Belgium national rugby league team

Last updated

Belgium
Belgium rugby league.png
Team information
NicknameGolden Lions
Governing body Rugby League Belgium
Region Europe
Head coach Valu Bentley
CaptainDamien Parée
Home stadiumCentre Sportif de Neder Over Hembeek
IRL ranking 55th
Uniforms
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body libya home.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Team results
First game
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 28–22 Catalonia  Flag of Catalonia.svg
(Wavre, Belgium; 25 July 2009)
Biggest win
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 60–12 Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg
(Rotterdam, Netherlands; 2 May 2015)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 54–10 Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
(Moncada, Spain; 8 June 2014)

The Belgium national rugby league team represents Belgium in the sport of rugby league football.

Contents

History

The success of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup resulted in a popularity surge for the sport around the world. As a result, a number of new nations took up the sport. Belgium followed this trend in 2009. [1] Rugby League Belgium was started with a single franchise, Brabant Wallon Wavre Rugby XIII, and the creation of a national side to participate in the RLEF Euro Med Challenge and other international matches. [2]

Under new President Yves-Michael Kazadi, Belgium were granted observer membership of the Rugby League European Federation in June 2013. [3]

Their first international competition was in the 2009 RLEF Euro Med Challenge against Catalonia and Morocco. [4] In their first international, Belgium defeated Catalonia in front of a home crowd in Wavre. Belgium came in second in the Euro Med Challenge 2009, losing to Morocco 46-12. Following this tournament, the national team took a 4-year hiatus before being granted affiliate RLEF membership and returning to international competition in 2013.

Competitive record

Overall

TeamFirst PlayedPlayedWinDrawLossPoints ForPoints AgainstLast played
Flag of Catalonia.svg Catalonia 2009110028222009
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic 2015210154262015
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 2016110026122016
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 201510010342015
Flag of Malta.svg Malta 2015100134352015
Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco 2009100112462009
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 20134400150482016
Flag of Spain.svg Spain 2014200220662014
Total 13706324289 

Results

YearDateResultVenueCityAttendanceCompetitionReport
200925 JulyBelgium def. Catalonia 28-22 Wavre, Belgium400 Euro-Med Challenge match report
200915 August Morocco def. Belgium 46-16Stade de la Meditérrannée Beziers, France Euro-Med Challenge match report
201329 JuneBelgium def. Netherlands 22-6 Delft, NetherlandsInternational friendly match report
201424 May Spain def. Belgium 12-10Centre Sportif Neder-Over-Heembeek, BelgiumInternational friendly match report
20148 June Spain def. Belgium 54-10Campo de Rugby la Pelosa Moncada, SpainInternational friendly match report
201428 JuneBelgium def. Netherlands 32-16Centre SportifNeder-Over-Heembeek, BelgiumTri-Nation Challenge Cup match report
201518 AprilBelgium def. Czech Republic 50-12Domaine van Puyenbroek Brussels, BelgiumInternational Friendly match report
20152 MayBelgium def. Netherlands 60-12 Rotterdam, NetherlandsInternational Friendly match report
201521 June Malta def. Belgium 35-34 Headingley Carnegie Stadium Leeds, England International Friendly match report
201512 July Ireland def. Belgium 38-0 Carlisle Grounds Bray, Ireland International Friendly match report
20153 October Czech Republic def. Belgium 14-4 Tis, Czech Republic International Friendly match report

IRL Rankings

Official rankings as of 30 June 2024
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 82
3Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 80
4Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 67
5Steady2.svgFlag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 49
6Increase2.svg 1Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 47
7Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 46
8Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 28
9Steady2.svgFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 22
10Steady2.svgFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 20
11Steady2.svgFlag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 19
12Steady2.svgFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 17
13Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 15
14Increase2.svg 1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 15
15Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 14
16Steady2.svgFour Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 14
17Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 13
18Steady2.svgFlag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 10
19Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 9
20Steady2.svgFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 7
21Steady2.svgFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 7
22Steady2.svgFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 6
23Increase2.svg 3Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 6
24Steady2.svgFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 6
25Increase2.svg 3Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6
26Increase2.svg 1Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 5
27Decrease2.svg 4Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 5
28Decrease2.svg 3Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 4
29Steady2.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 4
30Steady2.svgFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 4
31Increase2.svg 2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4
32Increase2.svg 4Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 4
33Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 3
34Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 3
35Increase2.svg 7Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 3
36Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 3
37Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 2
38Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 2
39Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1
40Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 1
41Increase2.svg 5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1
42Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1
43Decrease2.svg 2Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 1
44Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 1
45New.pngFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 0
46Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0
47Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
48Increase2.svg 2Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0
49Increase2.svg 3Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 0
50New.pngFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0
51Decrease2.svg 3Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 0
52Decrease2.svg 5Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 0
53Increase2.svg 1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0
54Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0
55Decrease2.svg 6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0
56Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 0
57Decrease2.svg 6Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Rugby League</span>

