Greece national rugby league team

Greece
Team information
Nickname Titans
Governing body Greek Rugby League
Region Europe
Head coach Steve Georgallis
Captain Jordan Meads
RLIF ranking 26th
Uniforms
First colours
Second colours
Team results
First international
 New Caledonia 10–26 Greece 
(September 2003)
Biggest win
 Hungary 0–90 Greece 
(27 October 2013)
Biggest defeat
 Greece 4–76 Spain 
(17 October 2015)

The Greece national rugby league team (Greek: Ελλάδα εθνική ομάδα ράγκμπι λίγκ) represents Greece in rugby league football. The national team has been participating in international competition since 2003, and have become an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation.

History

Era previous to the foundation of a domestic Federation

In October 2005, Greece, The Titans, played an international match in Australia against Malta which they lost 24 points to 22 in front of an estimated crowd of 6,500. Before departing to Greece for their historic match, they played a warm up match against Fiji A at OKI Jubilee Stadium in front of 1103 spectators. Fiji, who had just qualified for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup won the match 34-12. Greece played their first ever Rugby League International Game in a 26-10 victory against New Caledonia in September 2003. On 28 October 2006, Greece played Serbia in the first international match on Greek soil. Greece, because of their Australian based contingent, were favourites against a much improved Serbian outfit as both teams fought out the game in determined fashion. Greece eventually ran out winners, 44-26 in front of 150 home fans of the Glyka Nera Football Club, Athens. Greece were coached by former Western Suburbs Magpies player Steve Georgallis.Greece won their first ever Rugby League Championship in 2009 where they won the Australian Mediterranean Shield defeating Italy in the Final 34-14. The 2009 Australian Mediterranean Shield that they won was their first competition that they took part in. The Greeks were led to the win by Wests Tigers player John Skandalis. The Greeks Triumph at the 2009 Australian Mediterranean Shield was their first trophy in the trophy cabinet. The Greeks did not qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup which was held in Australia.

Official Rankings as of July 2018
RankChange*TeamPts%
1 Steady Australia100.0
2 Steady New Zealand72.7
3 Steady England70.4
4 Steady Tonga28.0
5 Steady Fiji25.8
6 Steady Samoa25.5
7 Steady Scotland24.5
8 Steady France18.3
9 Steady Lebanon13.9
10 Steady Papua New Guinea12.4
11 Steady Ireland10.6
12 Steady Wales8.0
13 Steady Italy7.4
14 Steady United States7.1
15 Steady Jamaica5.2
16 Increase 1 Canada5.1
17 Decrease 1 Serbia4.4
18 Steady Malta3.8
19 Increase 3 Norway2.7
20 Decrease 1 Russia2.6
21 Increase 8 Hungary2.3
22 Decrease 1 Spain2.3
23 Decrease 3 Belgium2.3
24 Increase 2 Czech Republic2.2
25 Steady Ukraine2.1
26 Decrease 3 Greece1.9
27 Decrease 3 Philippines1.9
28 Decrease 1 Netherlands1.4
29 Increase 2 Sweden1.4
30 Decrease 2 Germany1.3
31 Decrease 1 Cook Islands1.3
32 Rise 3 South Africa1.3
33 Decrease 1 Chile1.2
34 Decrease 1 Niue1.1
35 Decrease 1 Denmark0.8
36 Steady Vanuatu0.8
37 Steady El Salvador0.7
38 Steady Thailand0.7
39 Steady Argentina0.6
40 Steady Colombia0.6
41 Steady Japan0.4
42 Steady Solomon Islands0.4
43 Steady Brazil0.3
44 Steady Uruguay0.3
45 Steady Hong Kong0.2
46 Steady Bulgaria0.1
47 Steady Latvia0.1
48 Steady Morocco0.0
*Change from December 2017

