Scandinavia

[Druzik]

So I just got back from Denmark.

Steve Davy and Nigel Kitchner have their work cut out there.

So the guys are doing their best but the big day only ended up with about 12 people turning up to see what RL was all about.

A skills session and small game were played and everyone enjoyed it. Hopefully its enough to have them keep coming back and grow.

The danes are a very peaceful people, they really are scared to hit people even the boxers! We had a boxer come and hive it a go!

[England 3 Lions]

What the RLEF needs is a media mogul to inject money into the developing countries. If some one like Rupert Murdoch or James Packer offered a contract to all of the rugby union players who are thinking about representing Norway in rugby league, then they'd probably jump at the opportunity and tell the Norwegian Rugby Union to get fucked.

What is John Singleton's stance on improving the game in the developing nations?

[Spider]

Norway lost 0-24 to Pioneers.

[sportsmad]

respectable effort. only 4 try difference. any idea of the crowd?

[sportsmad]

another baby step in scandanavia will be taken soon. this is on top of the first game to be played in belgium.

curtesy of http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com:

Denmark will host Norway for their first international fixture
DENMARK RUGBY LEAGUE PRESS RELEASE 11/8/2009

Denmark will host Norway for their first international fixture. The game will be played at the Danish Technical Univeristy on Saturday, 22nd August 2009.

Danmark RL would like to say a big thanks to the Norwegian team and their management for agreeing so quickly and at such a late stage to play this fixture - it's a long drive for them, although I think the promise of after-game beers helped!

This inaugual game will see these two close nations take to the field in a fixture that both teams expect to see the first of many great and memorable moments in Scandinavian and European RL.

For further information, contact: Mark Hewson, Press & Media Relations, Danmark RL.

[Druzik]

Initial reports is that Norway beat Denmark by 2 points yesterday.... still waiting on an actual score and crowd.

[Druzik]

28-26 to Norway it was.

Steve Davy sent me some photos that I will put up on the web.

[Druzik]

www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com/News/Norwegian-Vikings-76.doc

Norwegian Vikings 76 - Barbarians 16
By Warren Heilig, September 22 2009

On Saturday 19th September the Norwegian national team "The Vikings" played a friendly match against a Barbarians side made up of players from big rugby playing nations like Australia, NZ, South Africa and the UK.

The Norwegians second stance on home soil was a big success with the home side recording a whopping 76-16 win over the Barbarians.

The captain of the Barbarians team Anthony Aynsley of New Zealand said "Being a Rugby Union player for 20 odd years I thought playing league would be an easy adjustment, but I was totally wrong and the score line reflects that today. You really have to work hard to win, especially in defence".

The Vikings started their 16 tries to 3 drubbing in the 10th minute when centre Fredrik Skovly ran through a gaping hole in the defence to crash over. 3 minutes later talented five eight Even Gauslaa set up a lovely backline move to put through number 3 Bjørn Mikkelsen right under the black dot. The scoring continued to flow for the Norwegians who played some great attacking sets to make it look easy, as well as having great pleasure in putting some bruising defense on show for the small but thrilled local crowd.

Head of Rugby League Norway Warren Heilig, said "The boys had been bugging me for a while about playing another game this year before the snow halts all match opportunity for us, so we asked any rugby player from in and around the Oslo area to come and try a game of Rugby League against our national team. The guys who played for the Barbarians were given a lesson on how to play rugby league by our boys and it was great to see how far our guys have come since their first ever match against the British Student Pioneers where they failed to score a single point. I now have a great group of people who work with me growing rugby league not just in Norway but around the whole Scandinavian region. Today was a great reward for all the hard work put in by not just the players but all the behind the scenes volunteers at RLN".

The next step for the Vikings is next year when they get put up into the European Bowl Tournament in 2010 to face teams from Latvia, Estonia, The Netherlands and possibly Kazahkstan. Newly appointed Vikings Head Coach Gareth Turton (former Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Pia Donkeys star) said "as long as we keep drilling the boys well in their core skills and decision making departments there is no reason they can't win the bowl next year. I mean I have only recently moved to Norway myself and the boys are very eager to get better at the game and they have improved already since my short time as head coach, so things are looking bright for the future of Rugby League in this part of the world".

If you think you would like to join RLN or are interested in playing rugby league in Norway you can contact RLN on [e-mail] .

