Greece national rugby league team
Encyclopedia
The Greece national rugby league team represents Greece in rugby league football. The team has been participating in international competition since 2003, and have since become an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation
.
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.
On 28 October 2006, Greece played Serbia
in the first international match on Greek soil. Greece, because of their Australian 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
.
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 will be based in Athens
and is likely to consist of four teams, as that is the minimum requirement in gaining associate membership into the Rugby League European Federation
. Greece played their first ever Rugby League International Game in a 26-10 victory against New Caledonia in September 2003. Greece won their first ever Rugby League Premiership 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 ever Rugby League Major Tournament. The Greeks were led to the premiership win by Wests Tigers player John Skandalis. The Greeks did not qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
which was held in Australia and are not qualifying for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup which is held in England And Wales. 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 the Greek captain, Nick Kouparitsas, Justin Tsoulos and Braith Xianni Anastasakis who is half Greek half Australian is a Greek and Australian International who used to play for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and now is the captain of the Eastern Suburbs Roosters. He played for both Countries at International level. The Greeks Triumph at the 2009 Australian Mediterranean Shield placed them into International Rugby League history. They are the first country to win a premiership at their first ever major tournament.
Rugby League International Federation
The Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
.
History
In October 2005, Greece, The Titans, played an international match in Australia against MaltaRugby league in Malta
Rugby league is a major team sport emerging in Malta. The Maltese Rugby League Association is designed to help develop a platform for taking the game of rugby league to the nation of 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
Rugby league in Fiji
Rugby league, or rakavi saumi as it is also known there, is a popular team sport played in Fiji since 1992 when the country was included in the World Sevens.-History:...
at OKI Jubilee Stadium
Oki Jubilee Stadium
Jubilee Oval is one of two home stadiums used by the St. George Illawarra Dragons team, a rugby league club that plays in Australasia's National Rugby League. The R2K entity was instrumental in ensuring that NRL matches were played at Kogarah from 2003 onwards...
in front of 1103 spectators. Fiji, who had just qualified for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
won the match 34-12.
On 28 October 2006, Greece played Serbia
Serbia national rugby league team
The Serbia national rugby league team represents Serbia in the sport of rugby league football, has been participating in international competition since 2003.-History:...
in the first international match on Greek soil. Greece, because of their Australian 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
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
player Steve Georgallis
Steve Georgallis
Steve Georgallis is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. Appointed as the Penrith Panthers head coach part-way through the 2011 NRL season, he played during the 1990s in Sydney for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters, Western Suburbs Magpies and Wests Tigers, as well...
.
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 will be based in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and is likely to consist of four teams, as that is the minimum requirement in gaining associate membership into the Rugby League European Federation
Rugby League European Federation
The Rugby League European Federation is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. It supports the Rugby League International Federation . The RLEF "oversees and co-ordinates the development of the sport in all its member...
. Greece played their first ever Rugby League International Game in a 26-10 victory against New Caledonia in September 2003. Greece won their first ever Rugby League Premiership 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 ever Rugby League Major Tournament. The Greeks were led to the premiership win by Wests Tigers player John Skandalis. The Greeks did not qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
which was held in Australia and are not qualifying for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup which is held in England And Wales. 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 the Greek captain, Nick Kouparitsas, Justin Tsoulos and Braith Xianni Anastasakis who is half Greek half Australian is a Greek and Australian International who used to play for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and now is the captain of the Eastern Suburbs Roosters. He played for both Countries at International level. The Greeks Triumph at the 2009 Australian Mediterranean Shield placed them into International Rugby League history. They are the first country to win a premiership at their first ever major tournament.
Players
- James Stosic (Gold Coast TitansGold Coast TitansGold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
) - Daniel ConnDaniel ConnDaniel William Conn is an Australian model and rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters club in the National Rugby League...
(Sydney RoostersSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
) - York Antoniou (Sydney Uni)
- Mark Anthony
- Mitch Anthony
- Jesse Argeros (St Brendans)
- George GatisGeorge GatisGeorge Gatis is a professional rugby league player who has played in the National Rugby League and Super League competitions. His position of choice is at hooker.-North Queensland:...
(North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
) - Andrew Georgiou
- David Georgiou (Penrith PanthersPenrith PanthersThe Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
) - Thomas Giatsos (Lewisham Old Boys)
- Iwi HaurakiIwi HaurakiIwi Hauraki is a New Zealand rugby union player and former rugby league player who currently plays for the Northland Taniwha in the ITM Cup.-Playing career:...
