csaptai, Jozsef Surman. Subs: Laszlo Harangozo, Geza Goletz, Marko Nikowitz, David Orsi
GREECE
Adam Bouris, Konstantinos Lambrakis, Mitchell Zampetides, Kristian Aroutsidis, Giorgkin Syti, George Stilianos, Braith Anasta, Michael Korkidas, Liam Sue-Tin, Matt Constantinou, Sebastian Sell, Terry Constantinou, Michalis Chatziioannou. Subs: Ioannis Nake, Panagiotis Karefilis, Dimitrios Minadakis, Iordanis Bilikaidis
Hungary0
Greece90
Tries:
Sell (4,73), Aroutsidis (10), Terry Constantinou (16,21,61), Zampetides (28,39), Anasta (35,43,46,79),Nake (52), Bouris (59,70)
Goals:
Anasta 15/15
Braith Anasta, the former Australia and New South Wales great, scored 46 points as Greece routed Hungary in Budapest. The Greeks, bolstered by nine players based in Australia, took on a Hungary side in what was the first official Test match in both countries' rugby league history.
Played in the Iharos Sándor Margitszigeti Atlétikai Centrum, the healthy crowd of 500 were also treated to a women's 9s contest at halftime, which ended 42-0 to the visitors.
Attending RLEF official Jovan Vujsoevic was full of praise for the local organisation, citing it as one of the best organised games he has seen.
HUNGARY
Mark Tolnai, Benjamin Antal, Zoltan Solti, David Farkas, Adam Timar, Adam Belencsak, Balint Kosa, Sandor Lakatos, Adam Csiri, Viktor Zelenka, Zoltan Bertyak, Norbert Csaptai, Jozsef Surman. Subs: Laszlo Harangozo, Geza Goletz, Marko Nikowitz, David Orsi
GREECE
Adam Bouris, Konstantinos Lambrakis, Mitchell Zampetides, Kristian Aroutsidis, Giorgkin Syti, George Stilianos, Braith Anasta, Michael Korkidas, Liam Sue-Tin, Matt Constantinou, Sebastian Sell, Terry Constantinou, Michalis Chatziioannou. Subs: Ioannis Nake, Panagiotis Karefilis, Dimitrios Minadakis, Iordanis Bilikaidis
I came across this interesting article looks like Spain will be playing Rugby League internationals soon.http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/rugby- ... onal-coach
The Espana Rugby League can anticipate unveiling the signing of our national team coach for the Spanish Rugby League team.
The Spanish Association of Rugby League (Asociación Española de Rugby League) will present shortly Darren Fisher as national coach of the Spanish Rugby League. The agreement has been secured for the 2014 season and among the tasks of the new coach will be the development of the national selection of RL and preparation for the first international matches.
Among his experience as a coach, Darren Fisher, he has directed the Eastmoor Dragons and he has also been coach of Yorkshire County U-19.
In recent seasons, from 2011, he has belonged to the sports organisation chart of one of the most important European clubs, the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats RLFC in the Super League, as a Scholarship Coach and in Talent Identification.
As a professional player he has played rugby league mainly with the English teams the Barrow Raiders RLFC and Batley Bulldogs RLFC. The new coach, Darren Fisher, will be joined on the staff by Matt Dulley and Toni Rojas, assistant coach and physical trainer respectively.
Mattpoet here is an article from nrl.com last week re: Philippines and Latin Heat.
If you click for more information it goes to the following facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/events/1374398002814043/http://www.nrl.com/srama-league-can-be- ... fault.aspx
He's a rugby league nomad who has played the game in the United States, England, the Philippines and Queensland, and Luke Srama believes now is the time for rugby league to spread its wings to all corners of the globe.
Srama, older brother of Titans hooker Matt, will link with The Entrance in the New South Wales-based Ron Massey Cup competition in 2014 but before he heads to the Central Coast he'll lead the Philippine Tamaraws out against the Latin Heat in a rugby league international of a different kind at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast on January 18.
Srama has captained the Philippines to successive Asian Cup wins over Thailand the past two years with the crowd of 150 that turned out in Bangkok in 2012 swelling to more than 1,500 for the return clash at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Stadium in 2013.
