International International Rugby League Thread

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"Time for New Zealand and Great Britain to stand up"
Thu Oct 16, 9:25pm (NZ)

Written by: Ian Stewart
The timing couldn’t be better for both New Zealand and Great Britain as they look ahead to matches against Australia in the next few weeks.

The current Australian squad has a real beatable look about them. Certainly a massive injury toll hasn’t helped, but the Kiwis and English really won’t get a better chance to knock them over.

New Zealand get first crack at the Aussies this weekend, and despite not having Stacey Jones in the side, the team picked by Daniel Anderson has enough experience and talent to overcome what is sure to be an always confident Kangaroo outfit. The only real concern for New Zealand, is the lack of a reliable kicker.

The Kiwi team has had a much better build up to this game, so there can be no excuses for poor preparation this time. New Zealand once again plays a game against Australia without a neutral referee, but this is something that they should be used to by now.

For Great Britain, the timing is even better. Another home series against a team from down under, and against a Kangaroo team they should be more than capable of defeating.

The Super League games I’ve seen this year have been of a high standard, and coming off their just completed Finals series, the players picked should be in pretty good form.

All that remains is for both New Zealand and Great Britain to stand up and deliver. I think both nations are up to it, and for mine the Kangaroos look ripe for the picking.
 
Locomotive win the Russian Double
Sun Oct 19, 6:08pm (NSW)
Written by: Guy R
After winning the Russian championship on the 15th of September, the Moscow based Locomotive defeated the inexperienced Kazan Energy side in the final of the Cup of Russia to win an historical double. Locomotive went into the clash as red-hot favourites and were clinical 34-4 winners. The newly formed Energy were surprise finalists after only finishing 4th in the championship, beating the fancied Dynamo Moscow team in the semi final. The other Kazan side, the Arrows, were defeated by the all conquering Locomotive side in the second semi-final.

The final took place on the 13th of October, ending a long and very successful domestic season for the Russian Rugby League.

The RRL has awarded the following awards for the 2003 season:
Player of the Season: Eugeny Bozhukov (Lokomotive Moscow)
Coach of the year: Eugeny Klebanov (Locomotive Moscow)

The RRL now look towards the European Nations cup starting on Sunday October 26.

Wales v Russia - Aberavon RFC, Wales KO 3.00pm
England 'A' v Russia - Odsal Stadium, Bradford, England KO 3.00pm
 

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Mediterranean Cup: Round One
Mon Oct 20, 9:09am (France)
Source: Lebanon Rugby League
The two favourites for the Rugby League Mediterranean Cup displayed their credentials with crushing victories to open the week long international tournament.

Hosts and holders Lebanon smashed through the hundred-point barrier against an outclassed Serbia & Montenegro side, eventually running up a 102-0 scoreline, while France overcame initially stiff Moroccan resistance to rack up a 72-0 triumph in Tripoli’s International Stadium.

Pia halfback Maxime Greseque was on top form as he dominated play for France, bagging three breakaway tries and as many goals for a personal haul of 18-points. Wing Michael Van Snick opened the scoring in the fifth minute to start a procession of French tries, joining wing partner Henri Marot and substitute Sebastian Azema on two tries.

France’s Saturday showdown with Lebanon promises to be a titanic clash as they seek to avenge last year’s 36-6 cup defeat in Tripoli.

Lebanon captain Anthony Semrani led the team with an inspired performance from hooker, scoring three tries while Samer El Masri compiled 34 points in the 18 try massacre of the plucky Serbs.

Domestic championship products Sami Halabi, Anthony Letayf, Jihad Ashkar and Hassan Taha all made their debuts for Lebanon in a historic day for the sport.

Bartercard Cedars centre Andrew Abou Nader and halfback Anthony Farrah had stand out performances in a stellar all-round team performance.

FRANCE CHANTICLEERS 72
Tries: Greseque 3, Van Snick 2, Marot 2, Azema 2, Terrado, Rorira, Estebanez, Fellous.
Goals: Frayssinous 5/6, Greseque 3/4, Terrado 2/3
defeated MOROCCO 0

LEBANON CEDARS 102
Tries: Semrani 3, Azzi 2, Anthony Farrah 2, Charlie Farrah 2, Azam 2, Saab, Nohra, Samer El Masri, Younan, Abou Nader, Wissam El Masri, Touma.
Goals: Samer El Masri 15/18
defeated SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO 0

Isnt Hazem El Masri playing for Lebanon?

Lebanon V France will be a great game of Rugby League... Great to see 4 LOCAL Lebanese players, play in the game.
 
