The Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) is guided under three principles: empowerment, dynamism, and culture. These three key focus areas are pointing rugby league to historical high levels of growth.
It was recently reported over 7000 Welsh now play the sport. France has also experienced a resurgence, with growth now close to 40,000, the bulk juniors.
The likes of Scotland, Serbia, Wales, Lebanon and Russia now produce representative teams at all levels, the latter once again reporting solid growth under a stable leadership.
It should be mentioned, the RLEF administers national governing bodies in North Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and North America, in addition to its European responsibilities.
In terms of empowerment, the RLEF has enhanced the growth of rugby league among its members, in all facets, through a policy of empowerment.
Among initiatives include a “Technical Strategy” course. The inaugural course held in London attracted 48 delegates from 19 countries.
This was followed up by 28 match officials from 16 countries attending a two-day training course for international match officials in May, 2011. Both courses will ultimately provide each member with independent, well-trained and managed technical departments spanning the areas of both officiating and coaching.
Added, a World Cup accelerator program was instigated by the RLEF which finds experienced coaches from the UK shadow the coaching staff of member nations attempting to qualify for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
This program offers nations like Serbia, Russia and Italy valuable coaching advice through regular visits.
In terms of dynamism, the RLEF recently adopted a new constitution to become a limited liability company and to apply for associate membership of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).
The RLEF board comprises two directors, the RFL’s Richard Lewis, and the Federation Francaise de Rugby Treize’s Nicolas Larrat. In 2010, two more directors from the RLEF’s Full and affiliate members joined the board and broadened the sport’s representation, coming from member nations Scotland and Serbia.
In 2011, the RLEF appointed two new independent directors. One of these directors is Christen Farmer, an American citizen based in Serbia. Farmer is an expert in strategic and corporate communications, PR, government and media relations, lobbying, business training and management.
Paris-based Gilles Estay was also appointed as advisor to the board on media and commercial issues having worked in senior roles at Canal, Eurosport and PatheSport.
Under the directors is the general manager Danny Kazandjian, a number of full-time development managers (Germany, Italy, Malta, Jamaica, Czech Republic), regional directors (Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Middle East/North Africa), an international consultant, webmaster and media officer.
The robust RLEF administration has the task of not only infusing the RLEF with dynamism but cultivating rugby league culture among member nations. A strategy will map the RLEF’s revised competition structure until 2017. Sponsors such as Virgin Atlantic and Alitalia, among a growing list of sponsors, are involved with nations or naming rights of tournaments.
The RLEF in 2011 now encompass official tournaments the Alitalia European Cup (Wales, France, Scotland, Ireland), European Shield (Germany, Malta, Norway), European Bowl (Czech Republic, Hungary), YIT Nordic Cup (Denmark, Sweden, Norway), Atlantic Cup (Canada, USA, Jamaica), Senior MENA Championship (Lebanon, Morocco) and Junior MENA Tournaments (Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine XIII). Italy, Russia, Lebanon, Serbia and Italy are involved in 2013 World Cup qualifiers later in the year and are not involved in official cluster tournaments in 2011.
Culture is also being nurtured by the growth in television coverage of rugby league.
Norwegian Rugby League has secured a weekly 30-minute highlights package of their YIT-sponsored domestic premiership on public access channel FRIKANALEN and its potential 400,000 audience.
French internationals are now televised by a range of terrestrial television coverage and UK Sky Sports continue to cover the home nations. All countries under RLEF auspices also report growing print and radio coverage of the game.
Overall, the RLEF has been a breath of fresh air for rugby league providing the sport guidance and direction for the first time in its patchy developmental existence. With the RLEF, the sport has a real chance to offer the citizens of its member nations a dynamic sporting alternative.
Matt_S
Roar Pro
Good to see the RLEF secure more EU funding for programs :) http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/716/rlef-wins-record-european-union
Big Time
Guest
Great story. Officials in Australia are so focused on NRL clubs and appear to have little concern about anything else, so it is good to read things like this. I lived and played in Northern England back in mid 2000's, and they put so much into all levels of Rugby League over there. They have good initiatives to encourage the grass roots. Just something like the Challenge Cup for instance,where literally all teams have the opportunity to play in it. It is an amazing boost for amateur sides when they get far enough to play a Semi Pro side. If our big wigs pulled their head out of sand and were prepared to accept maybe other sports or other countries do things better then them, and try and do similar things, then maybe footy in the bush would not be in such a dour state.