A number of plans for the Greek Rugby League have been put into place with a regular domestic competition to commence in 2007. The domestic competition was planned to be based in Athens consisted of four teams, as that was the minimum requirement in gaining associate membership into the Rugby League European Federation. As of 2012 they did not manage to establish a championship. On July 11, 2011, the GB Student "Pioneers" played a game vs an unofficial "national" team (consisted of players from the two Rhodes teams) in Rhodes island. Greeks lost that game. Greece have had a fair bit of players in Australian Rugby League in the past 40 years. Players like George Peponis a former Australian International and Captain who played for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, George Katsogiannis, Jim Serdaris, Steve Georgallis the Coach who played for Western Suburbs, John Skandalis, Nick Kouparitsas, Michael Korkidas and Braith Anasta who is half-Greek, half-Anglo Saxon Australian is a Greek and Australian International who used to play for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and is now retired. He played for both Countries at International level.

Era after the foundation of a domestic Federation

On 27 October 2013 Greece defeated Hungary 90-0 in an international match played in Budapest in front of 500 spectators.[1] The Greek side featured a mixture of players from the Greek domestic competition (8) and Australian-based (9) players including Anasta and Korkidas.[2] Anasta kicked 15 goals from 15 attempts and scored 46 points in the win.[1]

In October 2014, Greece were crowned European Championship C champions after beating Czech Republic in the final. This was their second international tournament victory[3]

Later in the same month, Greece competed in the inaugural Balkans Cup tournament held in Serbia. They beat the hosts in the final to win their third international tournament to add to their trophy cabinet, second in over a week.[4]

Matthew Ashill was the coach of the team for the 2015 European C/2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying tournament and on 13 September 2015 he named a 22-man train-on squad with only domestic club players which caused controversy as it was a key event coming up for the national rugby league team. He explained his decision saying "We have a totally new plan using just domestic players who will contribute to the growth and development of the sport here".[5]

Current squad

Squad selected for the 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship;[6][7]

  • Stefanos Bastas
  • Terry Constantinou
  • Nathan Hughes
  • Clinton Hughes
  • Dimos Kartsonakis
  • Michael Korkidas
  • Con Kotsidonis
  • Billy Magoulias
  • Jordan Meads
  • Terry Mihalatos
  • Nick Mougios
  • Giannis Rosoglou
  • Sebastien Sell
  • Peter Mamouzelos
  • Sam Stratis
  • Liam Sue-Tin
  • Tyrone Taukamo
  • George Tsikrikas
  • Billy Tsikrikas
  • Mitchell Zampetides
  • Alex Zarounas
  • Laurence Zarounas
  • Robert Tuliutu
  • Adam Vrahnos
  • Jake Vrahnos
  • Sebastien Vourlos

Notable players

Since rugby league has been known to the nation of Greece since the 2000s many players of Greek birth or heritage have gone on to attain notability in representing either Greece, other nations or appearing in major domestic leagues around the world, some of the more notable Greeks have included:

PlayerPositionAssociation to GreeceDistinctions
Braith AnastaFive-eighthGreek Father
and Grandparents		Played in the NRL with the Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters and the West Tigers. He has represented notable Australian representative teams such as the Australian national team and the New South Wales rugby league team.
Anasta has made one appearance for Greece in their 2013 test-match against Hungary where he contributed with 46 points.
Jason DemetriouSecond RowGreek HeritageMainly known for his career in the Super League.
Represented Greece in 2000.
George GatisHookerGreek HeritagePlayed in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys and New Zealand Warriors as well as with the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.
Played for Greece in 2005.
Michael KorkidasPropGreek HeritageBy far Greece's most influential big name player, making his debut in 2005 and ever since captaining the side and making more than 10 appearances for the team. He has mainly played his career in the Super League with teams such as the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Salford City Reds, Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants.
Nick KouparitsasSecond RowGreek HeritagePlayed in the NRL with the Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters as well as playing for the London Broncos in the Super League.
Appeared for Greece in 2005 and 2006.
Blake LazarusHalfbackGreek HeritagePlayed in the NRL with the Wests Tigers.
Appeared for Greece in 2012 and 2014.
Jordan MeadsHalfbackGreek HeritagePlayed in the NRL with the New Zealand Warriors and in the Championship 1 tier of English competition for the Gloucestershire All Golds.
Captained Greece in 2014 Balkans Cup and 2014 European Championship C.
John SkandalispropGreek HeritageNotable Wests Tigers player as well as playing for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League. Represented the City Origin Team between 2002-2006.
Captained Greece in the 2009 Australian Mediterranean Shield.