Mediterranean Cup

Mediterranean Cup: Round One
Mon Oct 20, 9:09am (France)
Source: Lebanon Rugby League
The two favourites for the Rugby League Mediterranean Cup displayed their credentials with crushing victories to open the week long international tournament.

Hosts and holders Lebanon smashed through the hundred-point barrier against an outclassed Serbia & Montenegro side, eventually running up a 102-0 scoreline, while France overcame initially stiff Moroccan resistance to rack up a 72-0 triumph in Tripoli’s International Stadium.

Pia halfback Maxime Greseque was on top form as he dominated play for France, bagging three breakaway tries and as many goals for a personal haul of 18-points. Wing Michael Van Snick opened the scoring in the fifth minute to start a procession of French tries, joining wing partner Henri Marot and substitute Sebastian Azema on two tries.

France’s Saturday showdown with Lebanon promises to be a titanic clash as they seek to avenge last year’s 36-6 cup defeat in Tripoli.

Lebanon captain Anthony Semrani led the team with an inspired performance from hooker, scoring three tries while Samer El Masri compiled 34 points in the 18 try massacre of the plucky Serbs.

Domestic championship products Sami Halabi, Anthony Letayf, Jihad Ashkar and Hassan Taha all made their debuts for Lebanon in a historic day for the sport.

Bartercard Cedars centre Andrew Abou Nader and halfback Anthony Farrah had stand out performances in a stellar all-round team performance.

FRANCE CHANTICLEERS 72
Tries: Greseque 3, Van Snick 2, Marot 2, Azema 2, Terrado, Rorira, Estebanez, Fellous.
Goals: Frayssinous 5/6, Greseque 3/4, Terrado 2/3
defeated MOROCCO 0

LEBANON CEDARS 102
Tries: Semrani 3, Azzi 2, Anthony Farrah 2, Charlie Farrah 2, Azam 2, Saab, Nohra, Samer El Masri, Younan, Abou Nader, Wissam El Masri, Touma.
Goals: Samer El Masri 15/18
defeated SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO 0
 
"PNG Presidents 13 defeat Junior Kangaroos"

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20031020/sport01.htm

PAPUA New Guinea President’s XIII yesterday pulled off a Houdini act to score a historic 24-22 win over the Junior Australian Kangaroos.

The match was the second Kokoda Trail Memorial rugby league challenge at the Lloyd Robson Oval.

A PNG team – senior or junior – has never beaten the rugby league super powers until yesterday when the Ivan Ravu-coached side did that in front of a patriotic crowd.

Yesterday’s Australian side had about five first grade NRL players while others are contracted to several clubs and on the fringe of getting permanent spots next season.

With the game tied at 22-all and a penalty from Port Moresby referee Tony Kuni after he ruled the Australians offside, the PNG side took a gamble to seal the game.

Centre Stanley Hondina had a horrible day with his boot, missing three attempts after PNG tries. And when captain Michael Marum decided to go for goal and the two points after the Australians had been ruled offside on kick off, it seemed like a poor option.
“I threw the ball to him, and said you (Hondina) can do it,” Marum said after the game.

With the wind behind him and 50 metres out, Hondina pushed the ball over the black dot to bring the house down and escape another Australian beating.

“I am over the moon, I must congratulate my team. It was a historic win,” Ravu said after the win.
It was sweet revenge for last Wednesday night’s 22-18 win the Australians inflicted on the Australian-based PNG President’s XIII in Darwin.

But Australian coach Dennis Moore, who will be joining new Manly coach Des Hasler as his assistant, was not in the best of mood after referee Kuni gave his side a 14-5 penalty caning.
“It was a great experience, I’d like to do it again but I’d like a neutral referee,” he said.

But he gave credit to the PNG side for their open style of football.
“They played some brilliant football but that’s footy (refereeing decisions),” adding that he would rather concentrate on the positives than the negatives.

Kuni sent off Terry Campese in the second half, a few seconds after he had marched another player off to the sin-bin for 10 minutes to leave the Australians with 11 players on the field.
PNG, sniffing victory, threw everything at the bigger Australians with centre Ricky Sibia’s 50me try and the winning penalty goal — moments of the game that will be talked about for sometime.
The match started off like a typical Australian-PNG derby with the visitors showing their superiority by scoring two quick tries to set up a 12-0 advantage.

