Norway national rugby league team

Norway
Nickname The Vikings
Governing body Norway Rugby League
Region Europe
Head coach Craig West
Captain Kristoffer Milligan
RLIF ranking 26th
First game
 Norway 0-24 GB Pioneers United Kingdom
(Oslo, Norway; 4 July 2009)
Biggest win
 Norway 32-28 Germany 
(Bislett Stadion, Oslo; 9 July 2011)
Biggest defeat
 Malta 64-24 Norway 
(Gianni Bencini Ground, Pembroke, Malta; 2 September 2011)

Despite only experiencing their foundation year of rugby league in 2008, Rugby League in Norway has dramatically escalated through junior and amateur level. There is a 6 team premier competition and several development cups. They are recognised by the Rugby League International Federation as having affiliate status.

For more Norwegian stats, news, team results and more visit Norway's RLEF Page.

History

In February 2008, Norway were granted official observer status by the Rugby League European Federation despite being unranked at this point. This was not the only major point of development in the year, as a committee was formed, based in capital city Oslo, with the aim of developing the game all over the country.[1]

Current squad

[2]

Official Rankings as of November 2016[3]
RankChangeTeamPoints
1 Increase  Australia
2 Decrease  New Zealand
3 Steady  England
4 Increase  Scotland
5 Decrease  Samoa
6  France
7  Fiji
8  Ireland
9  Wales
10 Steady  United States
11  Serbia
12 Increase  Canada
13  Italy
14 Decrease  Tonga
15  Papua New Guinea
16 Increase  Russia
17 Decrease  Jamaica
18  Belgium
19 Steady  Spain
20  Malta
21  Lebanon
22 Increase  Ukraine
23  Germany
24  Czech Republic
25 Decrease  Cook Islands
26 Steady  Norway
27  Denmark
28  Greece
29  Sweden
30  Netherlands
31  South Africa
32 Increase  Niue
33 Decrease  Philippines
34 Steady  Chile
35  Vanuatu
36  Latvia
37  Solomon Islands
38  Hungary
39  El Salvador
40  Morocco

Rugby League Norway

In 2009, Rugby League Norway was formed as an opportunity for a national competition was seen. Warren Heilig saw and organised this opportunity as the standard of Rugby Union in the nation was limited to one tier of competition. So, less experienced players could only have limited game time. Heilig had the idea that these less experienced players from big union clubs should try second-tier rugby league. This ensured that league had an advantage over union in that there was a much wider range of age and standard of play. It was also easier to learn - so Rugby League Norway no longer needed to rely on ex-union players and could attract more local junior, youth and amateur players to the game.[1]

Rugby League clubs in Norway -

All-time Results Record

Team First Played Played Win Draw Loss Points For Points Against Last Meeting
 Denmark 2009 5 2 0 3 70 60 2014
 Malta 2010 2 0 0 2 44 94 2011
 Sweden 2010 4 1 1 2 90 94 2014
 Germany 2011 1 1 0 0 32 28 2011
 Ukraine 2013 1 0 0 1 14 42 2013
 Czech Republic 2013 1 1 0 0 26 14 2013
 Thailand 2014 1 0 0 1 6 46 2014

Competitions

Norway's maiden Rugby League event was the "Scandinavia Cup", which was held in Oslo, Norway between 30 and 31 May 2009 [4] and played under 9's rules.[5] Norway played Great Britain Pioneers in their first representative match on 5 July 2009 in Oslo which the visitors won 24 - 0.[6][7] Norway played their first international on 22 August 2009, against Denmark in Copenhagen and won 28 - 26.[1]

See also


References

  1. 1 2 3 "Norway Rugby League Planet". Rugby League Planet. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  2. "All Go In Norway". Last Tackle. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  3. "RLEF". RLEF. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  4. "Pioneers Triumph but Norway Emerge With Credit". RLEF. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  5. "Norway Match a Great Successt". lastackle.com. 2009-07-05. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
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