Overall Tournament History

The following tournaments is a list of notable international competitions that Greece has been competing in since their existence in 2003.

A red box around the year indicates tournaments played within Greece

World Cup

World Cup record
Year Round Position GP W L D
Australia 2008Not involved in qualifying
EnglandWales 2013Not involved in qualifying
AustraliaNew Zealand 2017Failed to Qualify
Total0 Titles0/130000

Balkans Cup

Balkans Cup
Year Round Position GP W L D
Serbia 2014Champions1/42200
Serbia 2017Second place2/32110
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2019to be determined
Total1 Title1/24310

Emerging Nations World Championship

World Cup record
Year Round Position GP W L D
Australia 2018To be determined
Total0 Titles0/130000

Australian Mediterranean Shield

  • The Australian Mediterranean Shield tournament is a tournament involving affiliate and observer European nations competing against each other for more international rugby league experience. Greece beat Portugal by 42-16 and therefore advanced to the final to take on Italy. They won the final by a score of 34-14 to be crowned the champions, the country's first International rugby league title.
Australian Mediterranean Shield
Year Round Position GP W L D
Australia 2009Champions1/42200
Total1 Title1/?2200

European Championship C

European Championship C
Year Round Position GP W L D
Estonia Latvia 2008Not Invited
Latvia Estonia 2009Not Invited
Malta 2010Not invited
Hungary 2011Not invited
Czech Republic 2012Not invited
Ukraine Norway Czech Republic 2013Not invited
Malta Czech Republic Greece2014Champions1/32200
Spain Malta Greece 20153rd place3/32020
Ukraine Czech Republic 2016Not invited
Ukraine Czech Republic Greece Malta Norway Germany 2018To be determined
Total1 Title1/74220

Results

  • OCT 2015: Greece 4-76 Spain (RLEF European Championship C)
  • OCT 2014: Serbia 22-50 Greece (Balkan Cup - winners)
  • OCT 2014: Bosnia / Herzegovina 4-58 Greece (Balkan Cup)
  • OCT 2014: Greece 68-16 Czech Republic (RLEF European Championship - winners)
  • JUN 2014: Malta 18-32 Greece (RLEF European Championship C)
  • OCT 2013: Hungary 0-90 Greece
  • OCT 2012: Vanuatu 14-24 Greece
  • OCT 2009: Greece 34-14 Italy (Mediterranean Shield Winner)
  • JUL 2008: Greece 14-12 France (Plate Winners, Student World Cup)
  • Oct 2007: Greece 58-32 Scotland Students (development team)
  • Oct 2006: Greece 44-26 Serbia
  • Oct 2005: Malta 24-22 Greece
  • Oct 2004: Italy 58-14 Greece
  • Mar 2004: Greece 56-8 New Caledonia
  • Sep 2003: Italy 26-24 Greece
  • Sep 2003: Greece 26-10 New Caledonia

See also

References

  1. 1 2 RLEF
  2. ↑ Εθνικη Ομαδα / National Team - Ελλασ Ραγκμπυ Λιγκ - Hellas Rugby League
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  4. ↑ RLEF
  5. ↑ "Greece coach names initial squad for european championship c". rlef.com. 2015-09-13. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  6. ↑ "Coaching rivals to team up for Greece". NRL.com. 19 September 2018.
  7. ↑ https://www.rlenwc.com/2018/10/01/match-report-greece-hungary/ Greeve vs Hungary Match report
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