The European Rugby League (ERL) is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe. In the absence of other continental federations, ERL also controls rugby league in North America the Middle East and Africa through its sub-branches Americas Rugby League and Middle East-Africa Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Rugby League</span> International governing body of rugby league football

The International Rugby League (IRL) is the global governing body for the sport of rugby league football. The IRL organises the Rugby League World Cup, the oldest international rugby World Cup, as well as the Women's and Wheelchair equivalent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morocco national rugby league team</span>

The Morocco national rugby league team has been participating in international competition since 1995. Many players for the Moroccan team are drawn from the French competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serbia national rugby league team</span> National rugby team representing serbia

The Serbia national rugby league team represents Serbia in the sport of rugby league football. They have competed in international competition since 2003 under the administration of the Serbian Rugby League.

Rugby league is a team sport that is relatively new to Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby league in Serbia</span>

Rugby league is a team sport that is played in Serbia, which now has almost 1000 registered players nationwide, many of which are juniors. Belgrade and Novi Sad are the two main bases for the sport, producing most of the country's players. The most successful Serbian club side are the Dorćol Spiders who have won the most premierships. The other club Red Star Belgrade who defeated Dorćol in the deciding game to claim the minor premiership.

Rugby league is a minor sport in Germany. The national governing body for the sport, Rugby League Deutschland, is an associate member of the Rugby League European Federation. The country's national team are regular competitors in the European Shield, winning the competition in 2006 and 2011.

On 11 July 1998 the first ever 13 a side rugby league match was played between Italia and Lebanon, which took place at Leichhardt Oval - Sydney - Australia, the match was known as 'The Mediterranean Cup'. A crowd of almost 10,000 watched as these two emerging nations battled it out in a torrid affair. Former first grade players such as Frank Napoli, Chris St Clair, John Elias, David Baysarri and Darren Maroon represented their country of origin. The match was refereed by Tony Archer and Lebanon defeated a gallant Italy. The Mediterranean Cup was played before the Balmain Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys 1st grade match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Younes Khattabi</span> France & Morocco international rugby league footballer

Younes Khattabi is a Moroccan rugby league footballer who plays as a wing or centre for US Entraigues XIII in the Elite Two Championship. He previously played for SO Avignon and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. He is notable for scoring the first try for the Catalans Dragons in the 2007 Challenge Cup Final against St. Helens, thus becoming the first Muslim to score a try at Wembley Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of rugby league</span>

Rugby league is a full contact football code and spectator sport played in various countries around the world. It is govererned globally by the International Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport in Catalonia</span> Overview of sports traditions and activities in Catalonia

Sport has an important incidence in Catalan life since the beginning of the 20th century. The main sports in Catalonia are football, basketball, handball, rink hockey, tennis, and motorsport.

The Catalonia national rugby league team represents Catalonia in the sport of rugby league football, running under the auspices of the Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga.

The Euro-Med Challenge is an international rugby league football competition. The competition is organized by the Rugby League European Federation and is designed to promote the sport of rugby league in Europe and the Mediterranean Region. The Euro Med Challenge is a second or third tier competition for European rugby league teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby league in Spain</span>

Rugby league is a team sport that is played in several regions of Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga</span>

The Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga (ACRL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Catalonia. The Association was formed in 2007 and since then has organized and governed the Catalan competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby league in Catalonia</span>

Rugby League in Catalonia was formalised in 2007 with the formation of Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga who ran rugby league activities until 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hungary national rugby league team</span>

The Hungary national rugby league team, known as the Magyar Bulls, represents Hungary in the sport of rugby league football. Making their debut against the Czech Republic in July 2011, they played their first ranked international against Greece in October 2013.

The Spain national rugby league team represents Spain in the sport of rugby league football, running under the auspices of the Asociación Española de Rugby League.

The Belgian Rugby League Association is the governing body for rugby league in Belgium. It was formed in early 2009 as Belgium Rugby League and given Observer status by the RLIF. The first Belgian club was established in Wavre and on 11 July 2009 they faced Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the first match to be played in Belgium. Two weeks later, the Belgium XIII representative side defeated a Catalonia XIII in the Euro Med Challenge. In 2010, Belgium were scheduled to compete in the European Bowl, but withdrew from the tournament and development of the sport in Belgium was suspended.

References

  1. "BELGIUM RUGBY LEAGUE NATION OVERVIEW". Rugby League Planet. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  2. "Rugby 13". Rugby League Belgium XIII. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  3. "RLEF". Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  4. "Catalonia Won 52 to 10 in the Czech Republic". Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga. 22 June 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2009.