[Druzik]

www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com/News/Lillestrom-Lions-RLK.doc

Lillestrøm Lions RLK- The first ever Rugby League Club in Scandinavia
By Warren Heilig, 22 September 2009

With Rugby League on the rise throughout Europe, Norway have also joined the Rugby League family. Next year Norway plan to start a 4 team domestic season which will have 3 Rugby Union Clubs who have shown expressed interest in playing League matches in 2010.

Along with the 3 Union clubs a brand new club has been formed. The Lillestrøm Lions RLK is the first ever Rugby League Club to be formed in Scandinavia. The 2 men in charge of creating this history making club - Magne Kleven and Bjørn Mikkelsen (Both Norwegian Vikings players) said "we both live in Lillestrøm but have been playing for Oslo RUK so to have the chance to play in for our hometown is a great chance and we look forward to building the club into a Rugby League force in Scandinavia".

Head of RLN Warren Heilig Commented "It is so fantastic to see our great game grow through the hard work of Bjørn and Magne, and I am sure I speak on behalf of the Rugby League world when I say a big thank you to these 2 guys. This is just another history making event to happen to the sport and we at RLN will be doing our very best to make sure this club has everything it needs to grow and succeed. It is so satisfying to see so many native Norwegians wanting to get involved in Rugby League".

The club is inviting anybody who would like to become a signatory member to this historic club contact the club at :[e-mail] Please send in the email:

NAME
ADDRESS
D.O.B.

For more information go to www.norskrl.com

[sportsmad]

DENMARK RL LOOKING FOR ELIGIBLE FOREIGN PLAYERS

This is a request from the recently formed Danmark Rugby League (with Official Observer status in the Rugby League European Federation).

"We are looking to find experienced players whom are currently living outside of Denmark and who may be eligible to play for us.

"As an emerging RL nation, we need all the help we can find, whether it be players, kit or donations.

"If you are either directly eligible or qualify through family relations (or know someone who might be), please contact me through 'rleague.com'.

"Our next full fixture is planned to be early Spring 2010, as a touring team to Belgium. We will also be arranging more training games in either Denmark or Sweden as soon as pitches become available after the Winter."

Mark Hewson - Danmark RL Chief Operating Officer

do you know mark hewson daniel?

[Druzik]

Oct 30, 2009 13:17:00 GMT 10 sportsmad said:

DENMARK RL LOOKING FOR ELIGIBLE FOREIGN PLAYERS

This is a request from the recently formed Danmark Rugby League (with Official Observer status in the Rugby League European Federation).

"We are looking to find experienced players whom are currently living outside of Denmark and who may be eligible to play for us.

"As an emerging RL nation, we need all the help we can find, whether it be players, kit or donations.

"If you are either directly eligible or qualify through family relations (or know someone who might be), please contact me through 'rleague.com'.

"Our next full fixture is planned to be early Spring 2010, as a touring team to Belgium. We will also be arranging more training games in either Denmark or Sweden as soon as pitches become available after the Winter."

Mark Hewson - Danmark RL Chief Operating Officer

do you know mark hewson daniel?

Yeah met him when I was over there earlier this year... he is the PR man for the Danes while Steve handles the day to day stuff.

[Druzik]

Got the Scandinavian 9's videos up on you tube finally

This is the group rounds highlights.



Final video to come.

[Druzik]

And the Final of the Scandinavian 9's

[Druzik]

Link here

The Rugby League world is set for a Viking Invasion from the North.

Rugby League Norge are proud to announce that they have made so much progress in the Rugby League world in such a short space of time that they have been invited by the RLEF to compete for The European Bowl in 2010 against Malta. In light of hearing the great news the Norwegian National Team went about trying to establish themselves as a serious contender for the bowl, and they have given themselves the deserved title “Vikingene Rugby League”. RLN CEO Warren Heilig said “ As soon as the boys heard they were heading to Malta they really got excited and wanted to be as professional as possible so I asked them what nickname they would like to be known as, and naturally they wanted the world to know how proud they are of their tough ancestry so they chose the name Vikingene Rugby League which in english means The Vikings of Rugby League. I am glad they chose that name as it best describes these boys”. The captain of Vikingene Fredrik Skovly added “ I think our great great grandfathers would have loved the game of Rugby League. What is not to love about this sport? I am pretty sure they would be very proud to see their spirit is still alive today”. Only time will tell how these new Viking warriors fare in the Rugby League world but one cannot help but think that these Vikings will be more than welcome visitors to the countries they invade in the future.