With the possibility of an NRL game being played in China in the near future, Srama has no doubt that further exposure into Asian nations will see an explosion of interest in the game, with Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan in line to participate in future Asian Cup tournaments.
"Growing up you'd never even think about representing Asia so it's a massive achievement not only for ourselves but also our mother and all her family back in the Philippines," Srama tells NRL.com.
"When we played the Asian Cup [in 2012] we went back to the Philippines and did some coaching and visited some orphanages and it was a really big eye-opener. All the Filipinos are used to basketball and boxing with [Manny] Pacquiao but we gave them a few footballs and took them through some coaching clinics and they picked up the game fairly easily.
"It can definitely grow into something big and now they're talking about China and taking [NRL] games there.
"For us to be a world game and the greatest game of all they've got to expand. All the countries around the world, as soon as they see rugby league they fall in love with it. It is the best game in the world and so easy to play compared to union and hopefully now with the World Cup everyone starts putting more time into it."
There are close to 100 million people living in the Philippines who have little to no knowledge of rugby league while in Latin America, the combined population of close to 600 million people have one sporting religion: soccer.
"Central and South Americans, we're all about soccer, that's our major sport, but when we have a group of guys that is interested in rugby and seeing it develop, it's inspiring because we don't have that background," says Latin Heat captain Jonathan Espinoza.
"Bringing that kind of sport into our culture... one day I could maybe see us playing in the World Cup because we do have the talent. Everyone is on board and pushing it to the limit because they really want to put it on the map, that we can play [rugby league]."
The brainchild of Brisbane-based businessman Rob Burgin, the Latin Heat have been in existence for less than 12 months and draw together players from Latin American nations to play rugby league.
For many of the squad, the Mitchelton Nines tournament in Brisbane in September was not only their first game together as a team, it was their first ever game of rugby league.
There are now some 50 players associated with the Latin Heat squad in Brisbane and Sydney and Espinoza and his teammates are eager to take the game back to their homelands.
"Argentina has their [rugby] union team, Chile also has a union squad and to bring a new game into our culture, I'm pretty sure it's going to be welcomed with open arms," says Espinoza, whose parents are of Nicaraguan and Chilean heritage.
"We have a lot of people who may not be good at soccer or baseball but they might have the skills for rugby. We want to expose those people [to rugby league] and I think it's going to do wonders. I've seen a couple of the players over there and I definitely know that we could make a good international side."
Click here for more information on the game between the Philippine Tamaraws ad Latin Heat on January 18.
And an article from the Courier Mail. The article has photos of some of the Latin Heat players.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 6794986383
N WHAT may be a first for rugby league, Fortitude Valley's nightclubs have actually helped the sport.
League's boldest pioneers, the Latin Heat have little idea who Greg Inglis is.
Several team members were introduced to the code amid salsa music and tequila. But they are pouring their heart into the 13-man game.
A collection of bouncers, scientists, cleaners and university students, the Heat make their international debut against the Philippines Tamaraws on the Gold Coast in a fortnight.
Captain Jonathan Espinoza, who dominated the University league competition last season with an incredible 27-metre average per hit-up, is adamant Latin America is a potential goldmine for NRL clubs in future years.
They just have to make Latinos aware of the sport first, even if it means pitching in night clubs.
"Latino and rugby league aren't used in the same sentence much," said Espinoza, born in Australia to Chilean and Nicaraguan parents.
"The guys have heard of Maradona and Lionel Messi but not Darren Lockyer.
"There is rugby union in places like Argentina and Chile but people are oblivious to rugby league.
"We have the skill and talent to make a good league side and we want to start it here and take it back to Latin America."
The Heat players' English ranges from excellent to non-existent, and their sponsor is South American food outlet Guzman y Gomez.
They all hail from throughout Latin America, with brilliantly named backrower Juan David emigrating from the Columbian town Pablo Escobar made famous, Medellin.
In existence for just 11 months, the Heat have recruited 50 players in Brisbane and Sydney.
They have fallen in love with league as a means of learning more about Australia and adapting to their new homes.