Tries to winger Nick Parfitt and winger Ben Creagh had league fans sitting back in their seats and expecting another Australian walkover. But PNG fullback Manzie Yere bulldozed over to trail 12-4 before the Kangaroos, using the wind well, forced a 40-20 with a brilliant kick and replacement winger Michael Ennis scored off the ensuring scrum.

At half-time PNG trailed 18-10 with a try to forward Kawage Gagma which Hondina converted.
The hot conditions took its toil on the Australians and Sibiya’s try after he combined with Gagma put PNG back into the game. Australian centre Lopini Paea scored on the right to put the Kanagroos ahead 22-14. All seemed lost for PNG before James Dummie scored an intercept try and Joe Sipa scored off a chip kick to level at 22-all before Hondina’s “houdini act”.

Scorers:
President’s XIII 24 (M Yere, K Gagma, R Sibiya, J Dummie, J Sipa tries; S Hondina 2 goals.
Junior Kangaroos 22 (N Parfitt, B Creagh, M Ennis, L Paea tries; N Parfitt 3 goals).
 
Lebanese, France expected to vie for Rugby title

First-round victories confirm sides’ dominance in Mediterranean cup
The second round of the Rugby League Mediterranean Cup will be held on Wednesday at Beirut’s Cite Sportive with two games: France against Serbia and Montenegro at 4pm, followed by Lebanon against Morocco at 6pm.
Both the French and Lebanese teams are favorites to clinch the cup’s title as they confirmed their superiority in their opening games of the tournament.
Lebanon and France displayed stellar performances in the first-round games of the Cup which were played Saturday at the Tripoli Municipality Stadium. Lebanon crushed Serbia and Montenegro while France easily disposed of the Moroccan team.
Lebanon thrashed the Serbs in a one-sided game in which the home team managed to pass the 100 points barrier, winning the game at the end with a 102-0 scoreline.
The Lebanese side managed to complete 18 tries in the game, three of which were made by the Lebanese captain, Anthony Semrani.
Meanwhile Samer Masri led the scorers with 34 points, making one try and converting 15 out 18 kicks. Halfback Anthony Farah converted two tries in his debut game for the Lebanese national rugby team.
For its part, the French team defeated Morocco 72-0. Despite a tough opposition by the African team in the first five minutes of the game, the French squad managed to unlock the Moroccan defense, scoring their first try five minutes into the game, thanks to their wingman Michael Van Snick.
France’s leading scorer was halfback Maxime Greseqe, who recorded three breakaway tries and converted three kicks out of four attempted, finishing with a total of 18 points. Van Snick, Henri Marot and Sebastien Azema had also two tries each.
Both Lebanon and France are favorites to win their games Wednesday, setting up a likely last-round showcase match-up between France and home side Lebanon to determine the winner of the league.
The last round of the rugby cup will take place on Sunday at the Tripoli Municipality Stadium. _ Y.H.

That is taken from the Lebanese Dailystar newspaper www.dailystar.com.lb
Its good too see Lebanese papers reporting on the game and actually know quiet a bit on the game of Rugby League ... Compared to some of there earlier reports on rugby League were they knewing nothing about it, its quiet pleasing to see the improvement.
 
If I read correctly Lebanon 60 def Morrocco 0 in front of a large crowd in Beirut.
The Morroccans have lifted their game big time since 2000 when an very similar Lebanese team beat them 104-0, so there is a large amount of improvement in 3 years from the Morroccans.
 
The club season may just be over, and the international season just beginning, but already we have seen some fantastic football, and proof that the game on the international level is expanding. The international season kicked off last Wednesday when a near full strength French side was simply too good for the visiting New Zealand Maori outfit, recording a 28 – 16 victory in Carcassonne.

Down under up at Darwin, the Australian Junior Kangaroos, which made up of the best players from the NSWRL and QRL competitions as well as some Under 21 National Rugby League players, only just defeated the Australian based PNG Presidents XIII 22 – 18.

Saturday saw the Samoan side take the international field again, recording a thrilling 32 – 20 victory over the Auckland based Maori side as a curtain raiser to the very well published 30 – 16 victory by the New Zealand Kiwis over the Australian Kangaroos as part of the 2003 Kangaroo Tour.

Back in France, the New Zealand Maori have recorded a 32 – 12 victory over the French selection side, whilst in Cumbria, the New Zealand A side has draw 24 – all.

The PNG based Presidents XIII has recorded a historic 24 – 22 victory over the Junior Kangaroos, and over in Lebanon at the moment the Mediterranean Cup has kicked off, with results to be posted as soon as they become available.

