Rugby league in Norway

Rugby league is a minor team sport in Norway. The sport is administered there by Rugby League Norge, which was set up in late 2008. Rugby League Norge works according to RLEF and NIF laws.

History

Norway is new to the game. In February 2008, the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) granted Norway official observer status, and in 2008 a committee was formed, based in Oslo, with the aim of developing the game all over the country.[1]

The first rugby league event to take place on Norwegian soil was the Scandinavia Cup nine-a-side tournament in Oslo. Then a national team was selected to play against the British and Irish Student Pioneers. Norway lost this match 24-0. Later in the year, Norway played their first full international match, against Denmark in Copenhagen. Norway won the match 28-26.

In 2010 the first league season started in June, with a Grand Final won by Oslo RK, who defeated Lillestrøm Lions. Meanwhile, the Norwegian national team competed in their first official tournament, the 2010 European Bowl competition against Malta.

In 2011 it was hoped to see the domestic competition expand to five teams: Aker Seagulls (Oslo), Flisbyen Broncos (formerly Lillestrøm Lions), Fredrikstad Falcons, Oslo Capitals, and Tromsø Polar Bears. The 2011 Norwegian Grand Final is scheduled for September 10.

On 26 October 2011, Rugby League Norge was granted Affiliate status within the RLEF.[2]

Domestic competition

Norway runs a senior men's competition with seven teams participating in the national 13-a-side championship:

Clubs
  • Bardufoss Badgers
  • Bodo Barbarians
  • Flekkefjord Tigers
  • Lillestrom Lions
  • Oslo Capitals
  • Porsgrunn Pirates
  • Stavanger Storm
  • Trondheim Rugby Klubb

Domestic competition champions
  • 2010 Oslo Capitals
  • 2011 Tromsø Polar Bears
  • 2012 Oslo Capitals
  • 2013 Oslo Capitals
  • 2014 Oslo Capitals
  • 2015 Bodø Barbarians
  • 2016 Trondheim Rugbyklubb/Flisbyen Broncos

Media

In February 2011 Rugby League Norway announced a deal with TV 2 Sport for one game of the Engage Super League to be screened each week.[3] In addition, a weekly timeslot was allocated to promote the fledgling domestic competition. The first Super League match ever screened live in Norway was the clash between St. Helens and Wigan Warriors. That match was played on Saturday February 12 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff as part of Millennium Magic.

In 2012 the Norwegian Grand Final was broadcast live on the Internet through NRK (Norsk Riks Kringkasting). This was a huge step towards showing people the game in Norway. In 2015 NRK again broadcast the Grand Final.

National team
Main article: Norway national rugby league team

Norway's national team is nicknamed "Vikingene". They first competed in 2009.

References
  1. "Norway Rugby League Planet". Rugby League Planet. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  2. "Rugby League European Federation Admits Four New Members". RLEF. 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  3. "Engage Super League arrives in Norway".
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