"One of our sponsors has regular events at a nightclub and a lot of Latin boys come in and they ask about us playing rugby," Espinoza said.
"We tell them to come along and while they are a little intoxicated when we ask them they love it when they start training.
"Some of them could be good enough to play in the Queensland Cup and who knows from there.
"It is a beautiful thing because we are embracing the Australian culture with the Latin culture."
Brisbane-based Heat director and league tragic Robert Burgin said there were plans for the team to tour Latin America in the next 12 months, while a Columbian team featuring several Heat players is set to play Jamaica later this year.
There is a combined Latin American population of close to 600 million people, so even a tiny niche in the culture could present incredible opportunities to the code.
While the traditional physique of Latin Americans suits the stocky, powerful, frame required for league.
The Heat were born when Burgin visited his girlfriend's family in Brazil.
"The light bulb moment when I thought it could work was last Christmas, when I was in the tiny Brazilian town of Assis Chateaubriand, in a very rural community and I showed people NRL and State of Origin clips on YouTube and they loved it," he said.
Philippines have named their team to play the Latin Heat on Saturday. Ex-Storm player Paul Sheedy has been named for his second match for the Philippines.
http://latinheatrl.com/2014/01/12/phili ... atin-heat/
REIGNING Asia Cup rugby league champions the Philippine Airlines Tamaraws have named former Melbourne Storm and New South Wales Warratahs player Paul Sheedy to face the GYG Latin Heat at Runaway Bay this coming Saturday night.
In what will be the Latin Heat’s debut, the Philippine team will be looking to protect an undefeated record in international fixtures.
Five-eighth Sheedy will play a pivotal role in that ambition, having appeared in the NRL in 2001 with the Storm and in Super Rugby for the Warratahs between 2001-04.
Also appearing for the Tamaraws will be Luke Srama (pictured), the brother of Gold Coast Titans hooker Matt Srama and captain of the Philippines side.
Unable to play due to NRL pre-season commitments, Matt Srama and Kevin Gordon will both fill off-field roles on the night and help collect donations for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated parts of the Philippines.
Entry to the match will be by gold coin donation only, with 100 per cent of proceeds split between the Typhoon Haiyan appeal and Amnesty International’s ongoing work in Latin America.
The GYG Latin Heat – representing the 600 million people of Latin America – will announce their debut international squad, with full player biographies, later today.
Kick-off in the clash will be 7pm, Saturday, January 18 at Runaway Bay’s Bycroft Oval on the Gold Coast, Morala Avenue.
Philippine Airlines Philippine Tamaraws Team List
1. Will Dreves – Mounties
2. Jeremiah Alimpulos – Pine Central Holy Spirit
3. Dennis Gordon – Gold Coast Breakers RUFC
4. Carlo Alinboyong – Southport Tigers
5. James Webb – Western Suburbs Magpies
6. Paul Sheedy – Tweed Coast Raiders
7. Ashley Black – Noosa Pirates
8. Glen Power – St. Claire Comets
9. Luke Srama – The Entrance Tigers
10. Arwin Marcus – Tweed Coast Raiders
11. Jason Dreves – Picton RLFC
12. Steven Tolo - Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles
13. Robert Geraghty – Eden Tigers
14. Scott Sandaga – Fairfield United
15. Micah Hines – Booval Swifts
16. James Marcus – Tweed Coast Raiders
17. Blaze Gonzales – Tweed Heads Seagulls
18. Fred Arquiza – Belrose Sea Eageles
Coach: Clayton Watene
Assistant Coach: Mark De Ubago
Manager: Marc Leabres
Strapper: Mervn Heka
League Safe: Kevin Gordon
Water Runner: Brain West, Carl Denhard
Stats: Steven Bernstrom
Latin Heat's squad for match v Philippines. The squad includes the nephew of ex-Storm winger Aseri Laing.
http://latinheatrl.com/2014/01/12/latin ... announced/
THE Guzman y Gomez Latin Heat has named its debut international squad, ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Philippine Airlines Tamaraws at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast.