Most of the attention may be on the Rugby Union World Cup at the moment, in terms of the international scene, but League is still moving forward in leaps and bounds in the background.
 
Lebanon defeat Morocco

Wednesday, October 22, 2003


A Hazem el Masri inspired Lebanon warmed up for Saturday's Mediterranean Cup showdown against France by beating Morocco 60-0 in Beirut tonight.

A couple of hundred curious locals turned out, with many more hanging out of their balconies around the ground, to watch the former Australian international run in a hat-trick and kick ten goals, as the Cedars ran in ten tries in a game that was shown live on prime time national television.
Earlier, in the first ever Rugby League international to be staged in the Lebanese capital, France ran out easy 120-0 winners against a hopelessly outclassed Serbia-Montenegro.
Centre Fabrice Esabanez scored ten tries and scrum-half Maxime Greseque touched down for four tries, as the classy French crossed the whitewash 22 times, adding 16 goals.
The final round of games will be staged in Tripoli, 80 kilometres north of Beirut, on Saturday, and organisers are confident of attracting a 5,000 crowd.
 
Welsh team to play Russia

Euro Nations Cup: Welsh side to take on Russia
Sat Oct 25, 10:09am (Wales)
Written by: Steven Birchall
Conference heroes given Welsh international debuts

Three rookie heroes from the TotalRL.Com Rugby League Conference gain their full Welsh Rugby League caps when Wales face Russia in the inaugural European Nations Cup competition at Talbot Athletic Stadium, Aberavon on Sunday, October 26 (Kick off 3.00pm).

Winger Lennie Woodard, stand off half Aled James and forward Damien Hudd are all in the 17-strong squad selected for the opening Welsh fixture in Pool One of the European Nations Cup.

Woodard played for Bridgend Bulls, who won the Conference Grand Final at their first attempt, while Aled James played for Cardiff Demons and made a Tetley's Super League debut for Widnes Vikings and Damien Hudd plays for Torfaen Tigers who were beaten in the final of the Conference Shield.

Welsh head coach Neil Kelly also calls up former British Lion and Welsh Rugby League international Allan Bateman and former Welsh Rugby League international Kevin Ellis both of whom played for Bridgend Blue Bulls in the Welsh Division of the Rugby League Conference.

Bateman starts the match on the substitutes bench while Ellis moves into the pack to play at loose forward.

There is also a full debut call up for Sheffield Eagles' Welsh-born second row forward Jordan James who caught the selectors' eye by travelling down from South Yorkshire to play in the Welsh Division's Probables v Possibles trial game at Aberavon last month.

Aled James will partner Castleford Tigers' Australia-bound Mark Lennon, as the Welsh halfback partnership while former Keighley, Hull and Huddersfield forward Robert Roberts, who is not currently attached to a club, will take on the open side prop role.

The Welsh team for the game is: Paul Atcheson, captain (Widnes Vikings); Hefin O'Hare (Huddersfield Giants), Kris Tassell (Swinton Lions), Adam Hughes (Widnes Vikings), Lennie Woodward (Bridgend Blue Bulls); Aled James (Bridgend Blue Bulls/ Widnes Vikings), Mark Lennon (Castleford Tigers); Robert Roberts (unattached), Ian Watson (Rochdale Hornets), Justin Morgan
(Toulouse Spacers), Jordan James (Sheffield Eagles), Chris Morley (Oldham), Kevin Ellis (Bridgend Blue Bulls). Subs: Damien Gibson (Castleford Tigers), Allan Bateman (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Damien Hudd (Torfaen Tigers), Gareth Price (Rochdale Hornets).




The Welsh have named a team icluding players from the Scottish, Irish, French and English domestic competition and in my opinion will fall to a strong Russia squad.
 
England 'A'

England 'A' face Australia at Griffin Park,Brentford on Tuesday 28th October, Griffin Park.
1. Shaun Briscoe (Wigan Warriors)
2. Marc Calderwood (Leeds Rhinos)
3. Martin Gleeson (St Helens)
4. Martin Aspinwall (Wigan Warriors)
5.Ade Gardner (St Helens)
6.Chris Thorman (London Broncos)
7. Rob Burrow (Leeds Rhinos)
8. Andy Lynch (Castleford Tigers)
9. Matt Diskin (Leeds Rhinos)
10. Rob Parker (Bradford Bulls)
11. Danny Tickle (Wigan Warriors)
12. Lee Radford (Bradford Bulls)
13. Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan Warriors) (c)

