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This Saturday, August 29, will mark 120 years since the Northern Union rugby clubs broke away from the Rugby Football Union to form a new game, which would become known as rugby league.
The 100th anniversary was somewhat spoiled by a media mogul’s attempts to take over the game, but 20 years on the sport has recovered and is ready to celebrate in style.
In Europe, the 120th anniversary will be marked by a Test match between an old rugby league nation and one of the shining beacons of the modern game.
The Irish Wolfhounds will travel to Belgrade to match up against the Serbian White Eagles in a match that will tell us a lot about the health of the game on the European mainland.
Serbia, with their extensive collection of domestic junior and senior clubs, have defeated every team that has crossed their path and will undoubtedly finish the European Championship B (comprising Serbia, Russia, Italy and Ukraine) undefeated when the competition wraps up on September 12.
If they can compete against Ireland, a team that plays above them in European Championship A (Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France), it will be a testament to how far the game has come in Eastern Europe.
Next year, the Rugby League World Cup European Qualifiers will take place between Ireland, Wales, Serbia, Russia, Italy and the winner of European Championship C (either Spain, Greece or Malta). Both teams playing this weekend will look forward to the opportunity to size up the opposition.
In the UK, Hull KR face Super League giants the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley in the Challenge Cup Final, in a fairytale that has inspired celebrations in Hull.
Win, lose or draw, Hull City has promised celebrations for a team that has always been the little brother to Hull FC, and is currently fighting to keep its spot in Super League.
Crossing the Atlantic, the USA Rugby League Championship final will take place in Jacksonville, Florida, between two teams who have never won a premiership.
After years of being dominated by the Jacksonville Axemen and Philadelphia Fight, USA fans will get to see the Atlanta Rhinos and Boston 13s fight it out for American rugby league’s biggest prize.
On the same day, a trial match will be played between the best players from the North and South Conferences who aren’t competing in the final.
Up for grabs? A chance to represent their country in the Rugby League World Cup Americas Qualifiers later this year against Canada and Jamaica. For an American rugby league player, there is no greater honour.
Finally, on Sunday the New Zealand Rugby League National Premiership will kick-off with a triple-header in Auckland. The competition consists of seven teams from throughout New Zealand, each representing a zone. Canterbury Bulls, the sole representative of the South Island, are favourites to win the crown for the first time.
So while the NRL nears what should be an entertaining finals series, spare a thought this weekend for this milestone for our game, and what it means to rugby league players and fans both here and around the world.
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