A composite side to give the 600 million people of Latin America a face in international rugby league, the side features players with ties to eight different Latino nations.
Of the 18-man squad named, 13 of the players were born on South or Central American soil, with the remaining five qualifying through close heritage ties.
“If you look into the background of these players, I have no doubt that each and every player is representing something dear to their heart,” coach Robert Burgin said.
“You have sons of people who have faced torture, imprisonment, civil war, relocation to the other side of the world and, in many cases, working the lowest paid jobs just to give their family a better future.
“We had a pretty forthright talk at training the other night and the players are determined to show that Latinos are capable of more than soccer and baseball.
“They want to be the pride of their community.”
While the Philippines go into the match as heavy favourites, being current holders of the Asia Cup and boasting several semi-professional players, the Heat will field an all-amateur squad.
Surprisingly the GYG Heat line-up does not contain any players from Argentinian or Brazilian backgrounds, despite the dominant role both nations play in Latin America.
“We have tried to engage both those communities and will work harder to achieve that, but in some ways it’s a positive for rugby league that we’ve succeeded in other areas first,” said Burgin.
“Who would have thought we would draw most of our players from Colombia, or that we would find talented league players from Nicaragua, EL Salvador and Panama?
“Every week is a learning curve, both for the players involved and for us trying to spread the game back in Latin America.
“We’ve broken into the Chilean news the last fortnight, there’s a team starting up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the support we are receiving on social media has been excellent.”
Entry to Saturday’s match will be by gold coin donation only, with 100 per cent of proceeds split between the Typhoon Haiyan appeal and Amnesty International’s ongoing work in Latin America.
The Philippine Airlines Tamaraws, representing a country of almost 100 million people, announced their team here earlier today.
Kick-off in the clash will be 7pm, Saturday, January 18 at Runaway Bay’s Bycroft Oval on the Gold Coast, Morala Avenue.
GUZMAN Y GOMEZ LATIN HEAT RUGBY LEAGUE
1 Carlos ASTORGA GONZALEZ (CHILE, Lives Ultimo NSW)
2 Fernando VILLEGAS (COLOMBIA, Lives Annerley QLD)
3 Luis GUILLERMO FHON (PERU, Lives Campbelltown NSW)
4 Mayer FLAMENCO (PANAMA/EL SALVADOR/CHILE, Lives Hinchinbrook, NSW)
5 Diego SANTIAGO GIL VEJERANO (COLOMBIA, Lives Kelvin Grove QLD)
6 Daniel SARMIENTO (COLOMBIA, Lives Petrie QLD)
7 Marco TULIO PEREIRA (EL SALVADOR/HONDURAS, Lives Tarragindi QLD)
8 Sebastian MAYA JIMENEZ (COLOMBIA, Lives Spring Hill QLD)
9 Jye SOMMERS (PERU, Lives Corrimal NSW)
10 Jaden LAING (CHILE, Lives Campbelltown NSW)
11 Jonathan ESPINOZA © (NICARAGUA/CHILE, Lives Greenslopes QLD)
12 Juan DAVID ESPINAL (COLOMBIA, Lives Wishart QLD)
13 Josh GADEA HELLYER (URUGUAY, Lives Liverpool NSW)
INTERCHANGE
14 Diego LOPEZ PINTO (COLOMBIA, Lives Southbank QLD)
15 Walter ORELLANA (EL SALVADOR, Lives Redbank QLD)
16 Jose ORELLANA (EL SALVADOR, Lives Springfield Lakes QLD)
17 Alex MORENO (COLOMBIA, Lives Petire QLD)
18 Kristofer VIEIRA (URUGUAY, Lives Plumpton NSW)
Coach: Robert Burgin
Assistant Coaches: Ernie Tobar, Shane Atherton
LeagueSafe: Clint Dolan
Strapper: Jackson Hooper, Vince Travia
Doctor: Aida Vizcaya
Stats/Media: Matthew Brown
Player profiles for the Latin Heat players can be found at the below website.
http://latinheatrl.com/2014/01/12/gyg-l ... -profiles/
http://latinheatrl.com/2014/01/12/gyg-l ... -profiles/