Turkey national rugby league team

Last updated

Turkey
Turkey rugby league.png
Team information
Governing body Turkish Rugby League Association
Region Europe
Head coachFlag of Australia (converted).svg Scott Hartas
Captain Arda Dalcik
Most caps 11 players (4)
Top try-scorersAli Bökeyhan Sürer (5)
Arda Dalcik (5)
Top point-scorerAli Bökeyhan Sürer (50)
IRL ranking 40th
Team results
First international
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 22–30 Turkey Flag of Turkey.svg
(Windsor, Australia; 1 October 2018)
Biggest win
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 0–60 Turkey Flag of Turkey.svg
(St Marys, Australia; 4 October 2018)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australian Defence Force 46–0 Turkey Flag of Turkey.svg
(Sydney, Australia; 25 April 2021)
World Cup
Appearances0

The Turkey national rugby league team represents Turkey in international rugby league. The team played their first match in 2018.

Contents

History

The Turkish Rugby League Association was founded in 2016, however the team didn't play their first match until two years later. The side made their competition debut at the 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship in Sydney, defeating the Solomon Islands 30–22 in their first ever match. [1] The team also beat Japan 60–0, qualifying them for the tournament's trophy stage. [2] Here, they lost to the Philippines 29–16 in the semi-final before beating Vanuatu 27–26, winning thanks to a field goal from Adem Baskonyali and claiming seventh place at their inaugural competition. [3] [4]

In 2019, the team played their first match in Turkey, losing to Greece 38–24 at the Aysekadin Yerleskesi Futbol Stadium in Istanbul. [5] They also lost to Malta 28–12 six weeks after. [6]

Competitive record

Overall

Below is table of the official representative rugby league matches played by Turkey at test level up until 25 September 2022:

OpponentPlayedWonDrawnLostWin %ForAgaDiff
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 1100100%3816+22
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 10010%2438-14
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1100100%600+60
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 210150%4840+8
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 10010%1840−22
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 10010%1629−13
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 1100100%3022+8
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 1100100%2726+1
Total950456%261211+50

Results

DateResult [a] OpponentCompetitionVenueAttendanceRef.
1 October 201830–22Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship Windsor Sporting Complex, Windsor, Sydney, Australia750 [7]
4 October 201860–0Flag of Japan.svg  Japan St. Marys Leagues Stadium, St. Marys, Sydney, Australia500 [8]
10 October 201816–29Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines New Era Stadium, Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia450 [9]
13 October 201827–26Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu St. Marys Leagues Stadium, St. Marys, Sydney, Australia250 [10]
14 September 201924–38Flag of Greece.svg  Greece InternationalAysekadin Yerleskesi Futbol Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey250 [11]
26 October 201912–28Flag of Malta.svg  Malta InternationalNew Era Stadium, Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia600 [12]
25 April 20210–46Australian Defence ForcesFriendly Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park, Sydney, Australia [13]
14 October 202118–40Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2021 European Championship D Huseyin Akar Tesisleri Stadium, Bodrum, Turkey500 [14]
17 October 202136–12Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Huseyin Akar Tesisleri Stadium, Bodrum, Turkey [15]
25 September 202238–16Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria International ITU Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey [16]

IRL Rankings

Official rankings as of July 2025
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 83
3Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 80
4Steady2.svgFlag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 62
5Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 53
6Steady2.svgFlag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 51
7Steady2.svgFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 43
8Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 29
9Increase2.svg 2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 22
10Steady2.svgFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 22
11Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 18
12Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 18
13Steady2.svgFlag of Malta.svg  Malta 16
14Increase2.svg 1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 14
15Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 13
16Steady2.svgFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 11
17Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 10
18Steady2.svgFour Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 9
19Increase2.svg 5Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8
20Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 8
21Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 8
22Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 7
23Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 7
24Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 7
25Steady2.svgFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 5
26Increase2.svg 1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 5
27Increase2.svg 1Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 5
28Decrease2.svg 2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 5
29Steady2.svgFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 4
30Steady2.svgFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 4
31Steady2.svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 4
32Steady2.svgFlag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 3
33Steady2.svgFlag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 3
34Increase2.svg 22Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3
35Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 3
36Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2
37Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 2
38Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2
39Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 2
40Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1
41Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 1
42Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1
43Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1
44Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1
45Decrease2.svg 1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 0
46Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 0
47Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
48Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0
49Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 0
50Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 0
51Increase2.svg 6Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0
52Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0
53Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0
54Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0
55Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 0
56Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0
57Decrease2.svg 7Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 0
Complete rankings at
www.internationalrugbyleague.com

See also

Notes

  1. Turkey score given first

References

  1. "Solomon Islands vs. Turkey - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. "Japan vs. Turkey - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. "Philippines vs. Turkey - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  4. "Turkey vs. Vanuatu - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  5. "Turkey vs. Greece - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  6. "Malta vs. Turkey - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. "Match Report: Solomon Islands vs. Turkey". RLENWC. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018.
  8. "Match Report: Japan vs. Turkey". RLENWC. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018.
  9. "Match report: Philippines withhold Turkey to reach trophy final". RLENWC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018.
  10. "Match report: Turkey defeat Vanuatu in golden point thriller". RLENWC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018.
  11. "Turkey 24 38 Greece". International Rugby League. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  12. "International Results". Malta Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020.
  13. "ADF romps to win over Turkey in inaugural clash". National Rugby League. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  14. "Netherlands 40 18 Turkiye". European Rugby League. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  15. "Malta 18 36 Turkiye". European Rugby League. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  16. "Turkiye 38 16 Bulgaria". European Rugby League. Retrieved 27 February 2024.