(Sydney RoostersSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
) - David Hartzmarkos (Balmain TigersBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
) - Simon Lakis (Sydney UniUniversity of SydneyThe University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
) - Adam Kambouris
- Mitchell Karabatsos
- Michael KorkidasMichael KorkidasMichael Korkidas is an Australian-Greek rugby league player who currently plays for the Keighley Cougars. He primarily plays at .-Playing career:...
(Wakefield Trinity WildcatsWakefield Trinity WildcatsWakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
) - George Kouparitsas
- Clay Chester
- Kosta Kouparitsas (Gungahlin Bulls)
- Nick KouparitsasNick KouparitsasNick Kouparitsas is an Greek/Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
(Sydney RoostersSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
) - Ray Mavroudis (Sydney BullsSydney BullsThe Sydney Bulls are a rugby league team based in the suburb of Bass Hill in Sydney's South-Western Suburbs. Founded in 1999, the club was formed by Lebanese-Australian players and businessmen who were involved in the 1997 Lebanon Rugby League World Sevens side...
) - Craig Moustakas (Campbelltown EaglesCampbelltown EaglesCampbelltown Eagles are an Australian semi-professional rugby league team. They currently play in the combined Group 6 Rugby League-Western Suburbs District Rugby League A-grade tournament jointly run by the CRL and NSWRL. The team previously competed in the Bundaberg Red Cup...
) - Jackson NicolauJackson NicolauJackson Nicolau was an Australian Rugby league footballer who played for the Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL....
(North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
) - Nick Nikitaras (Shellharbour City Marlins)
- Willie PetersWillie PetersWillie Peters is a halfback who played for South Sydney Rabbitohs i. He has also played for the St George Illawarra Dragons as well as in England for the Widnes Vikings, where he was unable to save them from relegation in 2005. Because of his Greek background, he is eligible to represent the...
- Stuart Philpot (Shellharbour City Marlins)
- Alex Pattalis (Wentworthville MagpiesWentworthville MagpiesThe Wentworthville Magpies, colloquially known as Wenty, are a Rugby league team based in the suburb of Wentworthville in Sydney's Western Suburbs. Founded in 1963, the club has competed in various Sydney district competitions and, since 2003, the semi-professional NSWRL Jim Beam Cup competition...
) - Jim Pizanias
- Paul Salamakis (Penrith Brothers)
- Petros Thanou (Chester Hill RhinosChester Hill RhinosThe Chester Hill Rhinos were a Rugby league team based in the suburb of Chester Hill in Sydney's South-Western Suburbs. From 2007 to 2009 the club fielded a side in the semi-professional NSWRL Jim Beam Cup competition in NSW, Australia. They folded in 2009...
) - Jamie Theoharous (WhitehavenWhitehaven RLFCWhitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
) - Panayiotis Vardis (Forestville Ferrets)
- Sebastian Vourlas (Balmain TigersBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
) - John SkandalisJohn SkandalisJohn Skandalis is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers of the NRL. He played previously for the Western Suburbs Magpies and Huddersfield Giants...
(West Tigers) - Steve Spiliotopoulos
- Richard VarkulisRichard VarkulisRichard Varkulis is a rugby league player currently contracted to Whitehaven RLFC.Richard signed for Championship One team Whitehaven RLFC for the 2012 season following three successful years at Widnes Vikings....
(Widnes VikingsWidnes VikingsWidnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
) - Koz Vorgias
- Jude Wheeler
- Michael Yatras
- Khan Salamakis
- Simon Hristov
- Shane Rolfe (Moss Vale)
- Simeon AlexiadisSimeon AlexiadisSimeon Alexiadis was a dual international rugby league player who has played at both Premier League and International level. His position of choice is at second row...
(UTS Jets) - Michael Tsougranis (Arncliffe Scotts)
Results
- 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 SerbiaSerbia national rugby league teamThe Serbia national rugby league team represents Serbia in the sport of rugby league football, has been participating in international competition since 2003.-History:...
- Oct 2005: MaltaMalta national rugby league teamIn 2004, the Maltese Rugby League Association was formed to introduce the game of rugby league football to Malta. Malta played its first game in Malta on October 22, 2005 when they defeated England Lionhearts 36-6 at the Marsa Stadium, and in 2008 a domestic competition kicked off on the island.The...
24-22 Greece - Oct 2004: ItalyItaly national rugby league teamThe Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
58-14 Greece - Mar 2004: Greece 56-8 New CaledoniaNew Caledonia rugby league teamThe New Caledonia rugby league team represents the French territory of New Caledonia at rugby league football and has been participating in international competition since 2003...
- Sep 2003: ItalyItaly national rugby league teamThe Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
26-24 Greece - Sep 2003: Greece 26-10 New CaledoniaNew Caledonia rugby league teamThe New Caledonia rugby league team represents the French territory of New Caledonia at rugby league football and has been participating in international competition since 2003...