INTERCHANGE
14. Danny McGuire (Leeds Rhinos)
15. Mick Higham (St Helens)
16. Danny Sculthorpe (Wigan Warriors)
17. Gareth Hock (Wigan Warriors
 

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I expect this to be a very entertaining encounter. I anticipate the ‘A’s to play with a lot of enthusiasm and hopefully they can carry this throughout the match, much like they did in last year's 34-12 defeat to the touring New Zealand side. They should have a few combinations that will click, hopefully early, with eight players in the side who played in the previously mentioned game against NZ, whilst others competed in the 'A' Pacific Tour last November. I agree with what you say about Burrow. I expect much from the halves combination of Thorman and him, both played for Yorkshire Origin during the Battle of the Roses and also from Matt Diskin from Leeds, who although I have only seen play on a few occasions, I have heard very good things about him.

Those who would like to listen to this game online can visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/
Coverage comes courtesy of BBC London 94.9fm. Commentary on the match comes from Mark Church and London Bronco’s Prop Francis Stephenson. Coverage will begin at 6.55am EDT, 3.55am WDT and 8.55am NZT and is free. I’ll have it on while I’m getting ready for work.

Heres the Kangaroos lineup:
Darren Lockyer (c); Matt Sing, Shannon Hegarty, Michael De Vere, Luke Lewis; Craig Gower, Brett Kimmorley; Shane Webcke, Danny Buderus, Petero Civoniceva, Steve Simpson, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson.
Subs: Michael Crocker, Joel Clinton, Trent Waterhouse, Willie Mason.
 
Magnificent effort by England A... What a great comeback from 20-6 down and almost winning in the end! The Ashes tour & New Zealand game thous far, without even the GB games has been better then the whole World Cup... Bring on the welsh and GB games! I cant wait.

Who Said International RL was Dead?
 
GB to strong for NZ A

Great Britain gained a useful work-out ahead of the Ashes Series with a convincing 52-18 win over New Zealand A, but Kiwi full-back Lusi Sione grabbed the individual honours with a hat-trick of tries.

Kris Radlinski - who led Britain in the absence of Andy Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe - matched his opposite number by scoring three of his side's eight tries on a night of mixed fortunes in their only warm-up match for the serious business with Australia.

Ryan Hudson and Gareth Ellis both marked their Great Britain debuts with first-half touchdowns, but another newcomer, Warrington prop Paul Wood, could be struggling to make the first Test after damaging his shoulder.

But the win came at a cost. Star forward Adrian Morley, making a return to his old Leeds stamping ground after a three-year absence, came off after 29 minutes with what was described as a slight "dead leg", while Wood joined Morley on the sidelines after falling awkwardly in a tackle 10 minutes into the second half.

New Zealand A, who lost to a National League Two team a week earlier, were not expected to put up much of a fight, but 28-year-old Sione ensured Britain did not have things all their own way. He struck twice in the first half, taking centre Hala Vaa'sa's pass to touch down on 23 minutes and nine minutes later raced onto skipper Gavin Bailey's slide-rule kick to claim a second try.

Sione then completed his hat-trick on 53 minutes following another pinpoint kick from stand-off Bailey as the Kiwis provided some stiff opposition.

Radlinski had scored the game's first try on nine minutes when he took Sean Long's pinpoint pass and scythed through the Kiwi defence. Then Ellis, chosen out of position in the second row, showed the pace and guile he normally displays at centre to cut through for Britain's second try, and Hudson finished off a break by loose forward Lee Gilmour to touch down.

Centre Keith Senior scored a fourth try for Britain just before the break after Long and Paul Deacon worked a set-piece move from the base of a scrum, Long's fourth successful goal making it 24-12.

The introduction of Wigan hooker Terry Newton at the start of the second half immediately injected new life into the home side's attack. He broke away from dummy half to get fellow substitute Paul Anderson crashing over for a try and the big Bradford prop then turned provider with a sweet final pass for Kevin Sinfield to score on his home ground.

Sione's third try made it 34-18, but Britain finished in total command, with Sinfield and Long carving out a second try for Radlinksi with the best move of the match. Then Senior sent winger David Hodgson over and Radlinski demonstrated classic support play to complete his hat-trick, with Sinfield kicking his third goal.

taken from leagueunlimited.com
 
I thought the score would be larger, it just shows the importance of a warm-up game to the Test Series.

Australia
lost 16-30 Vs New Zealand
won 34-10 Vs France Selection
won 26-22 Vs England A
Vs Wales

Great Britian
won 52-18 Vs NZ A
 

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International International Rugby League Thread

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