Matt S
Guest
Good to see the English Super League's deal for £90 million over 5 years has been confirmed. This sees an increase and on par with union. The good news is this doesn't cover challenge cup games & internationals which should push the figure over £100 million.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Jaceman Do they have to be?,you asked whether rl was making headway,there is some, albeit on a small scale. Lancashire and Yorkshire are 100 years ahead of what is going on there.Chalk and cheese champ. Germany recently played Norway and now Malta.Small steps geez.
Jaceman
Guest
CC They are not big states in Germany its like Lancashire and Yorkshire in UK...
sk
Guest
meh methinks the rugby league should take a leaf out of uinion's book (who are doing 2019 in japan) and play it in a devaloping country mabye lebonon
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I think the following re Germany suggests there is some headway being made:- http://www.rlef.eu.com/germany/introduction http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/216/germany-squad-announced-for-european
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
i heard on some forums that this was not the top Jamacian side. some visa issues kept some of their guns out. however, still trying to verify the source of this claim. it woudl be intersting to see a rematch in Kingston.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
i fear your being a bit to optimistic about the French domestic comp Matt. French rugby league needs more integration with Renglish RL - now. Toulouse leaving the championship is a backwards step. Your somehow propsing a H Cup style comp, however, your assuming a professional french domestic league is possibnle. its not. at least not any time soon. a 2nd french ESL team must be introduced. you can not rely on the domestic comp somehow turning professional. As i previosly argued in other threads, the 2nd ESL side needs to be in Toulouse due to its size, cultural diversity and strength of rugby which it can piggy back.
Matt S
Guest
Don't know the latest with Toulouse but it's a good thing they are going back to the elite. I feel the emphasis of putting French teams in the super league will ensure the elite is forever a second rate comp. The elite has the potential to be a great comp in its own right. The path should be a heineken type cup in the future for inter comp clashes. Leave Catalan Dragons as the only French rep in the Super League given its unique demographic and ability to encompass Northern Spain and Catalan France. Lets nurture the likes of Marseille, Lyon, a Paris club to join the current clubs plus Toulouse and the elite, with investment, could join the NRL and SL as a big comp.
Matt S
Guest
C.T Sanders, the problem for most of the game's history, especially in Australia & NZ is that administrators have been overwhelmingly former players, with no business skills. It is the very fact, in recent years neutral non playing administrators have entered the game we have witnessed growth. The new IC will provide an ideal balance of former players and truly independent administrators that will strike a good balance. Vested interests have held the game back, and those interests have come from club people with their own agendas.
Sea Eagle of Brisbane
Guest
Man, after all this messy rubbish, please walk away from the Greatest Game. Watch the Kindergarden shows on ABC.
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
Yeah it is, but it's about Irish players getting into Rugby League.
steve
Guest
Does anybody know the situation surrounding toulouse i see they have been dumped from the english championship and they are going back to play in the french competition
Matt S
Guest
Great photos of the recent Canada v Jamaica league game plus domestic Canadian union games to boot! http://www.pbase.com/colinwatson
corey
Guest
Yeah, it seems the game is growing at a good pace in continental Europe, but for some reason England seems to be struggling. Anyone know why? Also, I think Union and League need to work hand in hand a lot more, especially if League wants to make headway outside the M62.
pennypanther
Roar Rookie
Check out these guys, a group of expat aussies that have set up their own team in London, unfortunately didn't get to play with them because of a broken leg. They set up the first iinternational game in Belgium against their national team. http://www.hillshoistsrlfc.com/about-us.php Living over here, I personally think there is a long, long way to go, but we are taking baby steps which is what we need. Also need England to really pick up their game in terms of where the sport is heading, not looking to good in the south of England!
Pockman
Guest
Yer does league tournaments at the top interest me....hold on....wait! They are union tournaments....it's a union website pmsl!!
Jaceman
Guest
I'm surprised none of the codes has made any headway in Germany, affluent society, good athletes, some heavy set guys - perhaps with RU being in the Olympics may be an opportunity
C.T.SANDERS
Guest
Rugby League is a game of many missed opportunities cas it's run by no hopers who all think that they are the whole game and that there's nothing else in between them and it doesn't help matters when the people at grassroots can't see the wood for the trees.Here in Auckland Rugby League the game is all about the Vulcans a team that plays in front of a man and his dog.In their eyes,basing the whole game around Sydney is what the game is all about.No wonder RL is floundering while other sports are making hay while the Sun is out.In Australia,NZ and England none of the administrators have ever played the game and that's where the problem starts and lies.I give our game no hope cas good salt of the earth RL people have walked away from it in their droves.The game is just too corrupt.