Poland

[Druzik]

So this weekend sees the first tentative steps being taken into setting up Rugby League in Poland. After some inspiration and ancouragement form RLEF development officer Kevin Rudd, Daniel Andruczyk and Mick Griffith will be having a meeting in Poland this weekend to see on the best path to develop the sport.

Already there has been much interest from ex-pat players and coaches from around the world, UK, Ireland, Wales and Australia. These players will be utilised to bring in their experience, but there is also an emphasis on developing local players, so that any future match involving poland is not just an OS and heritage based team.

I will keep things updated with all Poland Rugby League developments... expect a website soon.

[jim]

sounds great dan, but according to dogged RL being international is delusion so you should probably give up. lol jokes.

[Druzik]

Well we have at least two potential "board members", 5 players so far have put their hands up and there is also a guy wnating to be the coach.

I am not gonna name names till we have something more definite and official up and running... but its slowly taking shame.

Dogged can do what all good dogs do, go and stick his nose up his own butt... becasue he likes the smell of his own sh*t.

Anyway this is a poland thread not a dogged one.

[rhino]

All the best Dan

[Druzik]

Cheers see, how we go.

[Ryan N]

Any news?

[Druzik]

Oct 11, 2008 18:26:49 GMT 10 Ryan N said:

Any news?

Not too much at the moment mate... its been a bit hard to coordinate pepole in 4 countries to get something going... plus I have my contact that I am working to get renewed.

But am still working on it... slowly.

[Druzik]

Some news on a Polish Player.

Skolars break new frontiers

RUGBY League has spread its word far and wide in recent years in an attempt to expand the game, but it was at a Co-operative Championship One club where a new frontier was broken last weekend.
London Skolars on Sunday handed a debut to Jaroslaw Obuchowski, who they believe is the first Polish-born player to play professional Rugby League in this country.
Obuchowski made his first start as a centre in the rearranged Northern Rail Cup clash with Dewsbury Rams after just two years in England.
Obuchowski has worked his way up through the club’s junior system, and after playing in the pre-season Capital Challenge against Harlequins, made his competitive bow against the Rams.
Skolars coach Callum Irving described Obuchowski as an “inspiration” to everyone at the club.
“He’s just a really hard working fella,” Irving said.
“He is still playing in our under-18s, and is training five nights a week at the moment, twice with them and three times with the first team.
“He trained with us towards the end of last season and was probably nowhere near, but he’s worked so hard and the rest of the players were delighted when they heard he was getting his first start.
“Jaroslaw’s sister moved to London and he came here two years ago not being able to speak a word of English.
“He enrolled in Southdate College, one of our partner organisations, learned English and went onto a sports science course.
“It was then that Gavin Willacy (who works at the college and is connected to the Skolars) got him into Rugby League, he loves it and hasn’t looked back since.
“He’s a really good kid, and he was top of his English clash last year.
“He will do whatever he wants in life because he just gets on with things and doesn’t look for excuses not to do them.
“He’s an inspiration to all of us because he goes out and does things and doesn’t look for any praise.”
The two levels of Championship rugby have become increasingly cosmopolitan in recent seasons, with players from all over the world participating in the competitions.
Whitehaven were another to break new boundaries when they signed Serbian forward Soni Radovanovic after their coach Ged Stokes had a stint in charge of their national side during the winter.
This season will also see Papuan New Guineans, Fijians, Samoans, and Tongans lining up alongside the usual Australians and New Zealanders.
And Workington have Scotsman Paddy Coupar, while Irish internationals Wayne Kerr and Stevie Gibbons are at Oldham.
Throw in the host of Frenchman at fledging Championship side Toulouse, and it’s not difficult to argue that the sport at this level is playing its part in pushing Rugby League’s boundaries.

I know Jasolaw (ya-ro-sw-av), have had some interaction with him in terms of the polish team. I saw him play last year in Padua for the first time and was suitably impressed.

If we can get this team up and running he has already expressed to me a desire to be part of playing for Poland.

[England 3 Lions]

I'm quite interested in the development of rugby league in Poland as my maternal grandparents were Polish.

[Druzik]

Mar 27, 2009 1:55:06 GMT 10 England 3 Lions said:

I'm quite interested in the development of rugby league in Poland as my maternal grandparents were Polish.

Well Bruce, if I can pull off the UK job, then I will be in a much better position to do Poland development work with Eric Czerwonka... as you know I am Polish... at the moment its still a bit unsure whats heppening with POland RL... but will keep you informed.

[welshmagpie]

Who are these players Druzik..

Without sounding selfish, but i hope you dont nad Penkywicz & Kopczak off of us mate.. ;D

[Druzik]

No they are through the BARLA ranks and as I said Jaroslaw has expresed a desire for Poland. I spoke with Pnky in 2007 after the PNG game and he has no desire for Poland he feels more welsh and that is fine.

If I were in charge, you know what a stickler I am for the rulses, I would not select them anyway as I feel they should stick with one country... unless they do the proper swap, i.e. wait the three years bewteen countries... but I'd prefer them in Wales that is where they have played and expressed their desire to play.

Dont worry WM.

Eric Czerwonka at BARLA has siad they basically have 15 polish heritage players willing to do a Polish development team to tour and play games to get PRL up and running... but as alsways with this its hard to talk and coordinate things, particularly since I am so far away.

[welshmagpie]

Well all the best mate. Who knows one day Wales vs Poland game. Should be a cracker...

But in all seriousness keep on pushing the game out there mate.

[Druzik]

Thanks that would be nive just to have Poland v anyone in RL one day. Who knows. But I just do what I can.

At the moment being effectively inbetween jobs an not knowing where I will be in a few months is hard for me to get more involved, but if I get the Culham job then I'll be able to really get into the POlsh RL side of things with Eric.

[Ryan N]

Mar 30, 2009 1:39:09 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Thanks that would be nive just to have Poland v anyone in RL one day. Who knows. But I just do what I can.

At the moment being effectively inbetween jobs an not knowing where I will be in a few months is hard for me to get more involved, but if I get the Culham job then I'll be able to really get into the POlsh RL side of things with Eric.

The big question... willl you be playing?